Which statement best describes a leading indicator in Mega Goal monitoring?

• A. Lagging indicators reflect past results
• B. Leading indicators measure only cost
• C. Leading indicators predict future performance
• D. Leading indicators are post-project metrics

Answer: (C)

Leading indicators are proactive metrics that anticipate where performance is headed by tracking early signals and inputs that precede final outcomes. In Mega Goal monitoring, they forecast whether the goal will be met and allow you to adjust plans before results prove otherwise. This forward-looking nature is what makes them the best description: they help predict future performance so you can act in time. By contrast, lagging indicators reflect results after the fact, and metrics limited to cost or post-project measurements don’t capture the anticipatory insight that leading indicators provide.