Using Smartsheet for OKRs (Objectives & Key Results)
Spreadsheet-familiar interface makes adoption easy for teams transitioning from Excel — minimal training needed for basic use. When combined with OKRs (Objectives & Key Results), this makes Smartsheet a strong candidate for teams who want a structured, repeatable workflow without sacrificing flexibility. OKRs (Objectives & Key Results) works best in Smartsheet when you leverage its core workflow features to implement the framework's key practices directly in the tool your team already lives in.
OKRs link team and individual goals to company strategy through a hierarchical Objectives and Key Results structure. They are typically set quarterly and reviewed weekly.
How to set up OKRs (Objectives & Key Results) in Smartsheet
Set up your OKR hierarchy
In Smartsheet, create a top-level project named "OKRs — Q[X] [Year]". Use parent tasks for Objectives and child tasks for Key Results. Add a custom field for "Current Progress %" and "Owner" to each Key Result.
Link team work to Key Results
Use a label or custom field in Smartsheet to tag every task and project with the Key Result it contributes to. Run a monthly audit: what percentage of work in progress is connected to a Key Result? Unconnected work is a sign of strategic drift.
Configure weekly check-ins
Set up an automation in Smartsheet to remind Key Result owners every Monday to update their confidence score (1–10) and current progress value. Automations reduce the admin burden of weekly check-ins — the biggest reason OKR programs fail.
Run quarterly reviews and set next cycle
Use Smartsheet's reporting to generate a quarterly OKR review: which Key Results hit target (≥ 70%), which missed, and which were stretch targets that should recalibrate. Record the retrospective notes directly in Smartsheet alongside the OKR records for future reference.
Which Smartsheet features matter for OKRs (Objectives & Key Results)
Smartsheet has 0 of 2 core OKRs (Objectives & Key Results) features natively.