From Working Leadership Online:

Question:
You talked about capability as one of the factors in underperformance. How can I measure that, so I can make better decisions about assignments?

Response:
As a Manager, you may think you have only a feeling about someone’s capability, but, in fact, that feeling can be objectively measured. This measurement was documented in statistically valid research studies by Dr. Elliott Jaques as early as 1952 and continuously validated in studies until his death in 2003.

The metric is Time Span. Time Span is the length of time a person can work into the future, without direction, using their own discretionary judgment.

As a Manager, think about any task assignment for any of your team members. Some will complete the immediate parts of the task and then get stuck, come back to you for more direction or just check out. Those Time Spans are relatively short.

Others can take a complex task assignment and carry it forward to its completion. These Time Spans may last for a few days, weeks or months. Time Span is the length of time a person can work into the future, without direction, using their own discretionary judgment.

Once a manager understands this simple concept, the intuitive feeling about a person’s capability can be objectively measured and better decisions can be made about task assignments. -TF
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