As a leader you are judged on the results that you deliver. Being able to judge how successful you have been individually and collectively as an organisation depends on you being able to effectively measure performance. So what barriers are typically encountered that get in the way of measuring performance effectively?
Barrier 1: Splendid isolation
Have you ever worked in an organisation where a huge amount of time is spent planning and the measurement of results is almost an afterthought? Too often organisations see measuring performance as being something distinct from planning. As a result measures are developed in what I call splendid isolation.
Solution: If you want to measure effectively , develop measures as part of your business planning process.
Barrier 2: Not focussed on results
You know that leaders are measured on results. Yet in truth, leaders often fall into the trap of focusing on measuring activities such as undertaking an employee survey rather than results that they want, for example, determine employees' assessment of leadership in the business.
Solution: Check that your measures are actually focusing on results rather than activities
Barrier 3: Lack of clarity
Sometimes there is just a lack of clarity about how something is measured, what it is measuring, and the results that are arising or the reasons for the results.
Solution: In designing measurement systems, make sure there is clarity about the measures and what they are seeking to provide objective evidence on.
Barrier 4: No involvement
If something is imposed on you how do you feel – resentful, uncooperative, dumped on or something else? Chances are that you will not be highly motivated.
Solution: If you want people to buy into measurement, get them involved in designing, developing and implementing the measures.
Barrier 5: Overload
There are two key issues here. The first is just having too many measures and the second is spending time and energies on things that do not matter.
Solution: Make sure that you have a small number of measures that are critical to the current and future success of the organisation rather than a long list.
Bottom Line – Measurement is powerful tool for a leader, if you make sure that it focuses on what matters.