How to Prepare for an Effective OKR Workshop

Three key reflection questions to get the most out of your session

OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) are a powerful tool for focus, alignment, and performance — but their true impact depends on one crucial factor: preparation.

If you’re planning to participate in or facilitate an OKR workshop, investing a little time upfront can dramatically increase the quality of outcomes. Here’s a simple and effective way to prepare — including reflection prompts, a practical template, and a helpful link to get familiar with the method.

Reflect on These Three Questions

In preparation for your OKR workshop (especially for the group work in the second half), we invite you to reflect on the following three questions. Ideally, jot down your thoughts beforehand — they will serve as valuable input during the workshop.

1. As a manager, what can I do with my team and resources in the next three months to make the biggest progress toward executing our company strategy and goals?
Think about where you can create real impact. What matters most in your area? This question helps you shift from business-as-usual toward purpose-driven action.

2. What kind of projects are already planned in the next three months in my area of responsibility?
This is about visibility and prioritization. What’s already in motion? Are these activities aligned with the bigger goals, or do they need rethinking?

3. Are there any challenges or opportunities from daily business in my area of responsibility that need to be addressed?
Daily business is often full of signals. Maybe a recurring problem points to a deeper structural issue. Or maybe there’s an unexpected opportunity worth seizing.

These questions aren’t just warm-ups — they’re the foundation of your OKRs. They help ensure your objectives are grounded in reality, connected to strategy, and responsive to what’s happening on the ground.

Refresh Your OKR Knowledge

Before the session, we recommend (re)visiting the basics of the OKR methodology. A quick and accessible starting point is this explainer page:

What Are OKRs? – SkillDay Guide

It outlines the core principles, common mistakes, and how OKRs differ from traditional goal-setting models.

Even if you’re familiar with OKRs, it’s worth skimming this guide to re-center on the intent behind the method: aligning your team’s work with the company’s strategy — with clarity, focus, and measurable outcomes.

Use a Template That Works in Practice

To keep things structured (and to make it easy to track progress after the workshop), we are using a simple Excel template during the session.  This template is suitable for tracking OKRs at the team level and works well in Microsoft Teams or SharePoint.

Bring Questions — And an Open Mind

The goal of an OKR workshop isn’t just to write good OKRs — it’s to foster alignment, focus, and clarity of purpose. Bring your real challenges, open questions, and honest reflections. These lead to better conversations and stronger objectives.

Also: if you have any special topics you’d like to explore in the workshop (e.g. cross-team OKRs, integrating OKRs into performance reviews), feel free to share them in advance with the trainer.

Final Thoughts

OKR workshops are most impactful when they’re grounded in thoughtful preparation. Reviewing key concepts, reflecting on your current context, and showing up with curiosity will set you and your team up for success.

Are you looking forward to a productive, focused, and engaging OKR session? Then get in touch!

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