How To Measure Team Performance with Added Value

In my last post, I gave you a brief overview of the C12 Group’s model for measuring the performance of a company’s leadership. As business owners and leaders, we need to make sure we are building added value in our organization. As Christian business owners and leaders, we need to make sure we are doing this from an eternal perspective. Used as a part of our own annual assessment of our performance, the C12 Tri-Value model helps us to do this.

team performance

The Tri-Value component we will tackle in this post is Team Value Added (TVA). TVA is concerned with our team performance as a whole as well as how each individual member of our team operates within our business. Now, how you define “team” here is up to you. For me, with 100 employees, 18 managers, and 4 members of my Leadership Team (Inner Circle), I choose to evaluate the Leadership Team.

For you, the “team” may be your entire company. It may just be your management team or the department you supervise. Regardless, I would try not to pick a group that is too big. While there is not a recommended number in the C12 material, I would suggest you stick with a max of seven or eight. If you go any larger than that, the individual evaluations become difficult.

Team Dimension

To start, let’s look at the team dimension of TVA. In looking at our team as a whole, we want to look at the synergy of the team. Below are some questions we want to answer from year to year (or a frequency of your choice) on a scale from 1-10, watching the trends to see if the team value is increasing or decreasing….

    1. Is your team positive, supportive, and complimentary to each other?
    2. Are they setting and meeting ‘stretch’ targets that require teamwork?
    3. Are they innovating and pushing the envelope?
    4. Are they developing their replacements?
    5. Are they participating in the ministry dimension more fully?
    6. Are they thankful or becoming complacent?
    7. How is their attendance and work ethic?
    8. Is loyalty high and turnover low?

Individual Dimension

Next, we want to look at our team as individuals. Consider your individual team members and answer the following question for each of them, also on a scale from 1-10. If more valuable, note what they did to achieve that, using the choices listed below.

    Is this person more or less valuable to the business this year?
    A. Taking training
    B. Skill development
    C. Extra work or effort to ministry goals
    D. New innovations
    E. More dependable or loyal
    F. More input
    G. Attitude improvement
    H. Other

Now that you have evaluated their added value, now it is time to rate your role in that added value. Answer the following “How” question for each individual on your team, on a scale of 1-10. Then answer the “What” portion of the question with the choices listed below.

    How and what have I done to facilitate their added value this year?
    A. Personal encouragement
    B. Modeling / mentoring
    C. Recognition
    D. Rewards
    E. Training
    F. Other

Finally, we will take a look at how your individual team members are doing at developing their own team members or direct reports. Using the same scale from 1-10, score each individual member of your team on the following question. Again, note the “How” using the choices below.

    Is my staff adding value by developing their direct reports?
    A. Personal encouragement
    B. Modeling / mentoring
    C. Recognition
    D. Rewards
    E. Training
    F. Other

That is all there is to the actual evaluation of your Team Value Added. Obviously, the next step in this process is to take your scores and look for the opportunities to improve. Congratulate yourself and your team on your areas of strength and continue to work hard there. At the same time, take the steps necessary to bring your lower scores up over the next year. With intentional planning, you should be able to see significant progress!

[box]Email me HERE for a sample TVA Assessment document.[/box]

How did you and your team do?

What were your strengths? Your weaknesses?

What is the next step you need to take to improve?

Added Value: A Good Measure Of Your Performance?

As the owner or leader in your business, one of your main functions is to create added value in the organization. How do you measure your performance in this area?

If you are in corporate America, there are a number of metrics that analysts use to gauge your performance. If you are in a small business or non-profit organization, these metrics are likely different. Being a Christian business owner or leader adds a twist to this issue.

added value

Perspective

Adding value to your business can be defined differently, depending on your perspective. We are going to look at this method from the perspective of a Christian business owner or leader.

The C12 Group has a model for measuring this added value in the Christian business. However, the main difference between the C12 model and almost all other models is the perspective. While most businesses measure success or performance on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis, the C12 model is very different.

Tri-Value Model

In stark contrast to most other business added value models, C12’s Tri-Value model considers the eternal perspective. Rather than judging a business’ leadership based on short-term performance only, this model takes a more balanced approach. The Tri-Value model is certainly not the final word on measuring performance. Instead, it is designed as a tool to keep us focused on the truly important areas of our jobs as well as to facilitate accountability in those areas.

In this post, I will give you a brief overview of this model. In the following three posts, we will look at each of the three components in more detail.

added value

Overview

The first component of the Tri-Value model is Team Value Added (TVA). This measurement deals with how well we are creating added value within the team of people that work in our company. There are two main categories in TVA. The first looks at how well the team is operating as a whole. The second category considers the development of the individuals on the team.

The second component is Economic Value Added (EVA). EVA measures whether the business is worth more in solid equity from year to year. It is a simple formula that helps us determine if we are adding to our company’s value or spending it.

Finally, the third component of the Tri-Value model is Spiritual Value Added (SVA). If we are truly looking at our company from an eternal perspective, and I cannot think of a single good reason why we would not, then this is our most important measurement. SVA attempts to measure the eternal fruit our company is producing.

Disclaimer

Please do not think that I am saying that all performance can be measured with numbers. Nor can we quantify all spiritual aspects of ministry in business. That is simply not possible. There are some aspects of business success that are impossible to put into a formula. Certainly, the Holy Spirit works in ways we cannot even understand, much less measure!

Instead, this type of model is intended to be a tool to elicit discussion and create conversation around our performance as it compares to our vision. The Tri-Value model should be used as a part of an ongoing planning and assessment process in your leadership of the business. If so, it can provide clear accountability for your leadership while helping you to remain true to your eternal vision.

Make sure to follow along all week as we break this model down into its components and look at how to use it!

What tools are you currently using to measure your performance in your business?

Do you feel these tools are effective at gauging your performance from the eternal perspective?

What benefits do you see in the Tri-Value model?