Which metrics are worth measuring
Step 1 / 4·Why HR reports lead to no action
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Learning objectives — after this module you will:
- Understand why most HR reports lead to no action
- Separate activity, outcome and leading metrics
- Choose a core metric set and write a definition for each
Why HR reports lead to no action
Fix the root cause before touching Excel.
Plenty of HR functions send a multi-page monthly report, full of figures, and nobody does anything with it. The cause is rarely missing data — it's that the report doesn't answer any specific question.
The underlying rule: every metric must attach to a QUESTION someone genuinely needs answered, and an ACTION that could follow depending on the result. A metric that leads to no action is a cost, not a value.
The test before adding a metric
Ask three things: (1) Who will use this number? (2) If it gets worse, what will they do differently? (3) Who is accountable for it? If you can't answer all three, don't put it on the dashboard — you're just creating work for yourself.
Key takeaway: Every metric needs a real question and a possible action — otherwise it's a cost.