Key Results

Key Results are measurable outcomes that indicate progress toward an Objective. They answer the question: "How will we know we've succeeded?"

What Makes a Good Key Result?

  • Measurable — Has a clear, quantifiable target
  • Specific — No ambiguity about what success looks like
  • Achievable — Challenging but possible to reach
  • Outcome-focused — Measures results, not activities

Avoid

Key Results should measure outcomes, not outputs. "Launch new feature" is an output. "Increase user engagement by 20%" is an outcome.

Key Result Types

Runsheet supports three types of Key Results to accommodate different measurement needs:

Metric

For numerical targets with a starting value and goal. Progress is calculated based on the difference between current and target values.

  • Start: 1,000 users → Target: 5,000 users
  • Start: $50K MRR → Target: $100K MRR
  • Start: 3.2 rating → Target: 4.5 rating

Milestone

For binary outcomes — either complete or not complete. Use milestones for one-time achievements or deliverables.

  • Launch mobile app
  • Hire VP of Sales
  • Complete SOC 2 certification

Percentage

For tracking completion from 0% to 100%. Use when progress is incremental but not tied to a specific metric.

  • Complete migration to new platform
  • Roll out new onboarding flow
  • Document all API endpoints

Creating Key Results

  1. Open an objective (click on it in the list)
  2. Click "Add Key Result"
  3. Enter a title describing the measurable outcome
  4. Select the type (Metric, Milestone, or Percentage)
  5. Fill in the relevant values based on the type
  6. Assign an owner (can differ from objective owner)

Confidence Scoring

Each Key Result can have a confidence score indicating how likely you are to achieve it:

  • On Track (green) — High confidence of achieving the target
  • Needs Attention (yellow) — Some risk, may need intervention
  • At Risk (red) — Unlikely to hit target without significant changes

Update confidence scores during check-ins to keep your team informed.

Progress Calculation

Key Result progress is calculated automatically based on type:

  • Metric — (current - start) / (target - start) × 100%
  • Milestone — 0% if incomplete, 100% if complete
  • Percentage — The value you enter directly

Objective progress is the average of all its Key Results.

Best Practices

  • Aim for 2-5 Key Results per Objective — enough to measure progress without being overwhelming
  • Make Key Results independent — each should be achievable on its own
  • Update progress weekly through regular check-ins
  • Review and adjust targets if circumstances change significantly

Related Topics

  • Objectives — Creating qualitative goals
  • Check-ins — Updating Key Result progress
  • Metrics — Standalone metrics for recurring measurement