Vanity metrics create productivity theatre
Response time, green dots, and “hours online” don’t predict output. They predict anxiety.
The metrics that actually matter
1) Focus depth
How long can someone stay in a productive context without interruption? Focus depth predicts quality work in engineering, design, writing, and analysis.
2) Context switching rate
Excessive app switching is a workflow smell. Reduce it and delivery speed improves without asking anyone to work harder.
3) Meeting load vs maker time
When maker roles spend 40%+ of their week in meetings, output drops predictably. This is a system issue, not a person issue.
4) Recoverable idle patterns
Idle time isn’t inherently bad (breaks matter). But spikes that correlate to specific tools or recurring meetings reveal fixable friction.
How to use metrics without destroying culture
- Share the same dashboards employees see.
- Use trends, not one-off moments.
- Coach systems first, individuals second.