---
id: "action-reward-output-over-input"
type: "action-item"
source_timestamps: ["§ 2. Ensure that performance evaluation and management systems are focused on output rather than input"]
tags: ["hr", "performance-management"]
related: ["claim-input-metrics-punish-efficiency", "concept-clandestine-ai-use"]
action: "Ensure performance evaluation and management systems measure and reward output rather than input (time/effort)."
outcome: "Elimination of 'clandestine AI use' and faked busyness."
speakers: ["Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic"]
sources: ["adoption"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-adoption"
originDay: 9
articleStem: "hbr-edu-36-team-collaborate-with-ai"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2024/11/set-your-team-up-to-collaborate-with-ai-successfully"
sourceTitle: "Set Your Team Up to Collaborate with AI Successfully"
---
# Shift Performance Metrics to Output

**Action:** Ensure performance evaluation and management systems measure and reward *output* rather than *input* (time/effort).

**How:** Audit performance-evaluation systems to ensure they measure results achieved rather than hours worked or visible effort. If employees use AI to achieve the same output with **40% less effort**, do *not* punish them with more work or sanction them for slacking. Either formally increase expected outcomes across the board, or reward employees for accomplishing existing outcomes faster.

**Outcome:** Elimination of [[concept-clandestine-ai-use]] and faked busyness. This action operationalizes the claim that [[claim-input-metrics-punish-efficiency]] and is pillar 2 of [[framework-5-ways-ai-collaboration]]. Pair it with [[action-offer-ai-incentives]]. *(Enrichment caution: pair output focus with reward-sharing — see [[contrarian-rewarding-less-work]] — to avoid burnout/Taylorism.)*


## Related across articles
- [[action-restructure-evaluations]]
- [[action-offer-ai-incentives]]