Welcome to IntelliWork 1-1-1 –a weekly newsletter that helps purpose-driven companies bridge the gap between strategy and execution. In this edition you will discover 1 Insight to spark fresh thinking, 1 Framework or model to structure your approach, and 1 Practical Application to turn ideas into action. The weekly 1-1-1 aims to help visionaries innovate faster, strengthen operations, and make a meaningful impact along the way.
1-Insight | Why Corporate Impact Missions Fail
Many organizations set ambitious targets, only to lose momentum as the year progresses. Teams across the organization get busy, priorities being to shift, and those early ideas we were once all excited about become an afterthought.
OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) offer a structured way to keep critical goals front and center. By establishing clear objectives and measurable results, you maintain focus and accountability—even as business demands and community needs evolve.
1-Framework | OKR Execution Checklist
An OKR (Objectives and Key Results) framework can help companies with CSR initiatives and social enterprises transform their aspirations into measurable progress. By identifying a single overarching objective that encapsulates the social or environmental impact they wish to create, organizations can set a clear direction that resonates across all teams and departments. They then quantify this goal through a small set of Key Results, each linked to a specific metric or milestone focus demonstrates achievement.
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This structure ensures that all levels of the organization —from the Senior leaders to frontline employees—understands how their work supports the broader mission, fosters partnership and inspired purpose driven performance. Regularly reviewing these Key Results promotes agility by allowing teams to pivot in response to changing conditions, without losing sight of their overarching purpose.
Ultimately, an OKR framework ensures that CSR and social impact initiatives become ongoing, data-driven efforts that are both actionable and delivers tangible value to society.
1-Practical Application | Using OKRs to Maximize Community Impact
A community development organization approached Nortalis to help address longstanding issues of organizational distrust and dwindling community engagement. By applying a structured, results-focused framework, Nortalis guided them in rebuilding trust and fostering renewed involvement. Below is an overview of how the organization jumpstarted its transformation:
1) Define a Purpose-Driven Objective
Nortalis began by working with leadership to craft a clear, compelling goal: “Re-engage and empower local residents.” By anchoring their efforts in this objective, the organization set the stage for meaningful, trust-building initiatives that aligned with both internal and external partners.
2) Establish Community-Focused Key Results
The next step involved creating tangible targets that would rebuild credibility and entice the community to return:
- KR #1: Host three neighborhood events centered on active volunteering and skill-building workshops.
- KR #2: Direct 5% of the organization’s budget toward new outreach projects specifically designed for youth and senior populations.
- KR #3: Secure at least two local partnerships or media features to highlight these initiatives and demonstrate transparency in rebuilding efforts.
- KR #4: Develop a community resource navigator program that quarterly connects 2-5 community members to resources that support financial, workforce, or housing needs.
With Nortalis’ support, these Key Results were defined to bridge organizational objectives with the community’s immediate needs.
3) Integrate With Everyday Operations
To ensure these goals became part of the culture rather than one-off activities, Nortalis helped integrate them into the organization’s daily property management and neighborhood revitalization investment efforts. Strateg8c Partner collaboration was encouraged; board members transitioned to a working board supporting key event logistics, administrative partners supported operations, while volunteer community advocates regularly reached out to neighbors to maintain a loop of communication with the organization. By embedding these strategies into day-to-day processes, the community collectively began to embrace the re-engagement efforts.
4)Track Progress & Celebrate Milestones
Using Nortalis’ recommended tracking tools, the organization monitored volunteer sign-ups, event attendance, and budget allocations in real-time. Each win—such as achieving 50% of the targeted outreach funding—was celebrated via newsletter updates. Public acknowledgment of these successes proved crucial in restoring trust and encouraging further community involvement.
5) Reflect & Refine
At the end of each quarter, the organization we conducted a thorough review of what worked, what fell short, and why. Strategies that showed promise in re-establishing trust were expanded, while those that didn’t resonate were recalibrated or replaced. This cycle of continuous improvement ensured the organization remained adaptive and responsive to the community’s evolving needs, ultimately laying the groundwork for a lasting partnership between residents and the community development organization.
Why This Works
When you blend core business goals with social objectives—and measure them using a straightforward OKR system—you nurture a more engaged team and a stronger brand identity. Instead of viewing community initiatives as “extra,” you lock them into concrete, quantifiable targets that advance the organization while benefitting society.
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Book of the Month
“Measure What Matters” by John Doerr A deep dive into the power of OKRs, featuring real-world success stories from companies like Google and Bono’s ONE Campaign. If you’re serious about turning lofty ideas into consistent action—and tying it to social or community goals—this book is your go-to guide.
Final Note
If you found this newsletter helpful, share it with a friend or colleague who’s exploring OKRs for both business growth and community impact.
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Stay tuned for next week’s 1 Insight | 1 Framework | 1 Practical Application, where we’ll dive into lean operations strategies you can tie back to broader goals—keeping your organization both efficient and impactful.
