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tability.ioWhat are Skills Development OKRs?
The Objective and Key Results (OKR) framework is a simple goal-setting methodology that was introduced at Intel by Andy Grove in the 70s. It became popular after John Doerr introduced it to Google in the 90s, and it's now used by teams of all sizes to set and track ambitious goals at scale.
Writing good OKRs can be hard, especially if it's your first time doing it. You'll need to center the focus of your plans around outcomes instead of projects.
We understand that setting OKRs can be challenging, so we have prepared a set of examples tailored for Skills Development. Take a peek at the templates below to find inspiration and kickstart your goal-setting process.
If you want to learn more about the framework, you can read our OKR guide online.
Skills Development OKRs examples
You'll find below a list of Objectives and Key Results templates for Skills Development. We also included strategic projects for each template to make it easier to understand the difference between key results and projects.
Hope you'll find this helpful!
OKRs to enhance critical thinking skills
ObjectiveEnhance critical thinking skills
KRRead and summarize 5 books known for enhancing analytical skills
Select 5 books renowned for developing analytical skills- Read each book thoroughly and attentively
- Write comprehensive summaries for each book
- KRSolve 30 brainteasers to apply critical thinking techniques
- Apply learned critical thinking techniques while solving
- Find 30 challenging brainteasers online or in books
- Practice and solve each brainteaser meticulously
- KRComplete a comprehensive critical thinking course by attaining a certification
- Find a reputable online critical thinking course
- Complete all course requirements and receive certification
- Dedicate regular study time for uninterrupted learning
OKRs to boost employee skills development by 20% with minimal budget
- ObjectiveBoost employee skills development by 20% with minimal budget
- KRAchieve 85% employee completion of online, self-guided courses
- Implement regular email reminders for course completion
- Establish incentives for employees who complete courses
- Develop engaging, relevant content for online courses
- KRImplement cost-effective, peer-led training programs for 75% of employees
- Select a diverse group of employees to undergo leadership training
- Assess current training programs and identify areas for peer-led instruction
- Develop and launch peer-led training sessions for selected employees
- KRIncrease internal mentorship partnerships by 30% to promote skills transfer
- Implement a promotional campaign for mentorship program
- Establish incentives for participating in mentorship
- Identify potential skilled mentors within the organization
OKRs to establish a comprehensive skills marketplace
- ObjectiveEstablish a comprehensive skills marketplace
- KRDevelop a catalog with 100+ diverse training modules by end of quarter
- Identify topics spanning across various industries for training modules
- Compile and organize the training modules into a catalog
- Design and develop the individual training modules
- KRHost 15 professional development events engaging 500+ users
- Identify potential speakers and topics for professional development events
- Launch comprehensive marketing campaign to attract 500+ users
- Secure venues and setup registration for each event
- KRCreate a user-friendly knowledge base with 1000+ articles sourced and organized
- Design a user-friendly interface for the knowledge base
- Categorize and organize the sourced articles
- Identify and source relevant articles for the knowledge base
OKRs to streamline competency development and retention for improved business performance
- ObjectiveStreamline competency development and retention for improved business performance
- KRAchieve a 20% reduction in key skill gaps as measured by pre and post assessments
- Implement targeted training based on identified gaps
- Identify key skill gaps through initial assessment
- Conduct post-training assessment to measure improvement
- KRIdentify 5 key competencies crucial for business within two weeks
- Survey industry experts on business-related competencies
- Compile, review, and finalize key competencies list
- Research core competencies essential for business operations
- KRDevelop a skill training plan for targeted 80% workforce adoption rate
- Identify skills required for the targeted workforce adoption rate
- Establish methods for tracking and evaluating adoption rates
- Develop detailed training program focused on these skills
OKRs to improve the UX team's design and technical skills
- ObjectiveImprove the UX team's design and technical skills
- KRIncrease weekly training hours by 25% within the team
- KRAchieve a 15% improvement in project completion time
- Enhance team communication and collaboration
- Streamline processes to remove unnecessary steps
- Implement effective project management tools
- KRImplement two skills-based workshops or seminars per member
- Schedule two workshops/seminars per member
- Develop curriculum customised to member's needs
- Determine skills focus for each workshop or seminar
OKRs to enhance communication skills and overcome shyness
