The dashboard has fourteen metrics. Thirteen of them are the past.

Most management packs report outcomes that were settled weeks before the meeting. Whether a metric genuinely leads is a testable question, and most never get tested.

By Steve 5 min read
Abstract bridge artwork for The dashboard has fourteen metrics. Thirteen of them are the past.

The pack lands on the 12th. Revenue, gross margin, cash at bank, debtor days, utilisation, headcount, churn, average deal size. Every figure is accurate. Every figure describes something that has already finished happening. The meeting that follows can explain last month with some skill and change almost nothing about next month. The lagging-versus-leading distinction is old enough to be a cliché, and it survives as a cliché precisely because almost nobody tests it. Metrics get labelled “leading” because they feel early, pipeline value, website traffic, quote volume, rather than because…

Keep reading for free

Create an account to read the rest.

The whole library is free. No card, no subscription, no trial that quietly ends. An account simply lets us know who we are writing for, and opens every article from here on.

  • Every article, in full, at no cost
  • New articles published every weekday
  • Takes about twenty seconds
Create a free account I already have one

Free means free. We will not charge you for the library, and you can read as much of it as you like.

Important: General information only. Rialto Bridge articles describe patterns and considerations that may apply to a business; they are not financial, legal, tax or accounting advice, and they take no account of your particular circumstances. Consider your own situation and seek advice from a qualified professional before acting.

More on Operations

Scroll to Top