Key Result Areas Guide

Strategic Planning

How to Write Great KRAs

Here are some good rules of thumb to follow while writing out KRAs:

  1. Don’t overcomplicate it. The purpose of a KRA is to bring clarity. It’s a document that only outlines the responsibilities and results you want a team member to own. Don’t add growth paths or company missions to it. Keep it simple.
  2. Keep it to one page. Remember, a KRA spells out a team member’s key responsibilities, not every single task they do. So keep it as short and concise as possible while still being clear.
  3. Make sure it’s realistic. Your team members are humans—well, the last time you checked they were—and humans can only do so many things in a workweek. So, keep in mind the other commitments and rhythms your team has, like staff meetings, leader meetings, standups, etc. By simply creating a KRA, you might even discover a role really requires more than one person.
  4. Remember a KRA has a short shelf life. A KRA is a living, breathing document that sets the pace for what winning looks like now. But it will change as the role (or the person in the role) changes, so be flexible.

Let's Create a KRA

The best way to learn how to create a KRA is to start with your own! Use the editable KRA template to create your KRA first.

  1. Fill in your name and title.
  2. Summarize your role. This should be a basic overview of what you’re responsible for by finishing this sentence: My role is responsible for_______.  
  3. Outline three to five key responsibilities that represent your Key Results Areas. Explain these responsibilities in two or three words like on-site safety or build strategic partnerships.
  4. Figure out what winning looks like in this role. How will you know if you’re succeeding? How will you hold yourself accountable?
  5.  Define some specific activities you must engage in to succeed. These should be simple and action oriented like walking the job site or meeting with potential strategic partners.
  6.  Sign and date your KRA. A KRA is a formal acknowledgement that says, I understand my responsibilities and I’m taking ownership of them.