Monthly Archives: April 2013

#122 Relationship with metrics

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Everyone in the workplace is moving a metric. For example, the CEO is trying to move the stock price upwards, the CFO is trying to move costs downwards.

Before you can move the metric, you have to obtain it. This “measurement” is done by specialists, or by the person who needs the metric. Sometimes this measurement is easy because self service tools are available. Think of a traffic policeman with a radar gun. Sometimes this is difficult. Think of the operations function in organizations, most of them struggle to obtain business process related metrics.

Finding the right metric will take you 80% to insight. The problem is, getting the measurement takes 80% of the time, with only 20% left for analysis, interpretation, and recommendations.

The beauty of fixing this problem is that it will reveal the improvements to be made for the metrics to be meaningful.

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#121 The Next Level

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Here is a problem with success: expectations begin to rise. No sooner than a task is completed, there is an immediate need to ratchet up performance. This can be a blessing or a real pain. It can be motivating or a depressant.

Almost every human I know needs physical and psychological rest between accomplishments. Almost no one can handle the relentless pace of change that is thrust upon them. Assess the capacity to absorb change and the need for recuperation from the prior effort in your audience before you hand out goals.

More important, as you challenge yourself, do not place an undue burden upon yourself. Give yourself time to recuperate before you take on the next level of achievement. In other words, don’t be a martyr unless it is really, really worth it.

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