We Have Always Done It That Way

There has been so much discussion in popular business publications about the importance of creating a “dashboard”. A dashboard is a tool that senior executives use to measure performance or results of just about any business-related information you need to know. As the Chief Executive of an association or non-profit, organizational dashboards can provide you with critical information that can be used to make good business decisions for the association.

I am in the process of creating a dashboard for my organization right now. The process is eye opening and amazingly useful. On a bi-weekly basis I know exactly where I stand on a range of issues and feel like I have a much better way of tracking new initiatives within the organization.

Here are some questions to get you started.

What items should be put on the dashboard? Great question. This is personal to each individual/organization. Initially I looked for articles and/or books on the subject but I quickly abandoned this because, as a small business owner, I don’t have the same “metrics” that big companies may have.

What performance measures do you have and what are the metrics? (financial goals, program measurements, prospective members, reserve amounts, etc.) Where ever you need to see change is where you may want to start. Add these items to a “change” section of the dashboard. Create a “reality check” and a “target” for each of these items and list where you are today (reality check) and where you want to be.

What items do you need to know about on a regular basis to make sound business decisions for your organization? Add these items to a “maintenance” section of the dashboard. Some ideas: membership numbers in key categories, the status of major GR issues, status of an IT implementation.

Who should be involved in creating and upating the dashboard? Maybe it is you, maybe it is the senior management team, maybe it is the entire staff. It’s your call, but regardless make sure that the dashboard is useful to you as a management tool. Keep in mind the final use of the tool.

Why is this important? Too many association executives do not think entrepreneurally about their organization. The creation of the dashboard allows you to get a great snapshot of exactly what you need to know, on a regular basis, in one place. It provides a great reality check on where you are and where you are headed.

Tags: Innovation, Leadership, Strategy, We've Always Done It That Way // 1 Comment »