1. Coaching skills:
An OKR Coach should have standard coaching skills, such as asking powerful questions, actively listening, and prioritizing the team's perspective over their own. Their role is to foster awareness within the team and teach them how to challenge themselves effectively.
2. Facilitation skills:
An OKR Coach should guide the team through a structured series of discussions to align on their OKRs and make collective decisions on the next steps. They provide support throughout the entire OKR meeting cycle. In addition to official OKR cycle meeting support, an OKR Coach assists in cascading OKRs throughout the organization, tracking progress, and ensuring alignment.
3. OKR consultant:
Needless to say, an OKR Coach should have a deep understanding of the OKR methodology and goal-setting principles to provide effective consultation and support to the team. Practical knowledge gained from previous OKR implementations is also crucial, especially for most OKR Coaches in the organization. This role may also involve conducting OKR trainings to onboard new members and ensure everyone is on the same page. OKR Coaches educate clients on OKR principles, frameworks, and best practices.
4. Mentor:
An OKR Coach should understand the distinctions between coaching, mentoring, and consulting. They share their experiences, knowledge, and guidance to help individuals grow within the same or similar domains. OKR Coaches share insights and lessons learned from previous OKR implementations. Oftentimes, mentoring involves working individually with team members based on their specific needs.
5. Change Agent:
An OKR Coach possesses knowledge and practical application of concepts and tools for leading individuals and groups through changes. They navigate resistance, manage expectations, and facilitate the change management process during the adoption of OKRs. It's important to note that the success of the OKR framework relies on its adoption by all areas and stakeholders closely tied to it, as well as the alignment with the overall strategy. Therefore, the role of an OKR Coach extends beyond mentoring and consulting teams and should also involve influencing and engaging all relevant stakeholders