Digital Transformation of Procurement & Supply Chain | CSCP | IT Management Professional | Strategic Leader | Lean Practitioner
Ever found yourself at a leadership crossroads, thrust into a project's critical phase with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) painting a daunting picture? In my early days as a Team lead, I faced a monumental challenge – taking over the support of a major project in its stabilization phase. Despite being a newly formed team, with me at the helm as a new team lead, the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) painted a disheartening picture. Escalations and complaints from stakeholders became a constant, pushing us into a relentless firefighting mode. Driven to transform the reds in the KPIs to greens, our efforts seemed futile as issues kept pouring in from all directions. The team's motivation dwindled, and anxiety loomed over the impending review. A pivotal moment occurred during my first monthly review with my manager when the question arose: "What is the story these numbers tell?" Caught off guard, I realized I had no answer. This encounter sparked a revelation, teaching me the art of deciphering the narrative within KPI numbers. Armed with this newfound understanding, I redirected the team's focus, prioritized issues based on business impact, and witnessed a remarkable turnaround. Within weeks, significant improvements manifested, and over the next few months, the KPIs transformed from red to green. As a new Team lead, the invaluable lesson learned was that narrating the story behind the numbers proved instrumental in effectively communicating the situation and charting a course for action.
