Measuring Success in Quantifiable Terms
Assess your work against clear goals and criteria, then compare your assessment with feedback from others. Use both to identify what to repeat, what to improve, and what support you need.
THE IDEA
27. Measuring Success in Quantifiable Terms
To assess your work, define what success would look like and what evidence would show it. Combine your own review with feedback from other people.
After completing a task, ask:
- Did I achieve the intended result? What should I repeat or change next time?
- How did the work help others do their jobs?
- How did it contribute to the organization’s goals?
- Am I satisfied with what I accomplished?
- What could I have done better?
- Am I ready for the next task?
Answer honestly and compare the result with your personal and professional goals. Where the outcome can be measured, use a relevant measure rather than relying only on a general impression.
Discuss your performance and career goals with your manager. Ask for specific feedback about both strengths and weaknesses. Preserve practices that work, and agree on steps to address recurring problems. If a task failed, examine what happened and what would help prevent a repeat.
When to use it
After completing a major project at work, use the self-assessment questions to evaluate performance and document lessons learned.
During performance reviews, combine your own self-assessment with feedback from managers to create an improvement plan.
When starting a new role, establish personal metrics for success and regularly check progress against them.
In team settings, encourage a culture of open feedback by modeling honest self-assessment and receptive listening.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Self-Assessment After a Project
A marketing manager completes a campaign and uses the six questions to evaluate: Did the campaign achieve its target ROI? How did it support the sales team? Did it align with company goals? Was the manager satisfied? Could it have been done more efficiently? Is the manager ready for the next campaign? This leads to identifying best practices and areas for improvement.
Incorporating Manager Feedback
After a quarterly review, a software developer receives feedback that their code documentation is weak. Instead of ignoring it, they collaborate with management to attend a workshop and create a checklist for future projects, turning a weak point into a strength.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
What specific criteria would you use to measure the success of your most recent work task?
How do you ensure you are honest in your self-assessment even when results are disappointing?
In what ways can you proactively seek feedback from your superiors to improve your performance?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Thinking in Systems and Mental Models Think Like a Super Thinker (Dawson, Marcus P)