Despite all the economic data accumulated and monitored, the emotional perception of the economy is gathered in a few reports; the Consumer Confidence and Survey of Consumer Perception reports are headline examples. These are reminders that despite economic indicators pointing in one direction, the consumer’s emotional state may be uncoupled from economic trends.

How might we incorporate the perception and confidence of those we serve into our deliberations? Few dashboards capture the human element, instead prioritizing headline numbers. Enrollment might be increasing, but the trust we anticipated we were building is actually eroding the foundation. Our assessment of an enterprise’s progress (or regression) may be forecasted by anecdotal narratives before the data quantifies the disruption or delight we have generated.