We build our businesses around them. Eventually, they become just another tick box exercise that describes what we’ve spent our time on.
It creates the impression that we are busy and productive, but it’s not particularly useful.
Progress reports are meant to track progress towards achieving the outcomes we committed to. Every activity, meeting, and report only matters insofar as it gets us closer to the end goal. Activity is irrelevant. If the activity is not aligned to outcomes, it’s also inefficient.
Many processes we create in businesses are relevant, but then evolve into activities that add no value and reports that no-one reads.
A good test is to delay your report until someone asks for it. You might be surprised how many of them are not missed.