- ObjectiveEnhance communication skills and overcome shyness
- KRAttend two networking events every month to interact with diverse individuals
- Schedule two networking events into personal calendar
- Research local networking events happening nearby
- Regularly engage and interact with attendees during events
- KRComplete an online course in public speaking or interpersonal communication skills
- Find and enroll in a relevant online public speaking course
- Successfully complete and pass all course evaluations and exams
- Actively participate in all course activities and assignments
- KREngage in weekly activities requiring public speaking or initiating conversation with strangers
- Strike up conversation with a new person in a public place daily
- Volunteer to present at weekly community meetings or events
- Enroll in a local weekly debate club or toastmaster session
OKRs to launch data-centric beta marketplace
- ObjectiveLaunch data-centric beta marketplace
- KRSecure 20+ varied data products and services for marketplace launch
- Develop and conduct a robust security review before launch
- Identify and list potential data products and services for marketplace availability
- Initiate partnerships or contracts with selected data product providers
- KRCreate and deliver 5 skills building programs for marketplace users
- Develop detailed curriculum for each program
- Schedule and facilitate skill-building sessions
- Identify required skills for marketplace users
- KRFinalize and test platform features, ensuring 98% operational uptime
- Conduct comprehensive testing of all platform features
- Implement necessary updates and fixes for identified issues
- Monitor and ensure 98% platform operational uptime
OKRs to improve leadership skills and knowledge
- ObjectiveEnhance Leadership Skills and Knowledge
- KRApply leadership principles by successfully leading a high-impact project or team
- Delegate responsibilities based on individual strengths to optimize efficiency and productivity
- Set clear goals and objectives for the project or team
- Foster a positive and inclusive team culture, promoting collaboration and celebrating achievements
- Communicate effectively and regularly with the team to ensure alignment and progress
- KREngage in regular mentoring or coaching sessions to receive guidance and feedback on leadership development
- Set up regular mentoring/coaching sessions with a trusted leader or professional coach
- Implement the advice and recommendations received during mentoring/coaching sessions into daily leadership practices
- Prepare questions or topics to discuss during mentoring/coaching sessions on leadership development
- Actively listen and take notes during mentoring/coaching sessions to absorb guidance and feedback
- KRComplete a leadership training course covering key leadership principles and strategies
- Enroll in the chosen leadership training course and schedule all required sessions
- Apply learned leadership principles and strategies in daily work and reflect on their effectiveness
- Research and find a suitable leadership training course with key principles
- Actively participate in the leadership training course, taking notes and engaging with instructors
- KRAcquire at least three new leadership books and read them to gain further insight
- Allocate dedicated time each day to read at least one chapter from the books
- Research and compile a list of highly recommended leadership books
- Purchase three leadership books from the compiled list
- Take notes and jot down key insights or lessons learned from each book
OKRs to enhance my soft skills competency
- ObjectiveEnhance my soft skills competency
- KRComplete a recognized soft skills course with a score of 80% or higher
- Research and select a recognized soft skills course
- Take the course exam aiming for 80% score
- Regularly study the course material
- KRReceive a 20% improvement in feedback scores on leadership and empathy
- Schedule one-on-one mentoring sessions regularly
- Implement weekly round-table discussions for feedback
- Attend leadership and emotional intelligence workshops
- KRSuccessfully lead one team project displaying improved collaboration and communication
- Utilize collaboration tools like Asana or Slack
- Assign clear roles to each team member
- Implement regular team meetings for open communication
OKRs to enhance and refine presentation skills
- ObjectiveEnhance and refine presentation skills
- KRDeliver 10 presentations, receiving above 80% positive feedback each time
- Request and analyze feedback for improvement
- Develop engaging content for 10 distinct presentations
- Practice presenting to ensure effective delivery
- KRSuccessfully complete a professional public speaking and presentation skills course
- Enroll in a reputable public speaking course
- Practice skills learned and incorporate feedback
- Regularly participate in all course activities
- KRParticipate in local Toastmasters club meetings twice a month to practice and receive feedback
- Attend two Toastmasters meetings per month
- Engage and ask for constructive feedback
- Identify local Toastmasters clubs and their meeting schedules
How to write your own Skills Development OKRs
1. Get tailored OKRs with an AI
You'll find some examples below, but it's likely that you have very specific needs that won't be covered.
