Systems That Boost Business Performance

Most businesses drown in metrics. Too many KPIs. Too many dashboards. Too much noise. The result? • Teams lose focus • Leaders chase symptoms, not signals • Time is spent updating charts, not solving problems Here’s the truth: You don’t need more data. You need the right few metrics that actually drive performance. Here’s a simple 5-step approach I use to help teams cut through the clutter: 1. Inventory everything – List all the metrics, who uses them, and why. 2. Map to purpose – If it doesn’t support a decision or priority, kill it. 3. Identify the vital few – Pick 3–5 metrics per function that truly move the needle. 4. Build a tiered system – Align top-level KPIs to functional and front-line measures. 5. Eliminate, consolidate, automate – Make room for insight, not reporting theater. Bonus Tip: Run a quarterly “Metric Clean-Up” session—if a metric doesn’t drive action or decision-making, it’s a candidate for retirement. Leading vs. Lagging Check: Ask yourself: Does this metric help us influence the future (leading)? Or just tell us what already happened (lagging)? If your dashboard is 90% rearview mirror, it’s time for a redesign. More focus = better execution. Want help finding your “critical few”? Let’s talk. #BusinessOperatingSystem #KPIs #ContinuousImprovement #Leadership #LeanThinking #Execution #SimplifyToScale #OperationalExcellence #DataDrivenDecisions #BOS #LeadWithMetrics

Stop Using KPIs as Band-Aids… …Start Using OKRs as Growth Engines. 70% of strategic initiatives fail. Not because of bad ideas. But because of poor execution. Here's the truth about performance tracking: 1. KPIs Keep You Safe ↳ Measure what's happening ↳ Track departmental goals ↳ Monitor daily operations 2. OKRs Drive You Forward ↳ Break down silos ↳ Align cross-functional teams ↳ Focus on strategic wins The game-changer? OKRs aren't about replacing KPIs. They're about complementing them. How to make it work: 1. Pick Your Battles ↳ Use OKRs for 4-5 strategic priorities ↳ Keep KPIs for daily operations ↳ Focus on cross-functional impact 2. Empower Decision-Makers ↳ Give ownership to capability, not title ↳ Make progress visible ↳ Enable quick course corrections 3. Build the Right Culture ↳ Champion bold bets ↳ Foster open communication ↳ Reward collaboration The companies that win don't just measure performance… They create systems for seamless execution. [Image credit: Eric Partaker] ♻️ Found this valuable? Repost to help others grow! ➕ Follow (David Parsons) for insights on leadership, culture, and motivation. #Leadership #OKR #Performance #Strategy

Most KPI dashboards I see are noise, not strategy. After working with dozens of founders and reviewing financials ranging from $1M to $50M+, I've noticed a pattern. The best teams track fewer metrics, and they track them relentlessly. The rest? They’re buried in dashboards that look impressive but don’t drive decisions. Here’s the trap most fall into: They track what’s easy to measure, instead of what moves the business forward. If you’re leading a growth-stage company, you don’t need 20 KPIs. You need three that shape how you operate. Here’s where I usually start: 1. Customer Acquisition Cost If you don’t know this number, every marketing dollar is a guess. 2. Lifetime Value This tells you how far you can go to win and keep a customer. It defines the ceiling for sustainable growth. 3. Cash Conversion Cycle Your P&L might look great, but if your cash is stuck in inventory or receivables, you’re scaling a liability. The right KPIs create tension but the productive kind. They reveal where you're bleeding, where you're growing, and where you’re inefficient. That’s the kind of visibility that drives momentum. Here’s how I help founders build KPI systems that matter: • Choose metrics that force decisions • Review them weekly or monthly • Assign ownership and drive action • Only expand once the core three are operationalized Your dashboard shouldn’t be a highlight reel. It should be a decision-making engine. If you're scaling past $1M, ask yourself: Are you tracking what matters or just what’s visible? This is where strategic finance begins. Follow Tom Dillon, CFA for more insights on raising capital and building financially sound businesses. If this helped, feel free to share with someone who needs it. #strategy #cfa #SMB #business #finance

