Summary
OKRs only work if they stay current. This article covers the mechanics of keeping your goals updated in Brev — from manual check-ins to automated data pulls — and the habits that make it sustainable.
The Staleness Problem
Most OKR systems fail at the same point: goals get set in January and nobody looks at them until the end-of-quarter panic. By then, half the data is stale, context is lost, and scoring becomes guesswork.
Brev is built to fight staleness. The combination of check-in reminders, automated Metric updates, and Cadence meeting integration makes it much harder to fall behind.
Setting a Consistent Update Rhythm
The most effective teams update OKRs on a predictable schedule — typically weekly for Key Results and daily for fast-moving KPIs. Here's how to set it up:
1. Go to the goal's detail view.
2. Click Check-in settings (or Edit).
3. Set the update frequency — weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
4. Confirm the owner is correct. Reminders go to the owner.
5. Save.
Brev will send a reminder to the owner at the configured frequency. The reminder includes the current value, last update, and a direct link to update.
Pro tip: Weekly is almost always the right default. Monthly is too infrequent to catch problems early; daily is overkill unless you're tracking something operationally critical.
Key Task: Turn on Your Check-In (Update) Rhythm
Enable alerts and reminders in Slack/Email on a set cadence on a given day and time to notify users to check-in on their Goals.
Go to → Settings → Product → Check-In Rhythm
Set day/time
Enable or disable email reminders
Note: If Brev is connected to your meetings and tools, it will pre-draft your and your team's check-ins autonomously.
Pro Tip: Pre-Drafted Check Ins
Brev will pre-generate check-ins for you and your team (seen below) that will appear in several embedded experiences across the product. You will see suggested check-ins in:
The Quick View Details panel of your Goals
The My Check-Ins tab
In the Brev Slack App
When you use any of the 'Check-In' buttons
What to Include in a Check-In
A good check-in is more than a number. When you update a goal, capture:
1. Current value — The actual number or status.
2. Confidence level — Are you on track, at risk, or off track?
3. Brief commentary — What happened this week? What's the blocker? One or two sentences is enough.
This commentary is what makes OKR reviews useful. Numbers tell you where you are; context tells you why.
Ways to check in
1) Slack Updates
Team members can update goals directly from Slack without opening Brev. Best for:
Teams that live in Slack and won't switch contexts
Quick status updates during async standups or check-ins
Reminders can be sent out using a cadence that is configurable in your Settings > Product.
2) Automated Data Pulls
For Metric goals connected to an integration (Google Sheets, HubSpot, Salesforce, etc.), Brev pulls the current value on a schedule. Best for:
Revenue, pipeline, or usage metrics that live in other tools
KPIs that update frequently and would be tedious to update manually
3) Manual Check-Ins
The owner opens the goal and enters a current value, status update, or progress note. Best for:
Qualitative goals where data doesn't come from a system
Milestone goals (completed / not completed)
Goals where context matters as much as the number
There are multiple ways to check-in manually within the system
⚠️ Note: Leaving an at-risk goal marked as "On track" creates false confidence at the leadership level. The system only works if you update status honestly.
(4) Automatic rollups from child goals
Check-ins can also happen automatically through:
Child goal rollups (updates roll up to parent goals)
Additional automated mechanisms that keep goal status current
Success check: Your goals stay current through Slack, auto-tracking, manual check-ins, and rollups—without extra busywork.
Handling At-Risk Goals
When a goal falls behind, don't wait for the quarter-end review to surface it. In Brev:
1. Open the goal and change the status to At risk or Off track.
2. Add a note explaining why.
3. Tag a stakeholder in the comment if you need help or a decision.
At-risk goals are surfaced automatically in Cadence meetings and Team Digests, so the right people see them without you having to manually escalate.
More questions?
As always, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] with any questions or directly chat with us in the Brev app.