You’ve Got the KPIs - But Have You Considered KBIs?

Many organisations rely heavily on KPIs to measure performance. While KPIs are essential, they only tell part of the story, they show the results, not the behaviours that created them.Achieving Operational Excellence requires more than tracking outcomes. It requires a cultural transformation where ideal behaviours lead to ideal results.

The Shingo Model teaches us that these ideal behaviours are shaped by guiding principles such as “focus on process”, “lead with humility” and “create constancy of purpose”. These principles are universal, timeless and drive consequences across the organisation.But how do you know whether your behaviours align to these principles?

This is where KBIs,Key Behaviour Indicators, come in.

Why KBIs Matter

Guiding principles help shape the design of systems that enable ideal behaviours to flourish and become routine. Most organisations already track KPIs, but few understand the behavioural drivers behind those KPIs.KBIs fill that gap.They provide insight into how work is done, not just what is achieved, and they help leaders understand whether the daily behaviours within their teams are aligned to the culture they want to build.

What Are KBIs?

KBIs are specific, measurable behaviours or actions linked directly to organisational goals.

As leading indicators, KBIs give early insight into whether teams are behaving in ways that will drive the results you expect.Designed into your management systems, they allow leaders to:

• Improve coaching

• Strengthen team alignment

• Reinforce desired cultural norms

• Track behavioural progress over time

Improving a KBI may involve increasing the frequency, scope or quality of a particular behaviour.

Examples of Useful KBIs

KBIs will vary by organisation, but common examples include:

• Submission of improvement ideas

• Implementation of improvement ideas

• Giving recognition for positive behaviour

• Completion of Leader Standard Work

• Adherence to safety protocols

• Sharing best practice across teams

• Participation in cross-functional improvement projects

  
  

These indicators may be harder to measure than KPIs — but they are powerful signals of intent and cultural alignment.

How KBIs Support Transformation

When positioned within your management system, KBIs strengthen transformation in several key ways:

1. Strategic Alignment

KBIs bridge the gap between strategy and execution by focusing attention on the behaviours required to deliver strategic goals.

2. Performance Improvement

By understanding how work is carried out, leaders can coach more effectively and target the behaviours that will strengthen future performance.

3. Culture Development

KBIs make culture tangible. They help leaders define, measure and reinforce the behaviours that shape organisational culture.

4. Hiring and People Development

KBIs can be used to assess behavioural alignment during recruitment and identify high-potential employees within the organisation.

5. Predicting Outcomes

As leading indicators, KBIs help predict future results - unlike KPIs, which only report on what has already happened.

Conclusion

Organisations often track results but overlook the behavioural drivers behind them. KBIs offer a practical way to understand, reinforce and shape the behaviours that underpin a strong continuous improvement culture. By focusing on both KPIs and KBIs, leaders create a more balanced system, one that measures not only what is achieved but how it is achieved.

If you'd like to learn more about KBIs, or explore how to identify and develop the right ones for your organisation, the Manufacturers Network team can help.