What are paired metrics?

Intel co-founder Andy Grove defined paired metrics (or paired indicators) as a way to focus on a metric you want to improve without adverse effects on other metrics.

For example, if you prioritise sales you will find the sales team discounting your products (affecting profitability) to win sales. Or if you focus on reducing the cost of acquisition, you might affect retention.

Using paired metrics means monitoring 2 (or more) metrics simultaneously in performance reviews rather than a focus on any single metric.

Having paired metrics allows you to make improvements to one metric whilst knowing you are not accidentally affecting others.