One of the most common reasons OKRs fail isn’t lack of effort or poor intent—it’s trying to take on too much at once.
In my work helping organizations implement OKRs, I see teams regularly fall into the trap of overcommitment. Every goal feels important. And many are. But without prioritization, energy and attention get stretched too thin, and real progress stalls. Execution isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing what matters most.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry—French writer and pioneering aviator—put it perfectly:
“Perfection is attained not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to take away.”
That mindset applies directly to execution with OKRs. The teams that succeed with the framework aren’t the ones who try to tackle every possible priority. They’re the ones who choose just enough – usually one or two OKRs – to generate meaningful movement. Not five. Not eight. Just the critical few that matter right now.
This isn’t about thinking small. It’s about giving your goals the attention they deserve. When OKRs are focused, they become a tool for real change. When they’re scattered, they become noise. So if your goals aren’t landing? Don’t add more. Strip them back. Give your team the room to breathe and the clarity to act.
Less, done well, really is more.
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