Eric.Coet

What data are you using to inform business decisions, and is that data reliable?

Meteorologists have long pursued accurate predictions of weather patterns and events. They use Doppler radar, satellites, and other instruments to collect data. Viewing that information in light of past weather events enables them to make informed guesses as to what will happen in the near future. As technology advances, so does their accuracy. Yet even with all the data, they can only see a short distance into the future since the weather, at its nature, is unpredictable. The good news is that business patterns and systems are more reliable than atmospheric changes.

As a leader, you have the advantage of not only predicting but directing your company's future. Be careful not to succumb to wrong-thinking that you cannot predict or project based on reasonable assumptions. Projecting, building a profit plan, and setting measurable goals is a powerful way to direct resources in the right direction. Further, by utilizing accurate data and wisdom from past decisions and events, you can lead your team away from catastrophes or setbacks and toward greater success in the future.

As leaders, we have an affinity for numbers. We gravitate toward their power to measure success. But if we’re not careful, we can become fixated on the numbers to the detriment of what really matters.

How else can we measure success? Perhaps it’s time to rethink progress and wealth. Can we detach these ideas from the numbers that often limit them? In Matthew 6:21, Jesus taught that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Twenty years from now, do you want your heart tethered to numbers? Or would you rather your affections and attention be preoccupied with family, memories, and legacy? These are what create true wealth. Perhaps success isn’t so much about profit and loss sheets but instead about values that can't be affected by dips in an industry or a fluctuating economy. Yes, it’s crucial to measure the progress of our organizations. We should use the numbers to accurately gauge our present reality and inform future decisions. But let’s not tie ourselves too closely to those numbers. Let’s use them but not allow them to own us. There is truer wealth to be gained that numbers can't measure.