The Scoreboard Test: Measuring Effort vs Results

Everyone is busy, yet results still fall short. Many leaders mistake motion for progress and only see the gap when numbers miss.

In this episode, Chris Sugden, Managing Partner at Edison Partners and host of Sit Down with Sugden, shares why effort-based goals mislead teams. Through years of working closely with operators and executives, he explains how leaders should measure what truly drives the P&L. He outlines how to reset goals so effort consistently translates into measurable business results.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to set goals that connect daily work to revenue growth

• Why every department should be measured on margin impact

• What signals reveal effort result gaps before numbers miss

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:11) When performance gets confused with effort

(04:58) Goals that reward activity instead of outcomes

(06:48) How every department can drive revenue

(09:30) Bookings success can still miss the P&L

(11:10) What leaders should measure instead of hours