Who This Helps
This is for the Team Lead who has the analysis but needs to get everyone aligned on what to do next. The Metrics & Dashboards Basics course shows you how to build a system you trust, so you can stop debating the numbers and start executing.
Mini Case
Maya’s team was tracking 20 different numbers every week. Meetings were spent explaining data, not deciding on action. She built a simple weekly scoreboard focused on their North Star and 3 supporting metrics. In 4 weeks, decision time in meetings dropped by 60% because everyone was looking at the same, trusted dashboard.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- Pick your one thing. Define your North Star metric. Be ruthless. If you could only improve one number this quarter, what would it be?
- Find its three friends. Choose 3 supporting metrics that directly influence your North Star. For example, if your star is ‘Active Users,’ a friend could be ‘Weekly Sign-Ups.’
- Set simple targets. Give each supporting metric a realistic weekly or monthly target. Start with a 5% improvement goal, not a moonshot.
- Sketch your scoreboard layout. Grab a pen and paper. Draw three sections: North Star (big and on top), Supporting Metrics & Targets, and Key Insights/Actions for the week.
- Run your first weekly review. Present just this scoreboard next week. Talk about the numbers, then immediately pivot to: “So what do we do about it?”
Avoid These Traps
- Don’t build the dashboard for you. Build it for the person who needs to approve your next project or budget.
- Avoid vanity metrics that look good but don’t change decisions. If a number doesn’t help you answer “what’s next?” drop it.
- Never present data without a clear ‘so what.’ Every chart should point to a potential action.
- Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Your first scoreboard will be messy. That’s okay. Launch it in 7 days, then refine.
Your Win by Friday
By this Friday, you’ll have a one-page dashboard blueprint—your North Star, its three supporting metrics with targets, and a clean layout. You’ll walk into your next stakeholder sync knowing exactly which two numbers to highlight to get the green light. Your data will finally start working for you, not the other way around. How’s that for a productive week?