Stop Guessing, Start Measuring

Want your AI projects to succeed? Measure this.

Your company’s productivity, profitability, and employee engagement directly hinge on leadership behaviors. Yet, most organizations still rely on outdated intuition; guessing rather than measuring these critical behaviors. Organizations investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, and innovation face hidden risks: without robust leadership behaviors, even the best-designed projects will stumble, often spectacularly.

1. Why Leading Behavioral Indicators are a Governance Imperative

Organizations consistently underestimate how significantly managerial behaviors impact their bottom line. Gallup (2023) research clearly states that manager behaviors account for up to 70% of variance in employee engagement outcomes. Yet, companies typically focus only on end-results, leaving millions—sometimes billions—on the table due to low engagement, burnout, and costly turnover.

Ignoring leadership behaviors isn’t just an oversight—it’s poor governance. Consider the financial consequences: disengaged teams cost U.S. businesses approximately $550 billion annually (Gallup, 2023). With AI reshaping workplaces and increasing cognitive demands, effective behavioral leadership isn’t optional—it’s foundational. Without clearly measuring and managing these behaviors, AI initiatives will accelerate burnout, not innovation.

2. Leadership Behaviors that Directly Drive High-Performance

High-performing teams flourish under leaders who consistently exhibit measurable behaviors in these key areas:

Empowering Others (supporting growth, providing resources, fostering autonomy)

Humility (acknowledging gaps, valuing others’ expertise)

Integrity (alignment of actions with words and values)

Openness and Vulnerability (transparency and authenticity)

Purpose-Driven Leadership (fostering meaning and purpose)

Empathy (active listening, understanding, and support)

For boards interested in deeper exploration, a detailed assessment of these behaviors is available for download.

3. Behavioral Metrics Aren’t Born…They’re Built Through Coaching

The great news? These crucial leadership behaviors can be learned, coached, and strengthened. Contrary to popular myth, exceptional leaders aren’t born—they’re carefully cultivated through deliberate practice, targeted feedback, and structured support.

Measuring these behaviors with clear, consistent indicators allows targeted coaching, quickly addressing gaps. This focused approach maximizes your leadership development investments, transforming good managers into extraordinary leaders.

Governance-Level Recommendations (Because “Gut Feelings” Aren’t a Governance Strategy)

Hoping for the best isn’t a viable governance strategy. Here’s your immediate action plan:

Implement Behavioral Dashboards: Mandate regular reports on leadership behaviors alongside financial and operational metrics.

Executive Compensation Tied to Behavior: Nothing motivates leaders like financial incentives. Link bonuses explicitly to measurable leadership behaviors.

Quarterly Behavioral Assessments: Regular pulse checks and 360-degree feedback surveys ensure early detection of leadership issues before they escalate into organizational crises.

Leadership Development Programs: Boards must ensure structured, behavior-focused training becomes standard. Leaders rarely develop empathy or humility accidentally.

AI-Specific Risks: Avoiding the Burnout Trap

If your AI strategy doesn’t include explicit leadership behavioral metrics, increased cognitive demands will accelerate employee burnout, severely undermining the productivity gains promised by AI.

Conclusion: Stop Guessing, Start Governing with Confidence

Ignoring measurable leadership behaviors is not just bad management—it’s poor governance. Boards must integrate behavioral indicators into governance frameworks, just as rigorously as financial or operational KPIs. Clearly measured leadership behaviors transform organizational performance, reduce risks, and protect profitability.

It’s time for your board to stop guessing. Start governing with confidence by measuring what truly matters.

Ready to Integrate Behavioral Accountability at the Board Level?

Contact me today and let’s discuss how your board can leverage leading behavioral indicators to reduce risk, drive innovation, and deliver tangible results.

Curious to know how future-ready you are as a leader? Take an assessment now!

Sources

Gallup. (2023). State of the Global Workplace Report. Gallup, Inc.

McKinsey & Company. (2023). The Future of Work: Productivity and Well-being. McKinsey Global Institute.

Society for Human Resource Management. (2021). Retaining Talent: The Cost of Turnover. SHRM.