Workshop Title

“Defining Our Team’s North Star”

What is it?

This workshop is a structured, two-hour session where your team defines its North Star Metric and the key inputs that drive it, creating a clear framework for focus and alignment.

Why is it useful?

This workshop helps your team cut through competing priorities and align on a single, measurable definition of success that guides everyday decisions and drives real customer value.

The North Star Framework was popularised by growth expert Sean Ellis and product strategist Amplitude in the 2010s as a method for aligning teams around a single critical metric.

Objectives

• Build a shared understanding of the North Star Approach.
• Align the team on the core value delivered to customers.
• Draft and agree on a single North Star Metric that captures that value.
• Identify 3–5 input metrics the team can influence to drive the North Star.
• Create a visual map linking inputs to the North Star Metric.
• Decide how progress will be tracked and reviewed.
• