The 6 Types of Key Results:
A Practitioner’s Guide
Understanding the different types of Key Results is one of the most important skills in OKR measurement — and one of the most consistently underdeveloped. Mastering Key Results in OKR framework design means knowing all six types, not just one. Most teams default to a single type, leaving five powerful tools unused. This practitioner’s guide covers all six types of Key Results, with real OKR Key Results examples for each, so practitioners know exactly how to write Key Results that measure what actually matters — and which type to choose for each Objective.
In the OKR Glossary, a Key Result is defined as a measurable outcome that tracks whether an Objective has been achieved. However, what the glossary cannot fully capture is how different types of outcomes require different measurement approaches — and why using the wrong type is one of the most common reasons OKR programmes produce numbers without insight. In fact, the OKR Key Results examples across industries consistently reveal the same pattern: teams that master all six types achieve far stronger alignment between effort and outcome than those who rely on one.
Therefore, there are six distinct types in the OKR-BOK™ framework. Each serves a specific measurement purpose and is appropriate for different kinds of Objectives. As a result, understanding Key Results in OKR framework design — specifically which type to choose and when — is the difference between OKRs that drive real performance and OKRs that look good on a dashboard while the business drifts. Furthermore, the OKR Key Results examples below illustrate each type with a real-world application.
| KR Type | One-liner | Best used when… |
|---|---|---|
| Growth KR | Increase a metric | You want to grow a number upward |
| Reduction KR | Decrease a metric | You want to reduce a number downward |
| Guardrail KR | Maintain a threshold | You need to protect a performance floor or ceiling |
| Efficiency KR | Improve speed or cost | You want to do more with less or faster |
| Quality KR | Improve a standard | You want to raise the level of excellence |
| Milestone KR | Achieve a deliverable | The outcome is binary — done or not done |
The 6 Types of Key Results — Explained
What is a Growth Key Result?
The Growth KR is the most widely used of all types of Key Results — and the one most teams default to exclusively. It tracks upward movement from a defined starting point to a higher target number. When used correctly, it is one of the most powerful tools in OKR measurement for growth-oriented Objectives.
The risk is over-reliance. Teams that use only Growth KRs miss reduction, quality, and protection dimensions entirely — creating a partial picture of performance.
The Reduction KR is the mirror of the Growth KR — it tracks downward movement from a current number to a lower target. As one of the essential types of Key Results, it applies wherever improvement means reducing something: errors, costs, churn, defects, or time.
When practitioners learn how to write Key Results for operational improvement Objectives, the Reduction KR is often the most appropriate choice but frequently gets overlooked in favour of Growth framing.
Learn all 6 types in depth
Module 4 of the OKR-BOK™ Certified Coach program covers every type of Key Result — with frameworks for choosing the right one for each Objective.
Explore the OKR-BOK™ Certified Coach Program →What is a Guardrail Key Result?
The Guardrail KR is one of the most underused types of Key Results — and one of the most valuable for risk management. Unlike Growth or Reduction KRs, it does not track movement in one direction. Instead, it defines a floor that must not be breached or a ceiling that must not be exceeded throughout the entire OKR cycle.
Guardrail KRs are critical in Key Results in OKR framework design when an Objective involves growth that could inadvertently damage customer experience, compliance standards, or operational health.
The Efficiency KR measures improvement in how fast or how cost-effectively something is delivered. It is ideal for process optimisation Objectives and is a distinct type from Growth — it is not about doing more, but about doing the same thing better.
As one of the six types of Key Results, the Efficiency KR is particularly relevant for operations, HR, and L&D teams working on productivity-focused OKR measurement.
The Quality KR tracks improvement in the standard or rating of a product, service, or output. It is distinct from a Growth KR — it is not about volume or scale, but about the level of excellence achieved.
When learning how to write Key Results for product or service improvement Objectives, the Quality KR is the appropriate type. It is one of the six types of Key Results that most directly supports customer-centric strategy.
The Milestone KR is binary in nature — either done or not done. It is used when the most meaningful measure of progress is the completion of a specific, critical deliverable rather than a shift along a scale. Among the six types of Key Results, it is the one most frequently confused with an activity.
The critical distinction in Key Results in OKR framework design: a Milestone KR marks the completion of something strategically significant — not a routine task. If the milestone could disappear without affecting the Objective, it is an initiative, not a Key Result.
Teams who struggle with OKR measurement are rarely writing bad Key Results. They are writing the same Key Result — in six different ways.
— Nikhil Maini, Founder & CEO, OKR InternationalThe Golden Rule of Key Result Design
Every set of OKRs should use at least 2–3 different types of Key Results.
Consequently, a single type creates measurement blind spots. For example, a team using only Growth KRs will hit their numbers while allowing quality to slip, costs to rise, or customer satisfaction to erode — none of which the Growth KRs will detect.
Therefore, the most effective approach to OKR measurement combines types that view performance from different angles. For instance, a common high-performing combination pairs a Growth KR (increase revenue), a Quality KR (maintain product rating), and a Guardrail KR (keep churn below threshold). Together, they create a complete, balanced picture.
Ultimately, the Benefits of OKRs are only fully realised when Key Results are designed with this balance in mind. A framework that measures only growth will eventually optimise for growth at the expense of everything else.
April 2026 Cohort — 16–17 April
The OKR-BOK™ Certified Coach program covers all 6 types of Key Results in Module 4 — with live practice, diagnostic frameworks, and real-play scenarios. ICF endorsed. HRCI approved.
Enroll in the April 2026 Cohort →Applying This in Practice
The most common question when practitioners learn how to write Key Results using multiple types is: how do you choose which type to use for each Objective? The OKR Key Results examples in this guide offer a starting point — but the real skill lies in recognising the nature of the change being measured.
First, start with the nature of the change. If success means a number going up — Growth KR. Down — Reduction KR. A standard maintained — Guardrail KR. Faster or cheaper — Efficiency KR. Higher quality — Quality KR. A critical deliverable completed — Milestone KR. Moreover, the OKR Key Results examples across all six types confirm that this simple diagnostic resolves most measurement design questions immediately.
Finally, the full decision framework for selecting the right type for every Objective — including the common mistakes made when mixing types — is covered in the OKR-BOK™ Certified Coach program. In summary, understanding Key Results in OKR framework design at this level is what separates coaches who build lasting OKR capability from those who deliver workshops.
