The reason we measure anything is because we want to change. It's the same at work as it is at home.
The business world says what gets measured gets managed. And that's why we invest in BI, in RCI, in Continuous Improvement.
I had the Advocare app on my phone for awhile. When you first open it, before you buy product of any kind, it makes you measure yourself in all kinds of unpleasant places you'd rather not.
Management gurus call this a baseline. But around your waistline? You might call this intrusive.
But it's pretty clear it has to be done. It is possible and totally deflating to get results without being able to see results.
The more you care about the outcome, the more you'll need to take a baseline. And the less likely you'll want to.