..is that it depersonalizes the performance. So, if you’ve had a bad week on your exercise or on improving your sales pipeline, it’s still just a number or a bunch of statuses. Your focus then is to improving the numbers and statuses. Simple as that.
The downside of tracking is evident if overdone. When customer service metrics treat people as a number and remove the human connection (we’ve all seen this happen and felt it), we get pissed off. Like every tool, figuring out it’s utility goes a long way – especially in an organization.
My learning on tracking initiatives and quantifying what you do is that it’s excellent when used to build personal habits. It’s worth doing every time you’re trying to embed a new habit in your life. After a while, you will probably not need it but in the early stages, it helps you take failure less personally.
Want to wake up at 5am every day? Start a tracker on google doc, find a friend who you’ll report to on your progress every week, and be patient with yourself. Repeat progress for all habits on your wish list.
We change our habits.. and change our lives.
PS: While you’re at it on the tracking, use conditional formatting so you get a splash of bright green when you hit a target. Celebrate small wins…
A Learning a Day 