You can use Tability's AI generator to create tailored OKRs based on your specific context. Tability can turn your objective description into a fully editable OKR template -- including tips to help you refine your goals.
- 1. Go to Tability's plan editor
- 2. Click on the "Generate goals using AI" button
- 3. Use natural language to describe your goals
Tability will then use your prompt to generate a fully editable OKR template.
Watch the video below to see it in action 👇
Option 2. Optimise existing OKRs with Tability Feedback tool
If you already have existing goals, and you want to improve them. You can use Tability's AI feedback to help you.
- 1. Go to Tability's plan editor
- 2. Add your existing OKRs (you can import them from a spreadsheet)
- 3. Click on "Generate analysis"
Tability's Strategy Map makes it easy to see all your org's OKRsTability will scan your OKRs and offer different suggestions to improve them. This can range from a small rewrite of a statement to make it clearer to a complete rewrite of the entire OKR.
You can then decide to accept the suggestions or dismiss them if you don't agree.
Option 3. Use the free OKR generator
If you're just looking for some quick inspiration, you can also use our free OKR generator to get a template.
Unlike with Tability, you won't be able to iterate on the templates, but this is still a great way to get started.
Skills Development OKR best practices
Generally speaking, your objectives should be ambitious yet achievable, and your key results should be measurable and time-bound (using the SMART framework can be helpful). It is also recommended to list strategic initiatives under your key results, as it'll help you avoid the common mistake of listing projects in your KRs.
Here are a couple of best practices extracted from our OKR implementation guide 👇
Tip #1: Limit the number of key results
The #1 role of OKRs is to help you and your team focus on what really matters. Business-as-usual activities will still be happening, but you do not need to track your entire roadmap in the OKRs.
We recommend having 3-4 objectives, and 3-4 key results per objective. A platform like Tability can run audits on your data to help you identify the plans that have too many goals.
Tip #2: Commit to weekly OKR check-ins
Don't fall into the set-and-forget trap. It is important to adopt a weekly check-in process to get the full value of your OKRs and make your strategy agile – otherwise this is nothing more than a reporting exercise.
Being able to see trends for your key results will also keep yourself honest.
Tip #3: No more than 2 yellow statuses in a row
Yes, this is another tip for goal-tracking instead of goal-setting (but you'll get plenty of OKR examples above). But, once you have your goals defined, it will be your ability to keep the right sense of urgency that will make the difference.
As a rule of thumb, it's best to avoid having more than 2 yellow/at risk statuses in a row.
Make a call on the 3rd update. You should be either back on track, or off track. This sounds harsh but it's the best way to signal risks early enough to fix things.
How to track your Skills Development OKRs
Your quarterly OKRs should be tracked weekly in order to get all the benefits of the OKRs framework. Reviewing progress periodically has several advantages:
- It brings the goals back to the top of the mind
- It will highlight poorly set OKRs
- It will surface execution risks
- It improves transparency and accountability
We recommend using a spreadsheet for your first OKRs cycle. You'll need to get familiar with the scoring and tracking first. Then, you can scale your OKRs process by using a proper OKR-tracking tool for it.
If you're not yet set on a tool, you can check out the 5 best OKR tracking templates guide to find the best way to monitor progress during the quarter.
More Skills Development OKR templates
We have more templates to help you draft your team goals and OKRs.
- OKRs to improve performance and efficacy of reading teachers
- OKRs to improve efficiency and effectiveness in project delivery
- OKRs to accelerate growth to reach a $33 mln yearly revenue target
- OKRs to improve MTTR efficiency to enhance customer satisfaction
- OKRs to amplify brand reputation to boost lead generation
- OKRs to streamline efficiency and accuracy in the account department