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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

Setting objectives and key results (OKRs) has been a critical element of Google's management since 1999, helping the company grow and maintain its focus.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

When I joined Google, I was unfamiliar with the OKR process, but over five years, it clarified my objectives and helped me understand what I should focus on.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

John Do introduced OKRs to Google when the company was less than a year old, demonstrating that even young companies can benefit from structured goal-setting.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

OKRs must be measurable; for example, instead of saying 'make Gmail a success,' a clear objective would be 'launch Gmail in September and achieve one million users by November.'

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

At Google, everyone's OKRs, from the CEO to individual employees, are public, allowing transparency about what each person is working on.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

The OKR process imposes discipline on the organization, helping individuals understand their priorities and make conscious decisions about what not to work on.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

OKRs are not a performance evaluation tool; they are meant to guide and measure progress rather than serve as a basis for annual reviews.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

A successful OKR process creates a virtuous cycle where individual objectives align with company goals, ensuring everyone is working towards the same results.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

Objectives should feel uncomfortable and uncertain; if you're sure you'll achieve them, you're not pushing hard enough.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

Key results must be quantifiable; for instance, instead of saying 'make Gmail better,' specify measurable improvements like reducing response time by 30%.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

My objective was to ensure I was actively growing Blogger traffic beyond what it would normally achieve, rather than just setting a low target.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

I aimed to launch three features that would measurably impact Blogger traffic, including improving our 404 error handling to enhance user experience.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

We realized that our 404 error pages were not user-friendly, which was a significant area for improvement that could also increase traffic.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

Improving Blogger's reputation was another objective, as it was largely forgotten in the U.S. despite still being widely used.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

I committed to speaking at three industry events and coordinating PR efforts for Blogger's 10th birthday to reestablish its presence in the community.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

I personally reached out to top users of Blogger, providing my contact information to enhance their experience and make them feel more connected to the team.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

We needed to fix the broken DMCA process on Blogger, which was damaging our reputation and degrading the user experience.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

I aimed to improve our presence on Twitter, as many users were discussing issues there, and we needed to engage with them directly.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

Accelerating revenue growth was a key focus, and I launched several revenue-specific experiments to drive this goal.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

I emphasized that grades for OKRs should be directional indicators rather than precise scores, focusing on delivering results instead of over-engineering the grading process.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

We launched two features that had a measurable impact on Blogger traffic, but we initially aimed for three, indicating room for improvement.

RK

Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

I stressed the importance of simplicity in the OKR process, advocating for a straightforward approach to tracking and grading objectives.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

The commitment to measurable objectives and transparency is crucial for the success of the OKR process within a company.

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Rick Klau

05/15/13

@ GV (Google Ventures)

I believe that implementing OKRs should happen as soon as possible in a company's evolution to establish a disciplined approach early on.

How Google sets goals: OKRs / Startup Lab Workshop

Takeaways