Leading vs lagging indicators, for goals that move.
A leading indicator increases confidence that something will happen, predictive, early signal. A lagging indicator confirms the right things happened, long-term results like revenue or retention.
Leading indicators enable action before problems become critical, and make better Key Results when lagging metrics move too slowly (see Slow-Moving Metrics and Proxy Metrics).
The practical craft: build the metric tree from the lagging outcome down to the input metrics your teams can actually move this quarter, then choose Key Results at the highest level that will visibly move within the cycle. A quarter spent staring at a metric that cannot move in a quarter is a quarter of theatre.
Don't confuse a leading indicator with a proxy: a leading indicator sits on the causal path; a proxy merely correlates. Target a proxy and you invite the Measurement Mirage.
From the ZOKRI OKR Handbook, the methodology we install and maintain.
Reading about method is not the same as running it. We install this system and build the capability that stays.
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