Leading vs. Lagging Indicators

Revamping an organization's cybersecurity posture is a monumental task, often perceived as an overnight success when, in reality, it is often the fruit of years of meticulous planning, unwavering resolve, talented people and strategic foresight.

Understanding the nuanced interplay between leading and lagging indicators is crucial for driving sustainable success, learning from others, celebrating success and building foundations. Leading indicators are predictive measures, offering early warning signs about the future performance of a project or a team. They are like the headlights of a car, illuminating the path ahead and enabling proactive adjustments. Conversely, lagging indicators are reflective measures, stuff done in the past that provides value now, these indicators provide insights about outcomes that have already occurred. They are akin to the rearview mirror of a car, offering a clear view of the road travelled, but not where the road is leading.

Inheriting Effort: The Subtlety of Lagging Indicators

Often in professional settings, we find ourselves inheriting the reins of projects or teams whose foundations were laid by others. This transition is not just a handover of responsibilities but also an inherence of the lagging indicators—the results of serious efforts, choices, and strategies implemented long before our arrival. Recognizing and appreciating these lagging indicators is not merely an exercise in giving credit where it's due but also a crucial step in understanding the journey thus far and strategically planning the path forward.

Once I got a call from someone that replaced me in my previous role and they thanked me, I was humbled, they thanked me for leaving such a good foundation and team for them, I can expand, but I still remember this call today, over 10 years later.

Real-Life Illustrations: Cybersecurity and the Journey of an Athlete

Let's delve into specific examples to crystallize this concept:

1. Cybersecurity Turnaround: Revamping an organization's cybersecurity posture is a monumental task, often perceived as an overnight success when, in reality, it is often the fruit of years of meticulous planning, unwavering resolve, talented people and strategic foresight. Turning around cybersecurity is about making the right choices consistently, upholding integrity, maintaining hygiene, and progressively moving towards sometimes not-yet-set goals. It's about the years of toiling in the shadows so that, one day, the company can be a leader in cyber. The remarkable transformation, often lauded as a sudden leap, is indeed a lagging indicator of years of dedication and strategic execution by exceptional people.
2. Athletic Prowess (Taking the Example of a Cyclist lets call them Lance): The journey of an elite athlete, much like a renowned cyclist (lets call them Lance), is another poignant example of the deceptive nature of lagging indicators. The awe-inspiring victories in prestigious tournaments, often perceived as sudden breakthroughs, are the culminations of years, if not decades, of relentless training, incremental improvements, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. The athlete's journey from enduring rigorous training regimes to optimizing every aspect of their physical and mental prowess is a testament to the lagging indicators of success—the countless unseen hours dedicated to perfecting their craft, rather than an overnight success.

Reflections:

When one inherits a team or a project, it's imperative to recognize and value the lagging indicators—the groundwork laid by predecessors. This acknowledgment is not just about giving credit but also about gaining insights into what has worked and what hasn't, thereby making informed decisions for the future. In doing so, we respect the journey, honor the efforts of those who walked before us, and carry forward the legacy with a vision that's informed, strategic, and respectful of the past.? This perspective is often forgotten in todays ego centric world, just last week, I presented and gave credit to 3 previous employees in helping lay foundations of what we are doing now, I have never met 2 of them, I have done this in the past and will continue to do so in the future, one of the people in the meeting came to me post, and said they really appreciated the nod to employees past. One of my principles is to give credit where due, not always something that resonates in all environments, however something I strongly believe in.

Definitions:

Understanding Lagging and Leading Indicators

• Leading Indicators: These are proactive, forward-looking measures that predict future outcomes. They help in setting the direction, making real-time adjustments, and taking preventive measures. Examples include customer satisfaction surveys (predicting future sales) or employee engagement scores (indicating future productivity).
• Lagging Indicators: These are reactive, backward-looking measures that provide insights based on past performance. They are essential for evaluating the effectiveness of strategies and understanding the outcomes of actions taken. Examples include financial statements (reflecting past financial performance) or cybersecurity breach incidents (indicating the effectiveness of past security measures).

Honestly the dance between leading and lagging indicators in the realm of execution, strategy, team dynamics and project management is intricate and nuanced. As leaders and professionals, our ability to discern, appreciate, and strategically utilize these indicators can significantly influence our trajectory towards sustainable success and collective excellence( lets call this culture), otherwise you can easily be swept up in BS hype, which can be really dangerous, becoming your next leading indicator, BS itself.

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