How to Create Objectives and Key Results in CrmLeaf
All editions. Requires the Performance add-on module to be enabled for your account. Performance is a paid module, not part of the core feature set, so the OKR screens appear only after an Administrator…
Availability: All editions. Requires the Performance add-on module to be enabled for your account. Performance is a paid module, not part of the core feature set, so the OKR screens appear only after an Administrator enables it.
Overview
The Performance module manages goals as OKRs: an Objective states what you intend to achieve, and its Key Results define how progress is measured. An Objective can be owned by a user, a department or a project, so the same structure works for individual goals, team goals and project goals. Objectives link to employees in HR, and the resulting performance data can inform increment processing in Payroll.
How It Works
You create the Objective and choose its owner, then add Key Results with the metric each one is measured by. Owners record check-ins against the Key Results, progress rolls up to the Objective, and the performance dashboard shows the overall picture.
Create Objective → Set owner → Add Key Results → Record check-ins → Progress status → Dashboard
- An Objective is owned by a user, a department or a project.
- Each Key Result carries a metric, which is what check-ins update.
- Progress from Key Results is scored and rolled up to the Objective, producing a progress status.
- Objectives link to employees in HR, so goals sit alongside the employee record.
- Performance data can inform Payroll increment processing when salary changes are reviewed.
Who Can Use This Feature?
Administrator
- Enable the Performance module and grant access per role.
- Create Objectives for users, departments and projects.
- Review scoring and rollup on the performance dashboard.
User
- Create and maintain their own Objectives where their role allows it.
- Add Key Results and their metrics.
- Record check-ins and follow progress status.
Access depends on the modules and role assigned by your Administrator.
Prerequisites
- The Performance add-on module is enabled for your account.
- Employees, departments and, where relevant, projects exist so an owner can be selected.
- You know the metric for each Key Result and how it will be measured.
For Administrators
Step 1: Prepare owners and access
What to do: Confirm departments and employee records are in place, then grant the roles that need it access to the Performance module.
What to verify: The intended users, departments and projects can be selected as Objective owners.
Step 2: Agree the OKR structure before creating records
What to do: Decide how Objectives will be split between individual, department and project ownership for the period, so scoring is comparable across teams.
What to verify: Each planned Objective has an identified owner and at least one measurable Key Result.
For Users
Step 1: Open the objectives list
Review the existing Objectives before adding a new one, to avoid duplicating a goal that already exists.
Step 2: Create the Objective
Select Add, describe the Objective, and select its owner: a user, a department or a project. Save the record.
Step 3: Add Key Results
Add each Key Result that measures the Objective, with the metric it is tracked by. Keep the number small so progress stays meaningful.
Step 4: Confirm the rollup
Check that the Objective shows a progress status once its Key Results exist. Progress on the Objective comes from its Key Results, so an Objective without Key Results cannot be scored.
Step 5: Start the check-in cycle
Agree how often the owner will record check-ins, then record the first check-in against each Key Result.
Field and Option Reference
| Field / Option | Description | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | The goal to be achieved. | Yes |
| Owner | The user, department or project that owns the Objective. | Yes |
| Key Result | A measurable result that contributes to the Objective. | Yes |
| Metric | What the Key Result is measured by. | Yes |
| Progress status | The status derived from check-in progress on the Key Results. | Derived |
Expected Result
The Objective is saved under Objective with its owner and Key Results, and it shows a progress status that updates as check-ins are recorded.
Service Organisation Context
Objectives suit two things well in a service organisation: consultant development, such as a certification or a move up a delivery grade, and delivery-quality goals, such as reducing rework on a workstream or improving the client rating captured when a project closes. Because an Objective can be owned by a user, a department or a project, an engagement team can carry a shared goal while each consultant still owns their own measures. Performance data can inform an increment discussion in Payroll, but no salary or staffing change follows automatically — that stays a deliberate decision made elsewhere.
Important Notes
- Menu names and their position can differ between product editions and can be customised for your account, so your sidebar may not match these paths exactly. Use Search or your Quick Access items if you cannot find a screen.
- Performance is a paid add-on module. Confirm it is included in your plan before you roll OKRs out to your teams.
- Objectives link to employees in HR. Keep employee records current so ownership and reporting stay accurate.
- Performance data can inform Payroll increment processing, so agree with HR how OKR outcomes will be used before the review period starts.
Common Scenarios
Example: a department goal with individual contributions. Create one Objective owned by the department for the quarter, then create individual Objectives for each team member whose Key Results support it. The department Objective reports team progress while each person still owns their own measures.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Possible Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Objective does not appear in the menu. | The Performance module is not enabled, or your role has no access. | Ask an Administrator to enable the module and grant access. |
| The Objective shows no progress. | It has no Key Results, or no check-ins have been recorded. | Add Key Results with metrics and record a check-in. |
| A department cannot be selected as owner. | The department does not exist in HR. | Create the department, then reopen the Objective. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a project own an Objective?
Yes. An Objective can be owned by a user, a department or a project.
How is an Objective scored?
From its Key Results. Check-in progress on the Key Results is scored and rolled up to the Objective.
Do OKRs affect salary automatically?
No. Performance data can inform increment processing in Payroll, but a salary change is made deliberately in Payroll.
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