We’re still savoring the excitement from this month’s Agile Kitchen! This OKR Game Night truly was a special edition. Co-hosted with This is Performance, our Agile cooks demonstrated how to translate high-level business goals into shared ambitions that drive real results across your teams.

Why OKRs matter

Every successful project, much like our event, hinges on a well-defined goal. But in many organizations, goals can be vague, disconnected, or simply not understood by the whole team. That’s where OKRs come in. They bridge the gap between high-level strategy and day-to-day execution, ensuring that everyone is aligned and moving toward the same outcomes. Unlike traditional KPIs, which focus on measuring what’s already happened, OKRs are about driving future success.

With drinks and sandwiches to kick things off, the room was buzzing with conversations about goal setting and agile methodologies. It set the perfect stage for what was to come – a night full of collaboration, learning, and fun!

Learning by doing

We kicked off the formal session with Renzo Zitman from This is Performance, who broke down the OKR framework for us, showing how it goes beyond just setting targets. OKRs are about creating shared objectives that bring focus and discipline to a team, aligning everyone around meaningful progress. Renzo, along with his colleague Marco Van Damme and our own iLean Agile Coaches, made sure that everyone understood the basics of OKRs before diving into our interactive workshop.

The highlight of the night was the workshop. We split into groups, each tasked with solving a real-world business case by crafting OKRs. This wasn’t just about theory—we brainstormed, debated, and worked together to create concrete objectives and key results. Each team had to define their short-term and long-term goals – purpose, mission, and vision were a given – while also determining how they would measure success. The diversity of approaches gave everyone a fresh perspective on how to apply OKRs in different contexts. 

One exercise challenged teams to focus on their company’s purpose within 10 minutes, quickly revealing that getting everyone on the same track is no small task. But that’s exactly what makes OKRs so powerful!  It made clear that OKRs will not solve a missing purpose. They will, however, make visible that you need one to define good, and shared targets. It’s not just about setting goals, it’s about having the right conversations to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Defining the OKR framework together

One of the standout moments came during the exercise on defining the OKR framework. Each team received a template to fill in, which helped us see that OKRs are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Different teams took different approaches, and some found it tough to steer clear of traditional KPIs. Plenty of semantic discussions took place: Everyone had their own interpretation of the words being used, which reinforced just how important clear communication is when setting goals.

Here are some of the key principles we learned:

• Focus on results: The best OKRs are clear and concise, focusing on impact, not just activity.
• Alignment: Teams need to be aligned on their objectives, and that requires a lot of upfront communication.
• Commitment and tracking: Regular check-ins are essential. If your OKR isn’t moving forward, it’s time to adjust your strategy or key results.

Renzo reminded us that OKRs should be reviewed bi-weekly, allowing teams to track their progress and make necessary adjustments. It’s not about setting a goal and forgetting it—it’s a dynamic process.

We also learned the value of starting small. Some participants struggled to define long-term goals for the year while keeping their quarterly objectives realistic. One key tip shared was to set time boundaries and keep moving. Don’t get stuck in the details. Evaluate your progress after the quarter and keep improving.

Key reflections

As the evening wound down, we reflected on the challenges and opportunities that come with implementing OKRs. Participants shared their thoughts on the hurdles they face in their own organizations, from resistance to change to struggles with goal clarity. But by the end of the night, everyone agreed that the benefits of using OKRs far outweigh the difficulties.

To wrap things up, Kris delivered a closing speech, reflecting on iLean’s journey with OKRs and how they’ve helped align teams and drive engagement. As a special treat, each participant received access to an e-learning course on OKRs, offering a deeper dive into the subject and the opportunity to earn a certificate.

If you missed out on OKR Game Night, don’t worry! Our next Agile Kitchen will focus on team dynamics and strategic partnerships, so stay tuned for more opportunities to connect, learn, and grow.

And if you want to dive even further in the matter, check out our Certified OKR Training Program here.

Enjoy the photo recap!