Many of us use metrics at work. When done correctly they can concisely communicate the health of whatever it is we’re trying to improve. I’ve been working on a system at work that captures the overall health of our organization in a clear, visual fashion. It occurred to me the other day that I should do the same…
Manage What Matters, Not What’s Measurable
There’s a simple formula for effectively managing something using metrics. Determine what matters to you and your organization Figure out how to capture it into a simple metric Manage that metric to improve your outcomes Number one is crucial, and it’s the step most people miss. People instead skip to two and three by picking from metrics that…
For Metrics, Less is Often More
Metrics are like power and authority—once you’ve tasted them you think the answer is always more. This is dangerous. With metrics the problem is that having one or two good metrics is empowering, but having 17 is debilitating. Similarly, drinking a glass of water when you’re thirsty is good for you, but only having water (and no air)…
Lifelogging
I’m getting back into the idea of lifelogging. It marries two of my favorite things: productivity and metrics. For those not familiar, it’s basically a combination of metrics about your life. Here are some examples: Exercise Happiness Air quality Weight Diet This stuff can be captured manually, but part of the culture is finding the best ways to…