Progressive disclosure in metric systems

Progressive disclosure helps teams navigate metrics by revealing information in manageable layers. This prevents overwhelming team members with too much data while allowing your measurement practice to grow sustainably over time.

A good metric system works like a well-organized website. The homepage (dashboard) shows only the most important numbers. Clicking on these metrics reveals the supporting data behind them. For example, if revenue is down, team members can click to see which product lines or regions are underperforming. This keeps everyone focused on what matters most.

Start with tracking just 3-5 core metrics that directly connect to your most important business outcomes. Companies often fail by trying to measure everything at once, creating systems that are overwhelming and unsustainable. As you grow, you can gradually add more sophisticated measurements, but keep these foundational metrics at the center of your dashboard.