North Star Metric Workshop
The North Star Metric (NSM) Workshop is a structured session for identifying, validating, and operationalising the single metric that best captures the core value a product delivers to its customers — and that predicts the long-term sustainable growth of the business. The North Star concept was popularised in Silicon Valley growth culture and extensively developed by Amplitude co-founder Josh Elman and later codified in Amplitude's North Star Playbook. The NSM sits at the intersection of two requirements: it must reflect genuine value delivered to users (not a proxy for company revenue), and it must be a leading indicator of business health. Classic examples include Airbnb's 'nights booked', Spotify's 'time spent listening', and Slack's 'messages sent within an organisation'. A good NSM has six properties: it expresses value to customers, it predicts long-term revenue, it is measurable, it is actionable by the team, it is understandable to everyone, and it is neither a vanity metric nor a pure financial metric. In a workshop, the NSM process involves three interconnected outputs: defining the NSM itself, identifying the 3–5 'input metrics' that feed into it (the levers the team controls), and drawing the input tree that shows how team-level work flows up to the NSM. The input tree transforms the NSM from an abstract goal into an operational system that every team member can connect their daily work to.
How to run it
- 1
Set the context (15 min): explain what a North Star Metric is and why it matters. Share examples from comparable companies. Clarify the key criterion: the NSM should capture value delivered to customers, not be a pure revenue or vanity metric. Present the six properties of a good NSM.
- 2
Map value delivery (20 min): ask 'What is the core action or experience that delivers value to our users?' and 'What would the users be doing if they are getting maximum value from our product?' Brainstorm candidate value moments on sticky notes.
- 3
Generate NSM candidates (15 min): translate value moments into measurable metrics. For each candidate, write it as a specific, countable metric with a timeframe (e.g., 'number of tasks completed per user per week'). Aim for 5–10 candidates.
- 4
Evaluate against the six criteria (20 min): create a simple scoring grid and evaluate each candidate against: reflects user value, predicts revenue, measurable, actionable, understandable, not vanity/not pure revenue. Score each 1–3 per criterion. Candidates with structural weaknesses on any single criterion should be modified or eliminated.
- 5
Select and pressure-test the NSM (15 min): bring the top 2–3 candidates to a group vote. For the winning candidate, run two stress tests: 'Could this number go up while users are getting less value?' (if yes, it's a vanity metric) and 'Could this number go down even when users are deeply satisfied?' (if yes, the metric is too narrow).
- 6
Define input metrics (20 min): ask 'What are the 3–5 key inputs that drive the NSM?' Inputs should be the primary levers the team controls — often corresponding to stages of the user journey. Map these as branches feeding into the NSM node.
- 7
Draw the input tree: starting from the NSM, draw the input metrics that feed it. Below each input metric, identify the team-level activities and experiments that move each input. This creates a clear line of sight from daily work to the North Star.
- 8
Define targets and review cadence: set a current baseline and a 6–12 month target for the NSM. Agree how frequently the NSM and its inputs will be reviewed and who is accountable for the overall number.
Tips
The most common failure in NSM workshops is selecting a revenue metric as the North Star. Revenue is the output; the NSM should be the cause. If you can only grow revenue by delivering more value, then improving the NSM will automatically improve revenue — but not vice versa.
Be ruthless about the 'could this number go up while delivering less value?' test. Download counts, sign-ups, and page views fail this test consistently.
Input metrics are where teams get actionable. Spend at least as much time on inputs as on the NSM itself — the NSM is directional, the inputs are operational.
Run this workshop with a cross-functional group that includes engineering, product, data, and growth. If the NSM is set by leadership alone without team buy-in, it will not change daily behaviour.
The NSM should be reviewed annually, not locked forever. As the product and market evolve, the core value exchange may shift — and the NSM should evolve with it.
Variations
For multi-product companies, run separate NSM workshops per product line before aligning on a portfolio-level NSM. For early-stage startups pre-product-market fit, use a 'North Star hypothesis' that is reviewed monthly rather than committed to as a long-term metric. Pair with AARRR Pirate Metrics to connect funnel stage metrics to the NSM input tree.
Where it fits
Frequently asked questions
When should I use North Star Metric Workshop?â–¾
Use North Star Metric Workshop when you want to: Aligning a growth or product team around a shared success metric; Annual OKR planning — defining the leading indicator objective; Post-pivot product strategy reset; New leadership onboarding and strategic alignment; Pre-fundraise narrative building and investor metrics framing; Cross-functional workshop to connect different team KPIs to a shared goal.
How long does North Star Metric Workshop take?â–¾
North Star Metric Workshop typically takes 90–180 minutes.
How many participants does North Star Metric Workshop work for?â–¾
North Star Metric Workshop works best for groups of 4–20 participants.
What materials do I need for North Star Metric Workshop?â–¾
To run North Star Metric Workshop you will need: Whiteboard or large paper, Sticky notes, Markers, North Star definition template, Current metrics dashboard or overview, Input tree template (NSM input diagram).
How difficult is North Star Metric Workshop to facilitate?â–¾
North Star Metric Workshop is rated intermediate — some facilitation experience is helpful.
Plan your next workshop with AI
Workshop Weaver helps you combine methods like North Star Metric Workshop into a complete, timed agenda in minutes.
Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Amplitude / Josh Elman / Sean Ellis.