WeTransfer: Establishing an OKR Cycle
WeTransfer: Establishing an OKR Cycle
WeTransfer: Establishing an OKR Cycle
WeTransfer: Establishing an OKR Cycle
At the end of 2019, I was approached by WeTransfer's CEO to take on the role of OKR ambassador and help establish a healthy and functional OKR process within the company. The company had tried implementing OKRs several times before, but they hadn't taken root. My mission was to identify the root causes of these failures and develop a sustainable cycle that sparked direction setting and cross department collaboration at a time at WeTransfer where they needed that most.
The involvement
I served as the OKR lead and facilitator, responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing the OKR process at WeTransfer, from company rituals to C-level reviews.
At the end of 2019, I was approached by WeTransfer's CEO to take on the role of OKR ambassador and help establish a healthy and functional OKR process within the company. The company had tried implementing OKRs several times before, but they hadn't taken root. My mission was to identify the root causes of these failures and develop a sustainable cycle that sparked direction setting and cross department collaboration at a time at WeTransfer where they needed that most.
The involvement
I served as the OKR lead and facilitator, responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing the OKR process at WeTransfer, from company rituals to C-level reviews.
Client
Client
WeTransfer
WeTransfer
Type
Type
Ritual
Ritual
Year
Year
2020 - 2023
2020 - 2023
Process
Establishing a Clear and Accountable Structure:
I instituted a clear structure that included quarterly OKR reviews, where teams presented their progress and performance to the leadership. This ensured that OKRs were given due attention and that teams were accountable for their goals.
Empowering OKR Champions:
To promote ownership and engagement, I implemented a program where employees could volunteer as OKR champions, at its peak 15 different people from across the organisation. They received training and were tasked with facilitating the OKR process within their teams, fostering a bottom-up approach to goal setting.
Branding the OKR Process:
To align the OKR process with WeTransfer's creative and innovative culture, I branded the process in a way that resonated with the company's values and vision. This helped overcome the initial hesitations surrounding OKRs and fostered a more positive perception.
I talked about this project extensively on this episode of the Work Outcomes Podcast.
Establishing a Clear and Accountable Structure:
I instituted a clear structure that included quarterly OKR reviews, where teams presented their progress and performance to the leadership. This ensured that OKRs were given due attention and that teams were accountable for their goals.
Empowering OKR Champions:
To promote ownership and engagement, I implemented a program where employees could volunteer as OKR champions, at its peak 15 different people from across the organisation. They received training and were tasked with facilitating the OKR process within their teams, fostering a bottom-up approach to goal setting.
Branding the OKR Process:
To align the OKR process with WeTransfer's creative and innovative culture, I branded the process in a way that resonated with the company's values and vision. This helped overcome the initial hesitations surrounding OKRs and fostered a more positive perception.
I talked about this project extensively on this episode of the Work Outcomes Podcast.
Outcome
Outcome
Outcome
Improved Goal Alignment and Accountability:
The OKR process led to improved goal alignment across the company, ensuring that everyone was working towards the same objectives; progress took a while but it was essential during the rapid growth of WeTransfer at that time. The quarterly reviews and champion program fostered a sense of accountability and ownership, leading to better engagement with the OKR process.
Enhanced Collaboration and Strategic Conversations:
The OKR process facilitated cross-team collaboration and opened up strategic conversations across the organisation. This led to a better understanding of company strategy and improved communication between teams. In an era where WeTransfer had difficulties keeping up with and communicating a strategic overview; the condensed information from OKR reviews meant the C-level was able to keep up with tactical details from all teams of the company; a clear way to signal strategic problems, dependencies and resourcing issues.
Improved Goal Alignment and Accountability:
The OKR process led to improved goal alignment across the company, ensuring that everyone was working towards the same objectives; progress took a while but it was essential during the rapid growth of WeTransfer at that time. The quarterly reviews and champion program fostered a sense of accountability and ownership, leading to better engagement with the OKR process.
Enhanced Collaboration and Strategic Conversations:
The OKR process facilitated cross-team collaboration and opened up strategic conversations across the organisation. This led to a better understanding of company strategy and improved communication between teams. In an era where WeTransfer had difficulties keeping up with and communicating a strategic overview; the condensed information from OKR reviews meant the C-level was able to keep up with tactical details from all teams of the company; a clear way to signal strategic problems, dependencies and resourcing issues.
Testimonials
Testimonials
Testimonials
"I finally understand the value of setting OKRs every quarter." - Department Lead
"I finally understand the value of setting OKRs every quarter." - Department Lead
Collaborators
Collaborators
Collaborators
WeTransfer's CEO Gordon Willoughby
Volunteer OKR champions from across the organisation
WeTransfer's CEO Gordon Willoughby
Volunteer OKR champions from across the organisation
Socials
Goodreads