Anything can be measured

Some things are difficult to measure. Happiness, satisfaction, disappointment, frustration, love.

But if you think about it just a little, there's a way.

When we say those things are hard to measure, we usually mean it's hard to find an objective rating scale. I can tell you I love my kids, but I can't really tell you how much.

Nonetheless there are ways to compare these things, even without an objective scale of measurement.

I love my kids, and I also love the taste of a properly cooked rare steak. I can't put numbers on either of those. But I know I love my kids more than a rare steak. I can compare, even without a commonly accepted objective rating scale.

And what's more, there's usually some easily measured proxy for such things.

One is time. I can measure the amount of time I'm willing to invest in my kids, and I can measure how long I'm willing to travel and wait in line at a restaurant that serves a properly cooked rare steak.

Your staff might be frustrated, or your members might be excited, but it's really hard to say how much.

Nonetheless there are proxies that you can measure for those things. Time is just one of them.

What else can you measure, to know whether you're making a difference in the lives of the people you serve?

All the best,
A.