Are you measuring it to feel good or to do better?

If you are measuring something to feel good or show-off, but are otherwise not using that metric in any meaningful decision-making, then you are dealing with a vanity metric.

Although they might seem harmless at first—after all, what's wrong with feeling good–there might be more adverse consequences than what it seems.

The more vanity metrics you have, the more difficult it is to see causal relationships. What caused what? Since they are usually easy to change, they foster complacency as well.

Select few metrics that you use, and audit them.

For each of them write down what does it mean if it goes up or down, what impact should that have on your behaviour, and what impact should it have on your business.

Think back to the last time a change in that metric led to a change in your behaviour or decision. Was it solely due to that specific metric, or were there other factors as well? How often did that happen?

Be vigilant of vanity metrics. Replace them as you find them. The results will follow.