KPIs Start at the Top
- Feb 24
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 2
Why leaders should own KPI design for evidence-based strategy — and how they can.
The Challenge
Too many organizations struggle to create meaningful KPIs because leaders delegate their design to analysts, planners, or consultants who simply don’t have the full strategic context and intent behind the goals.
The result is predictable:
weak and irrelevant measures
low-insight dashboards
strategies that sound important but fail to drive real change.
For strategy and performance practitioners, this creates a cycle of rework, frustration, and underperformance that can last for years.
In this recorded webcast with PuMP founder Stacey Barr and PuMP Partner Brook Rolter, you will learn why KPI design cannot be delegated, and why leaders must be active partners in designing KPIs that enable evidence-based strategy. This replay is especially valuable for executives, strategy leaders, and performance professionals responsible for turning goals into measurable results.
Strategy and performance professionals will discover practical techniques for guiding structured, efficient, and confidence-building measurement conversations to:
help leaders see why KPI design must start with them
clarify the tangible intent behind strategic goals, strengthening ownership and engagement
reposition yourself from a "KPI technician" to a partner and facilitator of evidence-based strategy
use specific techniques that directly support leadership-led measurement conversations
You'll gain a pathway to confidently engage leaders in meaningful measurement conversations so strategy becomes clearer, alignment becomes stronger, and your organization gets KPIs that work.
Download the Activities Guide
Use this guide to structure and facilitate leadership discussions that lead to meaningful KPIs.
Activity 1: One Goal, Many Meanings
Activity 2: Ambiguity Exposure
Activity 3: The KPI Explosion
Activity 4: The Clarity Shift
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Brook Rolter, Managing Director and Founder of Rolter Associates, helps organizations integrate strategy, performance, and management practices to improve results and mission outcomes.
You can reach Brook at 703-628-0340 or by email.
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