I hate KPIs. They are difficult to define, hard to measure, costly to maintain and a complete waste of time and resources. They’re also a poor way to measure performance. Not giving enough parking tickets? Maybe it’s because fewer people are parking illegally!
And in case you’re wondering, I’m not alone.
But there’s one great thing about them. They often come back to bite whoever implements and champions them in the arse. Which brings me to Christopher.
Remember when you got the National Party leader job and promised to make sure your MPs were meeting their KPIs? You said you were going to run the government like a corporate boardroom: accountability, targets and measurable outcomes.
Yeah, about that.
I’d imagine the KPIs for a PM would be things like maintaining public trust, effectively managing the economy, improving housing affordability and leading by example. Definitely one of them would be something like ‘increasing public support’.
So how have you been doing, Chris?
Not great. According to the latest poll, your approval rating now stands at 24 per cent, while your disapproval rating is at 45 per cent, resulting in a net approval of minus 21 per cent. That’s a significant drop from when you took office, and it doesn’t exactly scream ‘KPIs achieved’. Not exactly a stellar report card, is it?
Tut, tut. Not good enough, Chris. Hell, even Hipkins is doing better than you. Let’s have a look at him. The same poll puts his approval rating at 25 per cent, with a disapproval rating of 40 per cent, giving him a net approval of minus 15 per cent. And he’s not even prime minister anymore! People trust him more than they trust you, Chris. Ouch. Embarrassing.
Let’s get real, Chris. You can’t blame this entirely on ‘tough decisions’ or ‘inherited challenges’. Every PM inherits problems: it’s the job description. But the job also involves showing the public you have a plan – a good one – and that you’re actually making progress. And, let’s face it: a good leader is able to lead even when things are tough.
It’s time to revisit those KPIs, Chris. Or maybe, and this is just a suggestion, drop the corporate jargon and focus on the job you were elected to do: governing. Because right now, the only KPI you’re hitting is ‘falling public confidence’.
