Someone Else's Reporting

Everyone reports on something for their job. Institutions need reporting for tracking progress, measuring growth, analyzing change, or keeping records. Reports tell someone somewhere that the thing you are responsible for is meeting this or that expectation (or not).But who decides what is being reported? What data? What stories? What analysis? The answer points directly at the person or the committee or the board that has the power. The reporter isn’t in control; the one that decides what is being measured for the report is in control because he or she or they dictate the categories within which the stories of success or failure, compliance or deviance, are being told.When you begin anew, don’t use someone else’s categories. That is their story, their reporting, their control. You will not only concede to their control, you will inevitably compromise what you are setting out to do to fit into their categories.So if you’re launching a clothing line, don’t make it a goal to get 10k followers on Instagram. That’s someone else’s success. What will you choose to measure yours?If you’re starting a faith community, don’t accept the confines of reporting what others have decided is important (e.g. attendance at midweek programming, or online sermons downloaded). What categories will you measure to tell your unique story? Stick to those.