“PMO” the corporate roadmap to individual success – Tip 40

Every position in an organisation – all the way up to CEO – should have a Primary Measurable Objective (PMO) that is clearly defined and understood… and, above all, adhered to says Mario Pretorius in his latest daily tip on successful corporate management. PMO provides not only structure to an organisation but also a pathway to meaningful existence for each individual – by enabling them to know when they are successful. GK.

What is every position's Primary Measurable one-sentence Objective? Make sure they understand, believe and live it.

Switchboard operator: "Shortest, most effective link between query and answer".

How does every one in your organisation know when they are successful?

In the ISO 9001 templates, every position is well-described; every task is mapped in terms of best practices.

Yet it is imperative that a single sentence be the guide to success: the one-liner that defines the measure that everyone should know and all should abide by.

One of your primary roles is to give structure. And structure must lead to a meaningful existence.

Our receptionist: 'The shortest route between a customer problem and an answer'. This is Joyce's world. Now her position description follows her PMO – the Primary Measurable Objective task. It's not just answering the switchboard and passing along calls as needed. There is a 'why' built in. She can often help, guide and dramatically enhance the company reputation. She is magic. She saves time, frustration and effort for the customer calling in as – well us for the person answering. Joyce will foretell who is on the line and why, so that calling in is not a repetition of request until someone can help. It's a solution for the first 'hello'.

Joyce knows as much of the company as possible. How else will she know how to help?

If every position in the organisation has a Primary Measurable Goal, all can be evaluated objectively. Evaluations are still on the ISO template, but beside the Achievements that she lists, she is evaluated on the ability and consistency of doing the one thing that is her focus.

Every position should be so defined. What would be yours as the CEO? Your PMO?

If all positions are then measurable, shouldn't all positions participate in a bonus scheme?

This tip is an extract from the manuscript of "The Unconventional CEO: Common sense outside of conventional Management thinking" (by Mario Pretorius).