Stretch Goal

A Stretch Goal is a target set deliberately beyond what you believe is comfortably achievable. In the OKR framework, stretch goals are fundamental — they encourage you to think bigger, take risks, and achieve more than you would with conservative targets. The philosophy is that aiming high and hitting 70% is better than aiming low and hitting 100%.

The concept is closely tied to Google's approach to OKRs, where achieving 60-70% of a stretch goal is considered a success. If you consistently achieve 100% of your OKRs, your targets likely aren't ambitious enough. Stretch goals create a healthy tension between aspiration and reality, driving innovation and growth.

Using stretch goals effectively requires a shift in mindset: "failure" to reach 100% isn't actually failure — it's a sign that you pushed yourself. This is why OKR scoring typically maps 70% completion to a "success" rather than requiring full completion. The danger with stretch goals is setting them so high that they feel impossible, which can be demotivating. The sweet spot is targets that make you uncomfortable but not hopeless.