You'll hear that crashing sound; a sound like the sound of a brick going through a plate glass window. You'll experience the enlightenment. You'll sense the energy.  If you have done the right things, employed best practice and developed a strategy you'll understand that the brick crashing through that plate glass window, are the key to continued success .

Success during the most significant economic challenge since the depression – is Strategic Performance Management.

Our mistake of the past has been too much focus on Performance Measurement (the typical annual performance appraisal) and not Performance Management. Performance Measurement is the process of assessing progress toward predetermined metrics or standards. Often it is done once a year and both managers and employees hate them.

Strategic Performance Management is a process that adds relevant communication and action on the progress achieved against predetermined goals; goals that are in alignment with corporate strategic initiatives. This process is a platform for the effective management of individuals and teams in order to achieve high levels of organizational success. The backbone of this success lies in the shared understanding about what is to be achieved and an approach to leadership that focuses on developing people which ensures that success.

Strategic performance management is a holistic process, bringing together many of the elements which go to make up the successful practice of people management, including in particular - learning and development.

Strategic Performance Management Prevents Failure

Many of us are reluctant to believe that the development of a strategic plan is a key success factor. This cynicism is warranted simply by the fact that over 80% of the strategic plans completed in our industry either fail or end up with a pretty binder sitting on a shelf somewhere collecting dust. Another common occurrence that affects the credibility of the value of the strategic plan is the worn out use of the strategy retreat.

This occurs when the CEO gets his management team together for a couple of days off site and they brainstorm together, sing  Kum Ba Yah, drink the same kool-aid and go back to the office with 54 different initiatives to complete in the following year. Six months later reality sets in and everyone realizes nothing strategic has been accomplished.

Strategic performance management can put the "Teeth of Accountability" into your strategic planning process not to mention the value of improved individual performance. Performance management is about leadership of employees, including  goal setting, action planning and accountability throughout the organization including the CEO.

Creating a culture that embraces empowerment and working together as a team is probably the most effective way to create success. The more people work together and take ownership of the long term objectives the more unity and teamwork become a direct route to success.

Strategic Performance Management is The Next Big Thing because:

• It is Strategic - it is about broader issues and longer-term goals
• It is Integrated - it links various aspects of the business, employee development, leadership & coaching principles for both individuals and teams.
• It does focuses on Performance Improvement – this includes both individual performance and team performance that is linked to and in alignment with corporate strategy
• It embraces Employee Development – this helps create a culture of competence and accountability
• It becomes a tool  for Behavior Modification – individuals are encouraged to behave according to core values and guiding principles which leads to improved working relationships with each other

Listen for that "Crashing Sound"
Strategic Performance Management is the basis for success especially during these most difficult economic times. You cannot afford to give up your vision. Yes, it may have to be adjusted but remember, success is built around your employees; employees that require effective leadership. Strategic performance management can be the difference between success and failure. It is a tool that makes managers much more effective while developing improved individual employee performance.  As a result employees:

• Have clarity and understand what is expected of them
• Improve their skills and ability to deliver on predetermined expectations
• Gain support from management to develop their capacity to meet  expectations through given feedback on their performance
• Embrace the opportunity to discuss and contribute to individual and team goals and objectives.
• It is also about ensuring that managers themselves are aware of the impact of their own behavior on the people they lead.

Strategic Performance Management is about establishing a culture where individuals and groups take responsibility for the continuous improvement of business processes and of their own skills. It focuses on success, behavior and sharing expectations. Company managers utilize this tool to clarify what they expect individual and teams to accomplish. Individuals and teams communicate effectively with management and with each other about their individual expectations and how they view strategic initiatives and their personal contributions.

What this all boils down to is ~ Effective Leadership. I often speak about how rare it is to see actual leadership training on coaching and mentoring going on in an organization. Strategic Performance Management bridges this gap because simply put it is about interrelationships and improving the quality of relationships - between managers and individuals, between managers and teams, between members of teams and the introduction of accountability.

Expectations are clearly defined through a joint recognition of the requirements for success by both management and the employee.

This is critical because today, less than half of all employees truly understand how their actions relate to the success of company initiatives. Most employees don't even know what's expected of them or how the company evaluates their personal contributions.

I Found "The Next Big Thing"

One of CEO Strategists Core Competencies is helping our clients develop their long term strategy and improve leadership throughout their organization. Key components for success of that endeavor include execution and accountability. As a result, we insist upon the initiation of a process we call "The Strategic Review Meeting". It works but it is a manual system supported by an Excel program called a task tracker to make sure the team accomplishes what it commits to.

The Next Big Thing - the thing that's going to crash through that plate glass window is a revolutionary performance management system that integrates your organizations vision, values and strategic initiatives with the daily activities of your employees. It not only introduces accountability but it motivates individual employees and teams to work together to reach goals and to head off problems before they occur and to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.

Now..... Before you get antsy, it is not some big software program you have to purchase and install. It doesn't cost an arm and a leg. In fact it is exceptionally cost effective and your cost is simply based on a user fee. It is not a performance appraisal system masquerading as a performance management system. I have looked at dozens of those and haven't seen one yet that I would consider using. Most of you know how opposed I am to annual performance reviews. However, with this system, developed by Keyne Insight you can eliminate any type of annual performance reviews.

I am talking about a true performance management system that focuses on communication and feedback, the two characteristics that have proven time and time again to be keys to successful performance management.
Do you remember the movie "City Slickers" when Curly turned to Billy Crystal and said........... "The One Thing"?
  
Well, I believe I have found The One Thing and I believe it will be The Next Big Thing that can propel your company to success even in the most difficult times. E-mail rick@ceostrategist.com if you want to explore more information and the opportunity to evaluate "The Next Big Thing" that can take your company to new heights of success.

www.ceostrategist.com – Sign up to receive "The Howl" a free monthly newsletter that addresses real world industry issues. – Straight talk about today's issues. Sign up now and download "The Lead Wolf Interview Guide & Sales Training 101 a guide on conducting effective sales training sessions". Rick Johnson, expert speaker, wholesale distribution's "Leadership Strategist", founder of CEO Strategist, LLC a firm that helps clients create and maintain competitive advantage. Need a speaker for your next event, E-mail rick@ceostrategist.com.