Building a KPI Habit: Keeping Your Product On Track

🗓️ 2024 | 🤓 Tolgay Budayici

Introduction

In product management, KPIs are like the dashboard of your car—they give you real-time information on how you’re performing and help you steer in the right direction. But just like when you’re driving, it’s not enough to glance at your dashboard once in a while. To keep your product on track, you need to make checking KPIs a regular habit. Here’s how you can do it.

3 ways to make checking KPIs a regular habit

One of the best ways to make KPI checks a habit is to integrate them into your daily routines. Just like checking your speedometer when you’re driving, KPI checks should become second nature to your team.

Morning stand-ups: Start your day with a quick review of key KPIs during your morning stand-up meeting. This sets the tone for the day and ensures everyone is aware of current performance. If daily reviews are too much, consider doing it once a week, or find a frequency that works best for your team.

Dashboards in sight: Make your KPIs visible by setting up dashboards in a place where your team frequently gathers. Whether it’s a physical screen in the office or a shared online dashboard, having the data in sight keeps it top of mind.

KPIs should be at the heart of your decision-making process. While they shouldn’t be the only tool you rely on, they provide essential data that can guide your choices.

Informed decisions: Before making any significant product decisions, encourage your team to check the relevant KPIs to ensure their choices align with your goals. This data-driven approach helps you avoid decisions based solely on gut feelings.

Decision filters: Use KPIs as filters when evaluating new ideas or changes. For example, if a new feature is proposed, check how it’s likely to impact your key metrics before moving forward.

To make KPI checks a habit, everyone on the team needs to be accountable for monitoring and acting on these metrics. This doesn’t mean micromanaging—it means creating a culture where everyone feels responsible for the product’s success.

Ownership: Assign specific KPIs to different team members or departments. When someone owns a metric, they’re more likely to keep an eye on it and ensure it stays on track.

Celebrate milestones: Recognize when your team hits KPI milestones. Celebrating these wins reinforces the importance of these metrics and encourages continued focus.

Final thoughts

Making KPI checks a habit isn’t just about looking at numbers—it’s about creating a rhythm that keeps your product moving in the right direction. By integrating KPIs into daily routines, using them as a key tool in decision-making, and fostering accountability, you can build a culture where KPI checks are as natural as checking your speedometer. And just like safe driving, this habit can make all the difference in reaching your destination successfully.

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