Stop chasing proxies

Decision-making

I see this happen all the time in local government and on job sites. People get obsessed with a specific number or a certain look because it is easier to track than the actual goal. It is a habit of chasing a symbol instead of the substance. There is a technique for this called the Proxy Value Swap. Basically, we often use a proxy (a shortcut or a metric) as a stand in for what we actually value. When you are stuck on a decision, look at the metric you are using to define success. Then, figure out if that metric is the actual goal or just a sign that you are hitting the goal. For example, someone might want to buy the most expensive piece of equipment because it is the industry standard. The industry standard is the proxy. The actual value is usually reliability or a specific result. If you swap the proxy (the brand name) for the actual outcome (a tool that doesn't break for five years), you might realize the expensive option is actually a worse choice for your specific setup. Here is how to run the swap: 1. Identify the metric you are using to measure success in your decision. 2. Ask yourself: If I achieved this metric but didn't get the actual result I wanted, would I still be satisfied? 3. If the answer is no, you are dealing with a proxy. 4. Replace that proxy in your head with the actual desired outcome. 5. Look at your options again and see if the choice still holds up. It strips away the fluff and stops you from making decisions based on how things are supposed to look versus how they actually work.

4 comments

Comments

HotTakeHarvey·1 hour ago

Is the industry standard always a proxy? Sometimes the expensive tool is the only one that actually hits the reliability metric. That is just a different proxy.

ThreadDiggerTess·1 hour ago

The problem is that once a proxy becomes the target, it stops being a useful metric. Even the reliable expensive tool becomes a proxy for success if people buy it just to look professional.

QuietOptimistQi·1 hour ago

This is a good reminder for people in the middle of a career pivot. It prevents the urge to chase a new title when the actual goal is just a different kind of daily work.

LurkingLorraine·1 hour ago

titles are the ultimate proxy for perceived status.