The Time Management of Personal Performance

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A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is a business term used to describe established activities meant to manage to a desired outcome. KPIs should be set as leading not lagging indicators.

“Leading indicators are sometimes described as inputs. They define what actions are necessary to achieve your goals with measurable outcomes. They ‘lead’ to successfully meeting overall business objectives, which is why they are called ‘leading’”. (1)

Typical leading indicators in sales are number of calls made, number of new quotes, number of days to close a sale, and number of new prospects established.

“Lagging indicators measure output that’s already occurred to gain insight on future success.” (1)

Standard lagging indicators for companies would be revenue, return on investment, customer retention, and expenses.

Having dealt with KPIs my entire career, they have sometimes been portrayed as “keep producing infinitely.” KPIs were out there – measured and discussed. However, there never seemed to be a solid tie into a time management program. Therefore, people don’t tend to look at KPIs as personal but more professional. That is a missed opportunity. Consider these steps to bring key performance indicators into the personal realm, making them PKPIs.

Tie PKPIs to personal goals

If you do not have personal goals set, dedicate time now and establish them. Not sure where to start, click here and find a free template for you to use.

Let’s say you have a goal to “get a new job.” On top of getting a resume set and working on your interview skills, there are certain leading indictors to help you achieve that ambition.

• Searching for a job
• Applying for jobs
• Networking

The PKPI should be a pathway to completing the personal goal.

Create a way to measure PKPIs

Once you know you have markers in place to move you towards the goal, the next test is to ensure they can be quantified. Using our “get a new job example” the PKPIs now could look like:

• Searching for a job 3 hours a day after work.
• Applying for a minimum of 5 jobs a day.
• Conduct 2 networking meetings a week.

There is now a tangible way to measure your effort and progress.

Have a system to track and evaluate your PKPIs

Many companies are great at setting KPIs, fair at tracking them, and poor at using the data to tie back to the goal. Don’t let yourself fall into this trap as well. As you look to “get a new job,” responsibility for the PKPI might be like:

• I will hold myself accountable for searching for a job 3 hours a day after work by blocking my calendar off from 6 to 9 pm and writing a note each day on my activities.
• I will print off each job I am applying for and bundle them by day to ensure I have a minimum of 5 applications a day.
• I will conduct 2 networking meetings a week that will be indicated on my calendar by the invitations I send to people.

In each instance, there must be a way for you to look back and know what has been accomplished. Be ready to reward yourself when you make it and evaluate (not punish) yourself when you miss.

PKPIs may change

Another weakness, businesses do not adjust KPIs when they are not helping to deliver to the goal. Using our “getting a new job” example, after a period of working the fictitious PKPIs, these changes might need to be made.

• I will increase searching for a job to 4 hours a day after work, by blocking my calendar off from 6 to 10 pm and writing a note each day on my activities.
• I will print off each job I am applying for and bundle them by day to ensure I have a minimum of 3 applications a day.
• I will now conduct 4 networking meetings a week that will be indicated on my calendar by the invitations I send to people.

If your PKPIs are not getting you closer to the goal, modify and amend them. Add new and remove old. Remember, they are there to get you to the goal, not keep you in place.

Control your destiny, steer your path, guide a way ahead. Create for yourself goals, and then tie it together with leading, measurable Personal Key Performance Indicators. You will be placing more time in the areas that need your attention and investment of time.

Dave Buck is the Chief Time Keeper of?Kairos Management Solutions.

Learn about your time management opportunities by taking and getting a free?Time Management Analysis (TMA)?summary report.?Schedule an appointment?with Dave Buck to discuss a full-time management improvement program for individuals, teams and companies.?

(1) Leading vs Lagging Indicators: What’s The Difference?