Why choose us?
Looking for a particular skill-set? We offer competency & skills testing to certify that the candidates you interview are the best available. We're so confident this is backed by our 12 month rebate.
The Importance of Setting KPI’s
In Particular, The Importance of Setting KPI’s for New Recruits
It seems like an obvious point to make…
However, feedback from employees following a short, unhappy and failed stint with their most recent employer is all too often that they had no idea of expectations, limited understanding of the daily structure and routine of their role and that they lacked support, training and managerial input.
Some even report that they felt they were doing well, making great progress and well on the way to providing a return on investment when they were summarily shown the exit door for underperformance.
Even allowing that this is, of course, a one-sided view of the situation, it is undoubtedly the case that this is an accurate representation in some instances. Line Management operating in pressurised environments, where results need to be delivered immediately, will often feel they lack resources to provide the structure and direction that a bewildered new team member requires or simply feel that other activities must take precedence.
However, precisely these other pressures and priorities make it vital a new recruit has a very clearly laid out set of Key Performance Indicators to follow. These benefits are numerous for both sides of the equation, and a few key ones are listed here.
The Importance of KPIs, or Measures for Employees
- Clear understanding of required activity levels
- A daily structure to adhere to when management are busy elsewhere
- A means of assessing their own performance and progress against expectations
- A sense of transparency in how they are managed
- A motivating influence
The Importance of KPIs, or Measures for You as an Employer
- Clear indication of employee activity levels
- A “toolkit” for identifying training needs and areas of support
- A “surrogate” manager, facilitating less management input
- A method of identifying high performers
- A tool for managing underperformance and employee exit if necessary
- An audit trail protecting against claims of unfair dismissal
So, what should your set of Key Performance Indicators look like?
That, of course, will depend on the nature of your business and the key activities that drive it forward. However, to put it in the context of a generic sales environment, it will be based around the “mathematics of sales”, and KPI’s can be calculated by working backwards from your desired outcome.
So, for example, if each week an employee needs to generate £10,000 of sales and, on average, each successful sales meeting generates £1000 of sales, then that employee needs to attend ten successful meetings per week to achieve the required outcome. If the conversion rates from meetings are 50% or one sale for every two meetings, then the employee will need to attend 20 meetings per week, 4 per day, to achieve the required outcome. If it takes five canvass calls to arrange one meeting, then the employee will need to make 100 calls per week to ensure that they have enough meetings booked to achieve their target.
Put Succinctly, Some Example Key Performance Indicators
Target £ Weekly £10,000
Revenue per meeting £1000 -Conversion Rate 50%
Meetings required per week 20
Canvass calls per meeting 5
Canvass calls required per week 100
This is, of course, a simplified example; however, it illustrates the basis on which KPI’s should be evaluated and set. Arbitrary KPI’s that have no basis on what is achievable will do more damage than good, demotivating staff and presaging failure.
Well calculated, collaboratively agreed KPI’s, are one of the most powerful management tools available, establishing and managing staff within a business faster, more effectively and with a higher chance of successful outcomes.
Given the high direct and indirect costs of recruitment, it is an absolute necessity that businesses protect their investment, reduce staff attrition and facilitate a positive, success-based culture underpinned by the simple foundation of clear, transparent and measurable KPI’s.
Aaron Wallis are a national specialist sales recruitment agency comfortable across many sectors, however more recently the majority of our clients utilise the below offerings:
Date published: 26th February 2024
by Simon Bonner
Associate Director
About the author
Simon Bonner
With over 25 years in B2B sales and recruitment, Simon is an English Graduate from UEA and specialises in recruiting commercial and FMCG sales positions. Simon joined the sales recruitment industry in 1998 before progressing into field sales and returning to recruitment in 2015. As an Associate Director, Simon is well placed to understand the needs of clients and candidates' needs, having spent ten years selling electronic security and managing National Accounts within OEM manufacturers and distribution channels. An avid Luton Town football fan, Simon dotes on his two daughters and enjoys keeping fit, socialising, food and wine.
Please call us to discuss your vacancy
From our blog
Our employers say...
Our candidates say...