Measure what matters

One Christmas, when I was about five years old, I got mad after unwrapping my presents. I was really disappointed because I hadn’t gotten enough. I wanted more presents to unwrap, but there weren’t anymore under the tree.

Fast forward just a year, and I got the new bicycle I wanted! It was a Motocyke, or a bicycle with a hard plastc body molded and painted to look like a motorcycle (kind of).

I didn’t get much else that year, except maybe a few stocking stuffers.

But I was excited! The new bicycle was exactly what I wanted.

So what changed between that year, where just one present was exactly right, and the year before, where I thought Santa hadn’t left enough presents?

I had matured a bit, and my expectations had changed.

Rather than wanting lots of presents, I wanted exactly the right present.

I replaced a quantitative KPI—number of presents unwrapped—with a qualitiative one—level of satisfaction.

And now, as a parent, it isn’t even my satisfaction that matters on Christmas anymore.

I started measuring what matters. And I’ve never had a disappointing Christmas since.

So let me know...

What truly matters in your company?

Do your current KPIs measure what truly matters?

Hit REPLY and tell me about it!