Why Top Leaders Ignore Common Success Metrics ?? (And Why You Should Too)

It's been a while since I posted a newsletter here - normally I send them direct, at no cost, every week to subscribers Inbox. If you'd like that then please subscribe at https://theleaderscoach.kit.com .

Now back to this week's newsletter.

One of the great benefits of what I do professionally is that I get to work with smart people and I come out of our conversations with pages full of notes that act as reminders & prompts for myself and fuel for sharing in this newsletter.

Recently, I sat down with a client, a Division 1 manager. He shared something surprising after a 3-0 loss. His team's performance metrics looked really good - more possession, more shots on target, better passing accuracy. But they still lost badly.

"The numbers were good," he said, sipping his coffee. "But I knew we were in trouble at the 20-minute mark. Something was off about our energy. You can't measure that."

His words struck me as pretty profound and reminded me of instances in my own coaching/management career; you know the times when you experience that the vibe or tone in a match or training session is just not where it needs to be?

Here was a leader, judged weekly by the most brutal metrics in professional sports, trusting his instincts over data. It made me wonder: What do top-performing leaders see when they look beyond the numbers?

It’s an interesting lesson……

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A Bit Deeper

Let's face it - metrics dominate our work lives.

Performance indicators. Targets. Team stats. ROI.

They fill our screens and reports fill our inboxes.

But after looking closely at performers for 20 years, I've discovered something crucial: The most successful leaders know exactly when to ignore these metrics.

An example from the world of business; Karen is a tech CEO I recently worked with. Her company's growth metrics were all in the right direction, but she had a sense that trouble may be brewing.

Her top performers showed subtle signs of burnout.

All data suggested everything was fine. Her leadership instinct said otherwise. And against board pressure, she scaled back stretch growth targets a little and created some breathing room.

The result? Within a few months, innovation exploded. Creativity re-emerged. The go-to metrics & data had missed the creative exhaustion - but her leadership radar captured it just in time.

Here's what sets top leaders apart: They understand that metrics only measure past performance. True leadership focuses on the now that informs and supports future success.

You see it with some legendary coaches. Nick Saban didn't just track completion percentages - he studies quarterback movement patterns in practice. Geno Auriemma didn't fixate on point totals - he observed team dynamics during games and timeouts (a clip really worth watching btw.)

What are these high-performing leaders tuning into? I see that as they tune into, leverage and lean into their tacit knowledge that three critical patterns emerge:

1. Energy Dynamics: They detect subtle team energy shifts before performance data shows problems.
2. Hidden Performance Costs: They spot when "good" metrics mask long-term damage.
3. System-Wide Impacts: They recognise how improving one metric might harm overall performance balance.

Now, this isn't about rejecting data. It's about seeing what lies beyond it - a bit like what we spoke about in our recent 'Sherlock Holmes' themed newsletter. (see here)

So, how can you start to develop and nurture this skill today?

• Observe practice/training sessions, not just game day. Turn the sound down, so to speak. Listen to what you see. Fresh and well-hidden detail begins to emerge when metrics take a back seat.
• Trust your leadership instincts. When something feels wrong despite good numbers, investigate deeper. One of the great benefits of your experience is pattern-recognition; it’s a skill hard-earned so tune into it when it speaks.
• Study failure differently. Notice what felt off before the metrics showed problems; then you are beginning to focus on root-cause as opposed to symptoms.

That manager we met at the top of the piece left me with this wisdom: "Metrics tell you some topline details behind the win or loss....they give you a lot of ‘what’ detail. And that’s great…we need that. But spotting what drives future wins lies in understanding the ‘how’ behind the what."

So, in your world, what warning signs might your metrics be missing right now?

Next time we’ll take a look at how good leaders and their people build strategies & systems to catch what numbers & data might be missing.

But in the meantime, give this a go: In your next leadership or management meeting, tune into and notice what your usual metrics aren't measuring.

Last thing, I’d really appreciate it if you would share this with other friends of colleagues who might benefit or be interested. There’s a time when we all get too focused on metrics that aren’t absolute or keeping us directionally correct.

Interested in more leadership strategies, insights & frameworks to help you perform better?

Have you had a look at my online Leadership Course where we focused on 6 proven principles that will help you stand out as a leader - you can get more detail at https://performerclark.gumroad.com/l/jcxjix and use 'Leader33' discount code for your exclusive community discount.

Also check out my Leaders Coach YouTube Channel

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A Master's Voice....

Thoughts and soundbites arouse interest in people. But that's short-lived. Communicating a cause and shared journey fosters genuine connection.

Thank you for being part of the Leaders Coach community.

The work on how to lead better is something you have to do alone.

But you don't have to do it on your own.

Onward and Upward,

Paul Clarke