Inappropriate responses to performance shortfalls
When you see actual performance data that falls far short of your target performance, avoid the following inappropriate responses:
- Knee-jerk interventions. Don't overreact to every performance shortfall. You might intervene too quickly—such as by firing someone, or launching a large-scale, expensive change initiative that doesn't address the real reasons behind the shortfall. Instead, take time to investigate what may have caused the performance shortfall and to consider a range of possible solutions to the problem.
- Lowering your targets. The simplest way to close gaps between targeted and actual performance is to lower your targets so they're easier to reach next time around. But that approach misses the point of performance measurement. Sometimes a target may in fact be too aggressive and merit revision. But in other cases, the more appropriate response is to identify reasonable changes in processes, organizational structures, and other aspects of your group to bring actual performance up to targeted performance.