Ever try to lose weight? Or improve at a competition that is important to you (e.g. marathon running, darts, bicycling)? To succeed at either losing weight or improving your ability demands a discipline referred to as performance management. A Google search of the term “Performance Management” returns 8.6 million hits. The top hit is, naturally, the Wikipedia article entry which describes Performance Management (PM) as including “activities to ensure goals are consistently being met in an effective and efficient manner.” The Wikipedia article goes on to note that PM applies mostly in the workplace, but is relevant wherever people interact.
Take losing weight. You set a goal: “Lose 10 pounds by Thanksgiving.” You need to quickly settle on a strategy for losing weight (e.g. exercise, changing diet, or a combination). You settle on focusing mostly on reducing your caloric intake. You do a little research and learn that one of the proven methods for losing weight is to write down what you eat on a daily basis. This allows helps you stay disciplined in your diet. You write down each food throughout the day and determine if you are staying within your calorie target as the day goes along.
Writing down what you eat in a food journal is an example of personal performance management. You are not waiting to weigh yourself each week to determine if you are making progress, you are actually managing your strategy for achieving the goal. Performance management is a process of managing your strategy, not just your outcomes. If you are not reaching your targets outlined by your strategy then you make fundamental changes so that you do. This same process can be applied to other personal goals (reducing a marathon PR) or an organization like a school district (increase student achievement results). In all cases there must be a strategy that is defined and actively measured and managed.
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