Creating Performance Drivers that bring KPI's to Life
1 July 2025
When it comes to driving performance and getting the best out of your team, it’s not enough to just slap some KPIs on a dashboard and expect magic to happen. Let’s be honest—KPIs by themselves are just numbers. They’re like the score in a game; they tell you how you’re doing, but they don’t explain *how* to improve or where the opportunities are.
So, how do you create performance drivers that actually breathe life into those KPIs? It starts with breaking down the goal into specific, actionable behaviours that your team can understand and act on.
Focus on lead indicators, not just lag indicators
Lag indicators—like revenue or profit—are results of actions already taken. By the time they show up on a report, it’s too late to change them. Instead, identify lead indicators—things that influence those results. For example, if your lag KPI is ‘monthly revenue,’ a lead driver might be the number of meaningful client interactions your team has each week. When you manage lead indicators, you’re managing the future, not the past.
Make performance drivers actionable
A good performance driver answers the question: “What should I do today?” Let’s say your KPI is customer satisfaction. That’s nice, but vague. A performance driver could be something more tangible, like, “Respond to customer inquiries within two hours.” Now your team knows exactly what to focus on to move the needle.
Ensure the drivers are within the team’s control
People can’t be motivated by things they can’t influence. If you’re setting performance drivers, make sure they’re realistic and directly tied to actions your team can take. Nothing demotivates faster than holding someone accountable for outcomes beyond their control.
Create visibility and momentum
Performance drivers work best when they’re visible and celebrated. Set up a system where progress is tracked publicly, not to shame anyone, but to build momentum and reinforce behaviours. When people see that their efforts are making a tangible difference, it’s incredibly motivating. That’s when KPIs go from being just numbers to something personal and meaningful.
Align drivers with purpose
People are driven by more than just targets—they need to feel that their work matters. When setting performance drivers, link them to the bigger picture. If someone knows that hitting their targets means happier clients or helping the company grow, they’re more likely to care about hitting them.
In short, bringing KPIs to life isn’t about setting arbitrary targets and hoping for the best. It’s about breaking them down into daily, controllable actions, aligning those actions with a clear purpose, and creating an environment where progress is visible and celebrated.
Written by Mark Deavall
If you would like to talk to me, please call me on +2782 465 5481 or email me on markd@markdeavall.com
© All articles are protected by copyright and may not be duplicated or republished in full or in part, without the express written permission of Mark Deavall. You are welcome to share this article with anyone, up to and including this line.