Measuring impact, not activity

Many teams confuse activity with progress. They track features shipped, tickets closed, meetings held. These metrics create productivity illusions without revealing value creation. True impact metrics measure changes in user behavior or business outcomes. Product management success equals product success. Teams must look beyond outputs to actual outcomes. Instead of counting releases, track whether features improved retention, increased revenue, or reduced support tickets. This shift changes what teams celebrate and optimize.

Vanity metrics pose particular danger. Page views, registered users, download counts might grow while business struggles. These numbers feel good but hide problems. A million registered users mean nothing without engagement. Surface metrics distract from fundamental health indicators.

Choosing right metrics requires understanding causal chains from action to outcome. Teams improving onboarding might track completion rates, but real impact appears in week-two retention or lifetime value. Both matter, but ultimate success depends on long-term outcomes. Measurement discipline includes accepting when metrics don't move.