Numbers are the fastest way to replace opinions with facts in a leadership team. These answers cover the basics. For help building your scorecard, request a strategy call.
Straight answers
How many KPIs should a business have?
Five to fifteen at the company level, three to five per department. See small business KPIs.
What's the difference between leading and lagging indicators?
Leading indicators predict results; lagging indicators report them. See leading vs lagging indicators.
What is a business scorecard?
A weekly list of owned measures with goals and a thirteen-week trend. See business scorecard.
Do I need a dashboard?
Start with a scorecard; a dashboard helps once you know which numbers matter. See KPI dashboard.
How often should we review KPIs?
Weekly for leading numbers, monthly and quarterly for financial results.
Who should own each KPI?
One person per measure — usually the leader of the seat most responsible for it.
Which KPIs should each department track?
See KPIs by department for starter lists.
What if a number stays off track?
Treat it as an issue: find the root cause in the weekly meeting and assign a fix. See how to solve problems in team meetings.