When tracking movement towards an objective we can look at either lead or lag indicators.   If we were trying to lose weight we could measure our weight every week.   This would be a lag indicator that would tell us if our efforts had been successful or not.   Alternatively we could track the calories we consumed each day.   This would be a lead indicator.   Making sure we conformed to certain requirements would tell us if we were taking the actions that would result in our desired outcome.   Looking at lead indicators is often more effective as your daily activity and therefore your movement towards the goal.   Lag indicators are useful and should be used as well but they tell you after thing have already happened.   The results from a lag indicator might be the consquence of actions that were taken perhaps a few weeks previously.   It is therefore less clear what actions actually caused the outcome you recieve.