How to Write OKRs on One Page (With a Blank Template)

An OKR is one objective and two or three key results that show whether you reached it. You can write one in ten minutes, on a single page. This guide gives the four steps, the rules that keep key results honest, and a blank template.

We make GoalTracker, a free browser tracker, so the tools linked here are ours. The steps work on paper or in any notes app.

The four steps

1. Write the objective. One sentence that says what you want, with no numbers. "Get fit enough to enjoy a long hike" works. "Run 3 times a week" does not, because that is a result.
2. Set a deadline. Most personal OKRs run one quarter, 12 weeks. Shorter than 4 weeks is a task list. Longer than 6 months drifts.
3. Add two or three key results. Each is a number you can check, with a start value and a target. "Run 5 km in under 35 minutes (now: 42)" is a key result.
4. Check in weekly. Once a week, update the numbers and ask one question: what is the next move that shifts the weakest one?

The rules for a key result

• It is measurable. Someone else could look at it and say yes or no.
• It is an outcome, not a task. "Go to the gym" is a task. "Squat 60 kg for 5 reps" is a result.
• It has a start and a target. Without the start value, you cannot tell progress from luck.
• It is a stretch. If you are certain to hit it, raise it. Many teams aim for 70% as a good score.
• There are three or fewer. Four key results means the objective is two objectives.

The blank template

Objective: (one sentence, no numbers)
Deadline: (date)

KR1: (a number you can check) - start: __  target: __
KR2: (a number you can check) - start: __  target: __
KR3: (a number you can check) - start: __  target: __

Weekly check-in: (day and time)

For paper, print the blank one-page OKR template PDF for A4 or US Letter. To fill it in on screen, use the free OKR template, which turns the objective and key results into text you can copy, download or track.

A short example

Objective: Be ready to change jobs by December.

• KR1: Update the CV and have 2 people review it (now: 0 reviews, target: 2)
• KR2: Send 15 tailored applications (now: 0, target: 15)
• KR3: Hold 5 interviews or informal chats (now: 0, target: 5)

Each line is a count, so at the end of week 12 there is no argument about whether it worked. For more worked examples, see 10 personal OKR examples. If you are a student writing OKRs for a term, use the OKR template for students.

When OKRs are the wrong tool

OKRs suit a goal with a clear end and a stretch. They fit badly in two cases:

• Ongoing duties with no end date, such as keeping a site running. Those are measured by KPIs; OKRs vs KPIs explains the difference.
• A habit you want to keep for life. A habit tracker with a streak does that better, because the point is not hitting a number once.

Track the key results

Put the check-in in your calendar, then record the numbers each week. GoalTracker lets you add the objective as a goal and each key result as a subgoal, and nothing leaves your browser. The goal planner is a quicker start if you only want to sketch the plan first.

Frequently asked questions

How many key results should an OKR have?

Two or three. One is usually a single number you are betting on, and four or more means the objective is too broad. Split it into two OKRs.

What is the difference between an objective and a key result?

The objective is the direction in words. The key results are the numbers that show you arrived. If you can check it as yes or no, it is a key result.

How long should an OKR last?

A quarter, 12 weeks, is the usual length. Check in every week and review the score at the end.

What is a good OKR score?

Many teams treat 0.7 as a good score on a stretch target, and 1.0 as a sign the target was too easy. For personal OKRs, use the score to choose the next quarter's targets, not to judge yourself.