Step 6 of 10 · Performance Lever 4

System Cues

System Cues looks at what the workplace environment signals, rewards, measures, or makes easier.

Performance often stalls when the system says one thing, but rewards or reinforces something else. This section helps you examine whether the issue you selected is partly being shaped by process, metrics, incentives, or competing signals.

Watch the System Cues Lesson

This lesson explains how people read the system around them: what gets measured, what gets praised, what gets ignored, and what consequences actually follow.

System Cues Video Placeholder

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Read the lesson transcript

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This section should explain that System Cues include metrics, incentives, dashboards, processes, handoffs, approval paths, scorecards, consequences, and what leaders repeatedly pay attention to.

Before You Complete This Section

Answer these questions against the same performance challenge you selected at the start.

  • Look at what the system actually reinforces, not just what leaders say matters.
  • Notice whether metrics, incentives, timelines, or approvals create competing priorities.
  • Watch for situations where the fastest path is not the best path.
  • Consider whether people are getting mixed messages about what should come first.

People follow system cues quickly. If the formal message is “quality matters,” but the system rewards speed above all else, the system will usually win.

Complete the System Cues Section

Choose the answer that best reflects the performance challenge you are analyzing.

Question 1

The metrics, incentives, or processes reinforce the behaviors needed for this work to go well.

Question 2

People receive clear and consistent signals about what matters most when priorities compete.

Question 3

The easiest path through the system supports the desired behavior rather than encouraging shortcuts or workarounds.

Keep this focused on metrics, incentives, processes, consequences, competing priorities, or mixed signals.

Your answers save to your current Report ID. The next section is Tool Support.