Keywords · Ops · Product · Updated 2026-07-21

What is Leading Indicator?

Short answer: A metric that changes before an outcome occurs, giving early warning of a future result such as churn or revenue growth.

Definition

A metric that changes before an outcome occurs, giving early warning of a future result such as churn or revenue growth.

Why it matters for growth

Leading indicators let a team react before a problem shows up in revenue, when it is still cheap and fast to fix.

Example

A drop in weekly logins during week two is a leading indicator of churn that will not show up in the churn rate for another month.

FAQ

What is Leading Indicator?
A metric that changes before an outcome occurs, giving early warning of a future result such as churn or revenue growth.
Why does Leading Indicator matter for growth?
Leading indicators let a team react before a problem shows up in revenue, when it is still cheap and fast to fix.
What is an example of Leading Indicator?
A drop in weekly logins during week two is a leading indicator of churn that will not show up in the churn rate for another month.
What is Leading Indicator? Definition and growth use · Cofounderbase