| Don't think you're being a hero by having dozens of | | | | So carry your priority performance measure graphs |
| performance measures and targets, and driving hard | | | | and targets around with you, put them before |
| to achieve them all. You might say "well all these | | | | anything else on management meeting agendas, hang |
| measures are really important and I just have to | | | | them up on the office walls. One CEO I worked with |
| achieve them all". You're fooling yourself, because all | | | | hung laminated poster-sized graphs of his 3 most |
| the evidence says that those who prioritise | | | | important performance measures right outside his |
| ruthlessly, achieve far more of their goals, and far | | | | office door, updated daily by his personal assistant. |
| bigger goals. | | | | Tip 3: Practice focusing on your priority measures. |
| Tip 1: Make only a few measures the priority at any | | | | While keeping your performance priorities in clear site |
| one time. | | | | all the time can actually make some real progress |
| Usually you're measuring a goal or result because | | | | toward achieving them (a phenomenon of the |
| you're NOT currently achieving it to the level you | | | | reticular activating system [1] in your brain), if you |
| really want or need. And that means that your | | | | want to truly achieve those results, you have to |
| business or organisation doesn't yet have the innate | | | | take deliberate action. |
| capability to do it well. When you can't yet do | | | | Practice every day focusing on your priority |
| something well, trying to focus on dozens of things is | | | | measures. Read your priority goals and visualise them |
| like trying to learn to swim in a giant washing | | | | being achieved. Plan each day to ensure you are |
| machine. | | | | dedicating at least one task to close in on priority |
| The more priorities you have, the fewer of them (if | | | | targets. Ask colleagues and staff what they are |
| any) you will do justice. Each month or quarter, | | | | doing to improve the priority measures' performance. |
| choose just your 3 to 5 highest performance | | | | Check and test if actions you and others are taking |
| priorities and give your attention to them first. | | | | are having some real and objective impact. |
| Tip 2: Display your priority measures everywhere. | | | | Performance improvement - no matter how big - |
| You know what they say: out of sight, out of mind. | | | | starts with you. |
| Successful athletes, business people, celebrities - they | | | | Changes - like business performance improvement - |
| all know that you have to keep reminding yourself | | | | just won't happen without clarity of thought, focus, |
| what matters most. Every single day. At least once, | | | | and the discipline to act. Which changes are currently |
| every single day. | | | | most worthy of your daily discipline and effort? |