Obsessed With Measurement
We’re obsessed with measurement. KPIs, dashboards, numbers.
And yes – measuring is good. Great, even. You can’t improve what you don’t track. Metrics keep teams accountable and make progress visible.
But most of life is immeasurable.
Take a manager opening a coaching session, describing his workplace as a “dark cloud.” An hour later, he’s smiling, outlining clear commitments for the week ahead. Measure that.
Leaders who focus only on metrics build ordinary organisations. Sure, they’ll have bodies and minds. Profit, maybe. But, they‘ll fail to capture the heart and spirit of their people.
Metrics show what’s happening. They rarely show why it matters or how people feel about it. They can’t capture creativity, courage, or resilience.
Measure what you can, but don’t stop there. Pay attention to the interactions, the culture, the morale. That’s what separates good from great.