Category: Employee Safety Incentives

Employee safety incentive programs

KPIs – Elixir or Toxin?

KPIs – Elixir or ToxinKey Performance Indicators (KPIs) drive much of what we do.  They can be powerful tools when properly understood – but potentially detrimental when not.  As the saying goes, “when all you have in your toolbox is a hammer, every situation looks like a nail.”

F. John Reh defines KPIs as “indicators that are quantifiable measurements, agreed to beforehand, that reflect the critical success factors of an organization.”  Measurement is the key as Reh points out – “in order for an indicator to be of any value, there must be a way to accurately define and measure it.”

Clearly understanding your KPIs is only the beginning, as Bernard Marr points out in this article entitled Caution: When KPIs Turned to Poison.  According to Marr, KPIs are not goals or targets, but something to me measured.  They should reflect the goals of the organization – not be defined as the goal.  Use caution when designating KPIs.  As Marr states, “One reason why things go wrong with KPIs is that they sometimes turn from a measure into a target. I believe that when a KPI becomes a target it stops being a KPI.”

He describes each KPI as a torch in a dark room, illuminating one small area of the space. Because only one area is affected, several KPIs are needed to bring light to the entire room.  Marr says, “If we now use this imperfect measure as a target it means people can deliver great results on the spot that is lit up, but ignore the large areas that are left in the dark.”

In closing, Marr says “KPIs are powerful tools if they are used as indicators to measure the delivery of the goals. However, if the KPIs become the goals, then they turn into toxic material that will inhibit performance improvement.”

Let us help you develop and implement a non-toxic set of KPIs that reflect your organization’s critical success factors and illuminate the entire room.

Building Trust with Program Communications

The design of any recognition or incentive program should be based on thoughtful consideration of the program’s purpose and potential for positive change.  Clearly defined, measurable objectives further increase the odds for successful results.  In addition, you must employ effective program communications to inform, engage and motivate program participants. QIC’s IncenTrac online points platform is… Read more »

Effective Communications Improve Engagement

Effective communications are instrumental to the success of any business, organization or enterprise.  As Rob Miklas colorfully illustrates in this post – A Smoother Flight with Effective Program Communications – without effective communications your recognition or incentive program will most likely never reach its full potential. Like regular announcements from the flight deck, pertinent program… Read more »

Managing to Motivate – Improving Employee Engagement

Monday I referred to Gallup’s study entitled The State of the American Workplace: Employee Engagement Insights for U.S. Business Leaders – and its finding that managers and leaders hold a powerful influence on workers’ engagement levels.  Employee engagement is enhanced when leaders focus on employee strengths – motivating them to participate in the success of… Read more »

Recognition and Incentive Rewards – Trophy Value Lasts a Lifetime

In the Incentive and Reward Recognition industry, there are many articles, whitepapers, etc. written about this idea of Trophy Value as it relates to the rewards offering.  Trophy Value meaning the continued reminder tangible rewards, as opposed to non-tangible rewards (e.g., cash and gift cards), provide of the task completed and the work performed in… Read more »

Employee Engagement: Are you In or Out?

“You’re either in or you’re out.”  A long-time friend and former partner is oft-times heard uttering these words – his way of sizing up situations and dealing with indecision or ambiguity.  While applicable in a good number of life and business scenarios, it doesn’t reflect employee engagement in the American workplace, according to Gallup’s 2013… Read more »