Focus on results

Those of you who read this blog regulalry will not be surprised that I return quite often to the topic of Results -Oriented Targets.

Too many organisations - and managers - want  to focus on Inputs …especially  hours worked.  Yet we know that productivity is the ratio of outputs to inputs - and we increase productivity by increasing outputs or reducing inputs.  

So a focus on inputs can help improve productivity but it can also be taken too far.

 

It is important to  concentrate on the top line (of the productivity ratio) and assess whether staff are making an effective contribution to output measures. This allows managers to stop micro-managing and to start trusting  employees to deliver on objectives and targets .  Employees then become accountable for their efforts and their performance - and they tend to gain higher levels of job satisfaction.

Managers, in turn, must set firm expectations and clear targets within a culture of trust and autonomy. This must be matched with effective communication.

It sounds easy - but it isn't.  The culture is so important - it must permeate all levels of the organisation and be consistent over time. 

So, build the culture and start to focus not on what people do - but on what they achieve.