Outcomes and cycles

Outcomes are the few goals each leader is going after this cycle, like "Cut order-to-ship time from 6 days to 4". A cycle is the stretch of weeks those outcomes live in. By default a cycle is a quarter.

Add an outcome

1. Open Outcomes (or press G U) and add a new one.
2. Fill in:
   • Outcome: what you're going after, in plain words.
   • Responsibility and KPI it moves: optional links that show up in the brief and on the Overview.
   • Measured as: a number, percent, currency or milestone.
   • Start, Target and Now: for number-style outcomes, so progress draws itself.
   • Status and Confidence: 1 is a long shot, 5 is in the bag.
3. Save it.

Most leaders do best with 3 to 5. ClearAim gives a gentle nudge above 5, since fewer outcomes usually means more of them get done.

Keep outcomes current

• Post an update on the outcome page: where it stands, the status (On track, Needs attention, Off track or Done) and your confidence, plus a note.
• Or just reply to your check-in. "Freight quote outcome still on track, at 4.8 days" is enough. ClearAim records the update for you.
• Changed priorities? Set an outcome aside. It stays in the history without counting against anyone.

How cycles work

• Week numbers start at 1 every cycle, so "week 6" always means the same thing.
• Companies can use quarters, months, six weeks or custom dates. Open Outcomes → Manage cycles to see them all.
• When a cycle wraps up, its Review shows outcomes reached, tasks done by responsibility and project, KPI trends and highlights. Owners and admins can add notes, and Company plans can download it as a PDF.
• From the review, Start next cycle closes this one and opens the next, with no gap in check-ins or briefs. Unfinished outcomes are copied forward with their latest value as the new starting point.

Your first cycle: the onboarding cycle

You don't need to wait for a new quarter to get going.

• It starts the day you sign up and runs to the end of the current quarter, even if that's only a few weeks away.
• It's a warm-up. Use it to set up positions, try check-ins and get comfortable.
• The CEO can close it early. On the Cycles page, the company owner can choose Close out onboarding and the next full cycle becomes the active one.
• The next full quarter is the first that counts for trends, reviews and celebrations, so nobody starts behind.

Tips

• Write outcomes as results, not tasks. "Launch the new pick-list layout" beats "Work on pick lists".
• Link a KPI when the outcome moves a number. The brief then knows the KPI is on pace.
• Copy unfinished outcomes forward from the Outcomes page if you'd rather do it before the review.