What Gets Measured Tends to Get Done

Reams of research, like this Blanchard report on 4 best practices to improve goal-setting, shows that companies and organizations that set and monitor goals which are aligned with an organization’s ultimate mission and purpose tend to out-perform those who don't. "What gets measured tends to get done," as the old saying goes. So we have a few questions for you and your organization:

How well does your organization enunciate it’s core purpose and objectives?

Do you set and track annual goals for your primary services and programs?

Are your metrics more focused on outputs (e.g. how much of something you offer) or outcomes (the ultimate impact you are making)?

Do your employees set individual goals each year, and are they evaluated against those goals?

This article offers 17 concrete examples of the kinds of goals your organization might consider setting.

While we believe that culture and strategy often trump goal-setting when it comes to long-term influence on an organization’s impact and trajectory, we also know that clear goals and metrics, and the culture of accountability that they promote, can be an extremely valuable component of effective mission-driven leadership.