A performance management system is a coordinated and collaborative method to create, measure, track, and achieve parish goals. An effective performance management system will hold the parish accountable for ensuring that parish priorities are in fact accomplished. This type of system creates a performance-driven parish because all members of the team are on the same page in terms of direction, priorities, progress, and accountability.
Do you remember in elementary school when the teacher would send home a progress report? The progress report would include commentary about coursework, skill development and behavior. The report typically offered commentary on student performance and was sent home early enough in the quarter or semester to allow you to make adjustments prior to the final grade. The purpose of a performance management system has a similar objective. In order to track progress, a structure must be in place to track progress and offer (should it be necessary) an advanced warning system for adjustments. Therefore, the system can help the parish achieve a grade of A+ as it relates to accomplishing goals!
There are multiple benefits to enacting a performance management system. An effective performance measurement system:
- Provides a clear notion of “success” for parish activities
- Creates a consistent way to communicate results
- Provides performance information to effectively manage programs and initiatives
- Builds ownership and accountability
- Presents an opportunity to motivate continuously improving performance
- Adds value at all levels and all aspects of the organization
- Creating a performance management system can be simple. It does not have to be a complex, labor-intensive undertaking. However, like budgeting and finance, the key is to success is to learn the language/terminology and then start small and right-size the system for your parish organization.
Interested in learning more about performance management? Check out my post on The Vocabulary of Performance Management.
