Act now: Clear KPIs crucial for team success
When your teams don’t have clear KPIs, the business impact is bigger than missed targets.
You get confusion, slow progress, repeated mistakes and a constant sense that the business is working hard but not moving forward fast enough.
Business leaders end up filling the gaps, stepping in to solve problems and carrying far more than they should.
Being nice (giving them a fish) and being kind (tough love teaching them to fish) are very different. The latter allows them to develop and step up AND frees you from holding their hand daily.
Most business leaders know they should set KPIs, but it often doesn’t happen because:
they are already stretched and overwhelmed
it feels easier to “just get on with it”
they worry the team might resist
the goals in their head never quite make it onto paper
they don’t want to micromanage
they’ve had bad experiences with KPIs being used negatively in the past
But without agreed measures, teams cannot take ownership and step up.
And without accountability, progress becomes optional.
KPIs can and should be used with team members so everybody is clear on what is expected and when. There should be a consequence if they are not met and a reward if they are.
Clear KPIs give direction, alignment and shared responsibility for each member of the team. They create focus, protect your time and help your team understand what success actually looks like.
Recommended strategies to adopt (that I use with 1-2-1 clients):
set no more than three KPIs per role (KISS) - at formal appraisals
make every KPI specific, measurable and time-bound
agree them together, not top-down (they will often be more ambitious than you)
review progress at least weekly in short informal check-ins so you don’t veer too much
celebrate wins and address issues early
link KPIs to the wider business goals so everyone understands the “why”
When KPIs are used as a tool for clarity, not pressure, teams thrive and leaders finally get the space to lead.
When I work with my clients 1-2-1, we agree a set of business growth indicators (BGIs) that are forward facing forecasts of success. Where do you want to be with GP for example in three, six and 12 months V today? For all BGIs to be met, each team and team member must have a set of KPIs to achieve that contribute to the success of the business.
In the current climate it is time for you to step-up, agree some targets and have the conversations needed to get the results.
This is no longer a like to have, it’s a need to have. If you are serious about results in 2026, these need setting and agreeing now.