Ditch the Guesswork: How OKRs Bring Clarity, Focus, and Real Results

Let’s be honest—OKRs might sound like something out of a corporate retreat agenda. But don’t let the acronym fool you. Objectives and Key Results are one of the most powerful tools an orthodontic practice can use to get aligned, stay focused, and actually move the needle.

On this episode of the Hey Docs! podcast, Jill sits down with Casey Bull, founder of CascadEffects, to unpack how practices can implement OKRs in a way that’s simple, strategic, and (spoiler) actually works.

What Are OKRs—And Why Should You Care?

At their core, OKRs ask two essential questions:

1. What are we trying to achieve?

2. How will we know we’re making progress?

That’s it. No fluff. No corporate mumbo jumbo. Just clarity.

Unlike lagging metrics like case starts or production reports, OKRs shift your focus toward what’s ahead. They help your team stop reacting and start planning, turning vague goals into measurable wins.

How to Get Started Without Getting Stuck

You don’t need to overhaul your entire practice. Casey’s advice? Start small.

• One quarter

• One team

• One clear objective

Pick 1–2 goals that actually matter, then outline the key results that would prove you’re making progress.

Example: Want to improve new patient follow-up? Track voicemail response time, missed calls, and scheduling rate. Suddenly, you’ve got data, not just a feeling that things “should be better.”

Define Your “10 State”: What Does Great Look Like?

Casey introduces a concept we love: the “10 state.”
It’s your dream practice in action—when everything clicks. The right systems, the right energy, the right patients walking through your doors.

OKRs help reverse-engineer that vision. Start with the future you want, and build the roadmap to get there—one focused quarter at a time.

Shift the Spotlight: Team-Led Meetings & Shared Accountability

If you’re still leading every meeting solo, you might be holding your team back. Casey encourages a powerful shift: let your team own their OKRs.

Team-led check-ins, shared wins, and personal accountability turn your meetings into momentum. When every team member knows what they’re driving toward and why, it’s no longer about micromanagement. It’s about buy-in.

Make Space for the Rocks (Not Just the Sand)

Your days are full of calls, emails, quick questions, and putting out fires. That’s the sand.

OKRs help you carve out space for the rocks: the high-impact initiatives that move your practice forward.

It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing more of what matters.

Ready to Test It Out?

Here’s your challenge:
Start with one team goal this quarter.
Talk about it.
Track it.
Tweak it.

No perfection required—just progress. You’ll be amazed at how quickly the conversation shifts from “Are we doing enough?” to “Are we doing the right things?”

Want more?  Tune into the full episode of Hey Docs! for more gems on aligning your team and setting your goals with intention.

Final Takeaway

You don’t need to work harder to get better results;  you just need a smarter system. OKRs give your team direction, structure, and purpose. And when that happens? You don’t just grow, you grow together.