Performance matters!

Performance is one of the most important factors for an agile organization, even though the topic is often viewed with suspicion. Yet, a proper understanding of - and close attention to - performance is critical to success. Here's why:

On Stage

Let's say you go to a concert. You were thrilled with anticipation, you booked the tickets half a year in advance, made an Instagram story about all your preparation, and on the day of the event, a sleepy, un-enthusiastic singer shuffles on stage and sings without any emotion at all. What's your next post going to be? "This was a terrible performance! So disappointed!" Okay, now let's say we sanitize out the word "performance." That leaves your impression at "That was terrible. So disappointed." Well, that feedback won't help the band improve: What was bad? The location, the food, the music? If I was part of the band, I'd just disregard it, because nothing is ever perfect.

In the workplace

Of course, a stage performance isn't the same as workplace performance. Still, we work for people who have expectations on what we do, and to whom it matters whether we achieve something or not. That said, let me briefly define, 

Performance: the ability produce desirable outcomes.

Thus, inattention to performance sends a strong message, "your outcomes don't matter" - in extension, "you don't matter. There is no better way to demotivate people!

We should strive to build high- and hyper-performing teams, and create an environment where each individual is able to perform at their best. We need to constantly ask ourselves, "How can we perform better?" - and relentlessly fix any problem that stops us from performing better.

Aren't "performance measurements" detrimental?

Three remarks - 

1. Goodhart's Law (A measure that becomes a target ceases to be a good measure) 
2. Attribution error (Correlation doesn't equal causation) 
3. Weaponization (Everything is harmful when used as a weapon)

That is: what gets you the bad outcomes is a misdirected measurement system, not performance itself. Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater! 

How does performance matter?

The result of keen attention to performance is pride of craftsmanship and sense of accomplishment: going home after a challenging day of work, we are satisfied with our achievements, and we feel that our time was worth it.

Low performance, in contrast, means that we go home and wonder what we just wasted our time with. It leaves us demotivated, disoriented, burnt out.

And regardless of whether we give it a name, or not: the feelings will be there. We would like to have more sense of accomlishment. Hardly anyone looks forward to feelings of uselessness, worthlessness or pointlessness.

"Performance" is merely the label we attach to these feelings.

If you've ever worked on a hyper-performant team, you will remember that experience for the rest of your life. The experience will continue to boost your self-esteem, your desire to grow, and make you both more professional and a better person. Likewise, if you've ever worked on a low-performance team, you will also most likely remember the experience for the rest of your life - but most likely as a chapter you'd prefer to never repeat.

Performance is paramount.