Before deciding how OKRs should support your organisation, it helps to understand your Strategy Execution maturity and the type of leader you are today. Your SEM360 persona gives you that starting point, showing whether you are a Foundation Builder, Improvement Catalyst, Strategic Visionary, Delivery Dynamo, Integrated Navigator, or Strategy Execution Leader.
Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) are a foundational tool for improving Strategy Execution maturity. They help close the gap between strategy and daily operations by:
- Creating a common language across teams
- Focusing attention on measurable outcomes
- Establishing the rhythm and discipline needed for progress
OKRs to Bridge Strategy and Execution
OKRs are not a silver bullet, but when used consistently, they enable organizations to align with clarity, adapt faster, and drive accountability at all levels. In the Global Strategy Execution Maturity Index™, based on over 200 companies, 41% reported using OKRs. Among high-performing organizations, that number rose to 47%. These high performers use OKRs not just for goal-setting, but as a core operating rhythm, with quarterly cycles, transparent tracking, cross-functional reviews, and senior leadership modeling the behaviors they want to see.
As your Strategy Execution maturity grows, the role of OKRs evolves:
- For Foundation Builders, OKRs introduce structure and clarity.
- For Improvement Catalysts, they anchor rituals to reflect and reset on their practices and foster continuous improvement.
- For Strategic Visionaries, OKRs bridge the gap between direction and delivery, aligning everyone behind the same goals and outcomes.
- For Delivery Dynamos, OKRs help to channel their execution excellence and empower their teams.
- For Integrated Navigators and Strategy Execution Leaders, OKRs serve as an institutionalized practice bringing together all of the above, supporting learning, innovation, and continuous alignment.
When embedded into leadership routines and team habits, OKRs help organizations turn intent into momentum. They bring discipline to ambition.