Metrics without context are dangerous. A response-time metric during a weather event, pandemic, or staffing shortage tells a very different story than the same metric during normal operations.
Good leaders teach teams how to interpret numbers, not just report them. Context explains variance, protects morale, and prevents bad decisions driven by front-line surface-level data.
Numbers should start conversations, not end them.
Tip: Review metrics with curiosity instead of judgment.
Teams engage honestly and improve faster when you do. Data is powerful—but only when paired with situational awareness, emotional intelligence, and professional judgment.
Tomorrow’s tip: Why Dashboards Don’t Run Properties.
— Mike Brewer