Quick Question: What are our most important measures of success?
Quick Question
Here is today's quick question for you...What are our most important measures of success?
Ask it when you're...
Looking at a draft list of goals - Many teams are optimists. They impose unrealistic expectations on themselves and others in the name of ‘stretch’, ultimately demoralising everyone. If that sounds like your team, try asking this question when you’re setting goals.
Attempting to refocus your team - Shiny distractions can pull your team from the most important priorities throughout the year. This question can act as a circuit breaker when loud voices are shouting from an exciting but less important vantage point.
Reflecting on where you could spend your time this week - When your list is longer than the time available, anchoring back to your measures of success can keep you on track.
Listen for...
How does your organisation connect success measures to strategy? The measures that link to your most critical strategic imperatives are a great place to start.
Try to listen for:
Outcomes - teams will often talk about effort and time. Where you can, prompt them for expected outcomes.
Dependencies - identify critical dependencies (for example, is the data available?) that will limit the use of the measures.
Absences - are there any measures you would expect to hear about that are not bubbling to the surface?
This question will help team productivity, collaboration and motivation.
Follow up with...
Sometimes, the greatest value comes from the one extra question you take the time to ask.
In this situation, you could try…
If we can only achieve one thing, what would it be?
What should delay or ignore?
What if we do nothing?
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