In my two decades of consulting in the area of strategy management I have encouraged many organizations to hire an in-house performance management professional. I have observed it is often difficult for organizations to create a new position and recruit for a position that has not existed in the past. Why has it taken so long for performance management to become a recognized discipline? Who knows? But is seems our day has come. All three sectors: government, nonprofits and private sector have recognized their need for formal performance management! Performance management professionals can now find jobs in their field and organizations can now find experienced talent in performance management!

The US Federal Government took a huge step forward when it announced an update to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. GPRA Modernization Act 2010. The GPRA Modernization Act requires every Government Department have a Performance Improvement Officer. It also called for the creation of the Performance Improvement Council which holds bi-monthly meetings, shares best practices and sponsors active working groups to address issues of interest to its members. Watch for Office of Personnel Management to soon formalize a performance management job descriptions and career paths. Until then, keep your eyes peeled for an increasing number of job openings in performance shops across the government. Non-profits or charities have also come to realize the importance of performance management. Donors, government funders and communities now demand transparency and results. Data collection, analysis and informed decision making are becoming the norm rather than the exception. I was thrilled to see that Bridgestar that has long been the clearing house for nonprofits looking for Chief Operating Officers recently provided guidelines on how to hire a performance professional. Finding Your First Measurement Director

It is hard to believe it has been years since Kaplan and Norton first called for the creation of an executive role of Strategy Management Officer as the cornerstone of a Strategy Focused Organization Strategy Management Officer. but it is a position I frequently see. CEOs have come to realize that there needs to be someone overseeing strategy management rather than strategy development.

So, if you are an organization seeking a team member with performance management capabilities rest assured they are out there and they have experience! If you are one of those professionals out there who has developed some expertise in the performance management arena. Take heart, more and more organizations have come to recognize their need for your talents!