How do I create a Key Result using Project tracked in Profit?

Category: OKRs

In Profit.co, you can create a Key Result of type Project Tracked, linking it directly to an existing project or milestone so that project progress automatically drives Key Result progress — no manual check-ins required.

What is a Project Tracked Key Result?

A Project Tracked Key Result is an Activity-based Key Result type in Profit.co that derives its progress from a linked project or milestone managed within the platform. When you select Project Tracked as the type, you associate the Key Result with a specific project under the Project & Milestone section.

Once linked, a link icon appears on the Key Result row to indicate its association with a supporting project. Any progress recorded in the linked project is automatically reflected in the Key Result.

Why Project Tracked Key Results Matter

When execution teams work in projects, their day-to-day progress rarely surfaces at the strategic OKR level without manual intervention. Project Tracked Key Results close that gap — project completion percentages roll up directly into the Key Result, keeping OKR status current without requiring separate check-ins.

This also creates clear accountability: every project contributor can see how their work maps to a measurable business outcome, reinforcing strategic alignment across teams.

How It Works

Step 1

  1. Go to OKRs from the left navigation panel.
  2. Hover over the required Objective under which you want to create the Key Result and click the + icon.
  3. Click the +Add Initiative option to create the project tracked key result.

Step 2

  1. On the Create Key Result page, enter the name of the key result.
  2. In the Type drop-down, choose Project Tracked.
  3. Under Project & Milestones, select the relevant Project or Milestone from the drop-down list, enter the required details, and click Create.

All subsequent project progress updates will reflect automatically in the Key Result.

Note: A link icon will appear on the Key Result row confirming the project association.

Project Tracked vs. Other Activity-Based Key Result Types

Type Tracks Progress From Best Used When
Project Tracked Linked project completion in Profit.co Execution is managed as a project within the platform
Milestone Tracked Milestone completion steps Goal has sequential, binary stages (e.g., hire, launch)
Task Tracked Task completion in Workspace Key Result is broken into discrete, assignable tasks

Best Practices for Project Tracked Key Results

  • Link the Key Result to a project only after the project is fully set up in Profit.co — incomplete project structures will result in inaccurate progress rollups.
  • Use Milestone Tracked instead of Project Tracked when your project consists of distinct sequential phases rather than an overall completion percentage.
  • Name the Key Result to reflect the strategic outcome, not the project name — the link icon already surfaces the project association.
  • Assign the Key Result to the project owner to maintain a single point of accountability between execution and strategy.
  • Review linked Key Results at each OKR check-in cycle to confirm the project scope hasn't changed in a way that would misrepresent strategic progress.

Related Questions

Click here to learn more about which Key Result type to choose

Click here to learn more about what Milestone Tracked Key Result implies

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I link a single Key Result to multiple projects?

No. Each Project Tracked Key Result supports a single project or milestone association. If you need to track multiple projects under one Objective, create a separate Project Tracked Key Result for each.

Q2. What happens to the Key Result progress if the linked project is deleted?

Deleting the linked project will break the association. The Key Result will no longer receive automatic progress updates and will need to be reconfigured or switched to a different tracking type.

Q3. Can I switch a Project Tracked Key Result to a different type after creation?

Key Result types can be edited after creation. However, switching types will remove the project link and reset the progress calculation method, so this should be done with caution.

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