What Matters

Our mission is to galvanize leaders to set and achieve audacious goals—through inspiration, education, and application.
Get Started With OKRs

Learn how a simple goal setting technique called OKRs—objectives and key results— propelled Google, The Gates Foundation, and Bono to exceed all expectations.

Strategy, Tactics (and OKRs)

Every team needs both strategy and tactics in order to succeed. But understanding the difference and using them effectively is a challenge. That’s where OKRs come in. This article delves into how OKRs can be an effective, simple, easy way to bridge the two.

Empowering teams to own their OKRs

For TravelPerk, OKRs provide a “...framework [that] is easy to understand, and gives all teams independence and the flexibility to contribute to the company’s focus without being told what to do.”

Tackling Systemic Change with OKRs

The YMCA of the North is moving away from a swim and gym model into a holistic center by using OKRs to change the organization's processes.

Execution is everything.

Learn about the OKR movement and its origins from our founder, John Doerr. Learn more about OKRs

Your reading list.

From legendary investor John Doerr comes the case for ambitious goal setting and meticulous execution. Order the Book

OKRs 101

Getting started with OKRs?
Our video series helps take your OKR practice from good to great.

Get Started With OKRs

3 parts • 20 – 30 min

1. Welcome to OKRs

Setting the Foundation

Why OKRs?

What is an OKR?

What Makes Good OKRs?

4 parts • 20 - 30 min

2. Objectives

Capturing Your Ambition

Writing Your First Objective

Connecting Purpose and Profit

OKRs are not "BAU"

Refining Your Objectives

OKRs 101

Getting started with OKRs?
Our video series helps take your OKR practice from good to great.

3 parts •

4 parts •

Get Started

Check your OKRs.

Join the community.

Get exclusive guidance from John, Ryan, Lisa and the rest of the What Matters team by signing up for our weekly newsletter, Audacious.

FAQ

Help for the journey ahead.

See All FAQs

What is an OKR? Definition and Examples

What are the benefits of OKRs?

Common OKR mistakes when writing them

OKR examples and how to write them

Committed vs. Aspirational OKRs: What’s the difference?

How to grade your OKRs

What are some free OKR tools to help with goal setting?

How to find the 'why' of your company

Cascading top-down OKRs: What are some examples?

Bottom-up OKRs: What are some examples?

How to improve OKRs when they’re not working

OKRs for personal or life goals: How do they work?

Get Examples

I read over 100 books a year. Between being an author and podcast host, books are kind of my world. This was hands down one of the most useful books I’ve read in 2018. It forced me to take a look at how I was spending my time and what the people on my team were prioritizing. Even though I couldn’t directly relate to all of the interviews, there was a nugget in each one that I found valuable. Considering how many successful companies and individuals use this process, it’s worth learning about.

Srinivas Rao, CEO Unmistakable Creative Podcast

I love this book. It’s well written and interesting. John Doerr has both the experience and the ability to communicate this in a way that is understandable and motivating. It is now required reading for all of my team at Project CURE.

Dr. Douglas Jackson, CEO Project C.U.R.E.

What People Are Saying

Don’t take our word for it.

This book should be a staple for both future and established business leaders. OKRs and CFRs provide a clear path to setting and achieving the most inspired to the most trivial goals businesses and teams pursue. John’s storytelling and experience made this book tough to put down

Amanda Haworth

”Measure What Matters” by @johndoerr is by far the best book on strategic planning I have ever read as an entrepreneur. OKR is a simple yet powerful tool for startups to stay focused on what really matters while keeping the team aligned to maximize results and excel on execution.

David Ocumarez

OMG, buy this book if you need help getting your stuff together with a business. I had such clarity which I desperately needed even after the first couple chapters. It makes you empowered to make decisions and create plans to actually move your work forward, not drowning in endless busy work that doesn’t get you anywhere closer to meeting your goals. It’s relatable, entertaining and applicable to pretty much any organization size.

Melissa Kennedy

Recently finished Measure What Matters by @johndoerr. Fantastic read and highly recommend it. #OKRs are a fantastic approach to getting an organization moving in the same direction. I rolled out several OKRs at work and to my surprise, my team jumped on board immediately.

Sean Miler

What People Are Saying

Don’t take our word for it.

I read over 100 books a year. Between being an author and podcast host, books are kind of my world. This was hands down one of the most useful books I’ve read in 2018. It forced me to take a look at how I was spending my time and what the people on my team were prioritizing. Even though I couldn’t directly relate to all of the interviews, there was a nugget in each one that I found valuable. Considering how many successful companies and individuals use this process, it’s worth learning about.

Srinivas Rao, CEO Unmistakable Creative Podcast

I love this book. It’s well written and interesting. John Doerr has both the experience and the ability to communicate this in a way that is understandable and motivating. It is now required reading for all of my team at Project CURE.

Dr. Douglas Jackson, CEO Project C.U.R.E.

This book should be a staple for both future and established business leaders. OKRs and CFRs provide a clear path to setting and achieving the most inspired to the most trivial goals businesses and teams pursue. John’s storytelling and experience made this book tough to put down

Amanda Haworth

OMG, buy this book if you need help getting your stuff together with a business. I had such clarity which I desperately needed even after the first couple chapters. It makes you empowered to make decisions and create plans to actually move your work forward, not drowning in endless busy work that doesn’t get you anywhere closer to meeting your goals. It’s relatable, entertaining and applicable to pretty much any organization size.

Melissa Kennedy

”Measure What Matters” by @johndoerr is by far the best book on strategic planning I have ever read as an entrepreneur. OKR is a simple yet powerful tool for startups to stay focused on what really matters while keeping the team aligned to maximize results and excel on execution.

David Ocumarez

Recently finished Measure What Matters by @johndoerr. Fantastic read and highly recommend it. #OKRs are a fantastic approach to getting an organization moving in the same direction. I rolled out several OKRs at work and to my surprise, my team jumped on board immediately.

Sean Miler

I’d recommend John’s book for anyone interested in becoming a better manager.

Bill Gates

Founder of Microsoft

Measure What Matters shows how any organization or team can aim high, move fast, and excel.

Sheryl Sandberg

Facebook COO and Founder of LeanIn.org

Measure What Matters deserves to be fully embraced by every person responsible for performance, in any walk of life.

Jim Collins

Author of Good to Great

I wish we had this book 19 years ago, when we founded Google.

Larry Page

Co-Founder of Google