OKR vs KPI Learn the Crucial Difference Between the Two

It's easy to get OKRs and KPIs confused. They both measure progress and performance, after all. But there is a crucial difference between the two that you need to understand. OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) are typically used by organizations to measure overall progress towards specific goals. On the other hand, KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are more commonly used by individuals or teams to measure their progress and performance. So, which one should you be using? Let's take a closer look at each one to help you decide.

OKRs, what are they
As we mentioned, organizations usually adopt OKRs to track progress towards specific goals. Typically, an organization will set a few high-level objectives and then key results that need to be achieved to reach those objectives.
For example, an organization's objective is to increase sales by 20% over the next quarter. The key results could be increasing the number of new customers acquired or increasing the average order value. OKRs can be adapted to any time frame, but they are typically used every quarter. This helps ensure that everyone is always aware of the company's current objectives and knows exactly what needs to be done to achieve them.

What Are KPIs
On the other hand, KPIs are more commonly used by individuals or teams to measure their progress and performance. Unlike OKRs, KPIs are not necessarily tied to specific objectives or goals. Instead, they simply indicate how well someone or something is performing.

For example, a salesperson's KPI could be the number of sales they close each month. A team's KPI could be the percentage of customer support requests resolved within 24 hours. KPIs can get adapted to any time frame, but they are usually measured more frequently than OKRs (e.g., daily, weekly, or monthly). This helps ensure that everyone is always aware of their current performance levels and knows precisely what needs to be done to improve them.

OKRs vs. KPIs: Which One Should You Use
So, which one should you use? There's a lot of debate about the OKR vs KPI battle. But the truth is that they both have their place. Well, it depends on what you're trying to measure If you're looking to measure overall progress towards specific goals, OKRs are probably the way to go. However, KPIs might be a better option if you're more interested in measuring individual or team performance.

The main difference between OKRs and KPIs is that OKRs are aspirational, while KPIs are actual measurements. For example, your OKR might increase sales by 20%, but your KPI might be the number of sales transactions in a given period. Of course, there's no reason why you can't use both OKRs and KPIs. Many organizations do just that. Just make sure you're clear about what each is measuring and why it's essential.

Grow your Organization with OKRs and KPIs
OKRs and KPIs are both valuable tools for measuring progress and performance. However, you need to understand a crucial difference between the two. You can use both to grow critical areas for the success of your organization.