Productivity Operating Model A Productivity Operating Model (POM) is a structured framework that organizations use to optimize efficiency, streamline processes, and enhance overall performance. It defines how people, processes, technology, and governance interact to maximize productivity and achieve strategic goals. Key Components of a Productivity Operating Model: 1. Vision & Objectives: Defines the organization’s productivity goals aligned with business strategy. Establishes key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success. 2. People & Roles: Clearly outlines roles, responsibilities, and accountability across teams. Encourages a culture of continuous improvement and efficiency. Provides training and support to develop time management and prioritization skills. 3. Processes & Workflows: Focuses on lean, standardized workflows to eliminate inefficiencies. Implements automation and digital tools to reduce manual work. Uses agile or other iterative frameworks to enhance adaptability. 4. Technology & Tools: Leverages AI, automation, and data analytics to optimize work. Ensures a well-integrated tech stack (e.g., project management, communication, and collaboration tools). Promotes remote and hybrid work productivity solutions. 5. Governance & Performance Management: Establishes clear decision-making frameworks for accountability. Implements real-time monitoring and reporting dashboards. Uses continuous feedback loops for process optimization. 6. Collaboration & Communication: Ensures transparent, effective communication across all levels. Encourages cross-functional collaboration to eliminate silos. Provides structured meeting guidelines and facilitation practices to prevent time wastage. 7. Continuous Improvement & Innovation: Embeds a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability. Regularly reviews and refines processes based on data and employee feedback. Encourages experimentation and adoption of best practices from leading productivity frameworks (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, OKRs). Benefits of a Productivity Operating Model: Increased efficiency and reduced operational waste. Higher employee engagement and accountability. Faster decision-making and execution. Improved agility and adaptability to change. Better alignment with strategic goals.

Uncomfortable Reality: You won't improve what you don't measure This goes for everything, Quality is no exception. Quality metrics serve as the foundation of operations, quality management and continuous improvement. Here are six essential quality metrics that you need to know to boost your business: 1/ Quality Rate ↳ % of products/services that meet quality standards ↳ High rate = effective processes, satisfied customers ↳ Low rate = improvement needed 2/ Defects Per Million Opportunities (DPMO) ↳ Similar to DPPM, but considers total opportunities for defects ↳ Allows organizations to assess processes holistically ↳ Helps target specific areas for improvement ↳ Comprehensive quality performance metric 3/ Rework Percentage ↳ Proportion of work that must be redone due to defects/errors ↳ High percentage signals process inefficiencies ↳ Important metric for cost reduction initiatives 4/ Process Capability ↳ Measures process within tolerances ↳ Helps organizations determine process consistency ↳ Important for customer satisfaction and management 5/ Defective Parts Per Million (DPPM) ↳ Quantifies the # of defective parts in a million produced ↳ Crucial for high volume operations ↳ Helps identify trends in defects 6/ Process Capability Index (Cpk) ↳ Takes process capability even further ↳ Helps center process performance ↳ helps decrease variability Become a great leader - measure to improve.

Most leaders are drowning in data but starving for insights. Last week, a Visionary CEO with 87 employees showed me his 63-page monthly report. "I track everything," he said, "but can't answer one simple question: Are we winning?" I asked him, "Why are you always looking in the rearview mirror? Tracking what already happened?" "Trying looking ahead," I said, "you're missing the warning signs in front of you." This is why the Scorecard transforms entrepreneurial leadership teams. After implementing EOS with hundreds of growth-stage companies, I've found the power lies in tracking just 5-15 weekly Measurables that: 1. Predict future outcomes (not just report history) 2. Focus on activities (what people do), not just results 3. Create team-wide accountability (not just executive awareness) 4. Have clear owners (one person responsible per number) 5. Drive real-time course correction in your Level 10 Meetings For business owners serious about scaling, your Scorecard needs these three categories: • Financial measurables (cash flow, collections, new sales) • Performance measurables (on-time delivery, quality scores, team productivity) • Process measurables (sales pipeline, lead generation, employee retention) The truth: What gets measured gets managed. But what gets measured WEEKLY gets mastered. Stop drowning in dashboards. Start winning with a focused Scorecard. EOS believes in it so much that they give it away for free. You can download it here: https://lnkd.in/dnhT_6QG ♻️ Reshare to help another entrepreneur own their data & get what they want from their business