Define a goal you can measure

Turn an intended improvement into a clear objective and a key result your team can check.

Before you start: Choose one improvement and the period in which you want to assess it. You can define the measure before creating records.

Separate the result from the work

A goal states the improvement you want. An objective narrows it to a result for a period. A key result makes that result measurable. A task is work that contributes to it.

For example, “Make customer handovers clearer” is a goal. “Use a complete handover checklist this month” is a narrower objective. A key result could count handovers that contain every required detail. Writing the checklist is a task; completing that task does not tell you how many handovers meet the standard.

Define your measure

1. Name the items that may count, such as handovers due during the month. Decide how duplicates and repeat attempts will be treated.
2. Describe what a successful item must contain or achieve. Another teammate should be able to apply the same rule.
3. Choose the unit, target and period. Record a starting value if you want to report improvement from a baseline.
4. Decide where the supporting information will be kept and who will review it.

Recognise the hierarchy in Goals

Open Goals → Goals, check the period filters, then expand a goal and its objective. Use the key result’s Open detail control to read Measurement, Owner and Team, Progress, Confidence, Status and Execution Evidence.

Expected result

You have a measure with a clear population, counting rule, unit, target, period and information source.

Remember

Progress and confidence answer different questions. A completed task or a percentage on screen cannot replace the information needed to calculate the key result.

In this series: Set and track goals — guide 1 of 6.

• Next: Create a goal objective and key result
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