The sprinter who gets out the starting blocks fastest benefits from that advantage for the rest of the race. Your company will too. Starting the year with a team that is focused, aligned, committed, and accountable, you’ll make every day count and build the speed and momentum needed to have a great year. Don’t miss the opportunity to get a fast start on the year.
That’s where OKRs—Objectives and Key Results—come in.
“Objectives and key results are the North Star of an organisation, keeping everyone headed in the same direction.” – John Doerr, Measure what Matters
By setting focused, meaningful, measurable goals for Q1, you can ensure your company starts the year with clarity, focus, alignment, and full engagement.
Let’s explore how to craft effective Q1 OKRs that align your team and set the stage for success.
🎯 Why Start with Q1 OKRs?
Q1 is your company’s launchpad for the year. Clear, actionable OKRs help you:
- Maintain focus: Prioritise what matters most in the next 90 days.
- Align your team: Ensure everyone is rowing in the same direction.
- Build momentum: Early wins create the foundation for a successful year.
- Stay agile: Reassess goals quarterly to adapt to changing conditions.
🗺️ How to Set Effective Q1 OKRs
1. Start with Your Three-Year Game Plan
Your Q1 OKRs should be focused on using the first 90 day sprint of the year to make meters executing your 3-year gameplan. If you don’t have a clear gameplan in place, prioritise time to develop yours. (See free guide and tools on Artofscale.io; login, go to Tools).
Then, review your Execution Blueprint and identify the most critical 3-year Objectives to focus on this quarter.
2. Define Clear Objectives
Objectives should be ambitious, inspiring, and directional. For Q1, focus on goals that will create the greatest leverage for the rest of the year. For example:
- Objective: Build a scalable lead-generation system.
3. Set Measurable Key Results
Key Results provide the metrics to track progress toward your Objective. For instance:
- Key Results:
- Increase qualified leads by 25%.
- Launch a lead-nurture email campaign with a 30% open rate.
- Decrease cost per lead by 15%.
4. Cascade to Teams and Departments
Assign ownership of each OKR to a single leader. Leaders should then delegate the work required to their teams as appropriate.
5. Prioritise Simplicity and Clarity
Limit your Q1 OKRs to 3–5 Objectives per leader, each with no more than 3 Key Results. Overloading your team with too many priorities dilutes focus and impact.
6. Communicate and Align
Host a company-wide meeting to share Q1 OKRs, explain their importance, and ensure every team member understands how their work contributes to achieving them.
Example of Q1 OKR
Here’s a practical example to illustrate how to structure your Q1 OKRs:
- Objective: Increase customer satisfaction to boost retention.
- Key Results:
- Improve Net Promoter Score (NPS) from 70 to 80.
- Resolve 90% of customer queries within 24 hours.
- Reduce customer churn rate from 10% to 8%.
🛠️ Tools and Services to Help You Set Q1 OKRs
- The Art of Scale Book (Chapter 17)
Discover proven strategies and practical advice for implementing OKRs effectively in Chapter 17. - OKR Toolkit
Access templates, examples, and resources to streamline your OKR-setting process on artofscale.io/tools - OKR Guide E-Book
A comprehensive guide to creating, cascading, and tracking OKRs that drive results. Access on artofscale.io/tools. - OKRs Workshop
Ask for help from a seasoned scale up coach and OKR expert, to build and align your company’s Q1 OKRs with confidence. Click here for more info.
🚀 The Payoff: A Strong Start
Setting clear Q1 OKRs is more than a management exercise—it’s a strategic advantage. The sprinter who gets out the starting blocks fastest benefits from that advantage for the rest of the race. Your company will too. Starting the year with a team that is focused, aligned, committed, and accountable, you’ll make every day count and build the speed and momentum needed to have a great year.
Check out our next blog on Personal OKRs for insights on empowering your team through aligned personal objectives.


