Humanize your KPI’s

Measurement is great. Combined with goals and objectives, it’s the way to measure when you’ve made it, and the celebrations can start. But the way it’s being done is deeply flawed. Especially in the media space.

KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) exist everywhere. But they are thought up and run by accountants with little respect to the inherent creative nature of the business the same KPI’s are supposed to support. They are not felt. And as a consequence they don’t work as well as they could have.

What media companies should really do was to sit back and ask themselves, how they can input some creative meaning and sense into those cold, cold numbers? And how, directly following from that, they can communicate those metrics to their organizations and making these adapt to the model.

The premise for this is that I think that people have no problem with being measured and measuring everything themselves. Because measure provides overview and a sense of status that is deeply sought for by many. But many people have a problem with the way that the measuring is being done today.

So sit down and make a commitment not only to your KPI’s but also to making those KPI’s human. Banish the accountant talk, banish the formulas - let these exist only in the hands of the people doing the actual follow ups and monitoring. Spell your KPI’s out in plain language with a deep thought for who your target audience - the people you rely on to meet the metrics - is and thinks. And evangelize.

Make KPI’s fun and understandable. Not only will it be more fun. It will be embrazed better and ultimately vastly increase your organizations chances of meeting your numbers.

Vad NU! is a consultancy company owned by Mads Kristensen and specialized in helping clients take advantage of the business opportunities created by new media. Click to learn how I can help you and your company.