Further Guidelines in Setting Performance Objectives

Click here to view a video that explains, begin with the end in mind.

Step 1: Begin with the End In Mind

Performance measures are objective comparisons that provide evidence of an important performance outcome. It is of the utmost importance to decide which outcomes are most worth tracking right now. As the first step in deciding how to measure an outcome, write down what the outcome is, what the difference is you are trying to create (and thus want to track using a measure). Focus on one outcome at a time.

Step 2: Be Sensory Specific

When you have the end in mind, you are ready to get a handle on what specifically about your outcome you will measure. This is where you take care in your choice of words to describe the outcome as concretely as possible. Use "sensory" language - the language that describes what you and others would see, hear, feel, do, taste or smell if your outcome was happening now. Avoid those inert words that we so often see in our goal and objective statements, such as: efficient, effective, reliable, sustainable and quality.

Step 3: Check the Bigger Picture

Check the bigger picture for what could happen if you measure your outcome. What level of control do you have overachieving it? What might the unintended  positive and negative consequences of measuring the outcome be? What behaviour would the measures drive? Which other areas of performance might be sabotaged or limited? This is your first chance to change your mind about what's most worth measuring.

Step 4: What's the Evidence?

Now, get ultra-specific and figure out what the potential measures are that could let you (and everyone else) know that the outcome is being achieved. For each of your sensory rich statements from step 2, what could you count to tell you the extent to which it is occurring? Which of these potential measures would be the optimal balance between objectivity and feasibility?

Step 5: Name the Measure

Naming your performance measures marks the point at which you know exactly what you will be measuring. Be concise, informative and deliberate, as you need to be able to continually and easily identify each measure as it moves through the steps of being brought to life and being used in decision making.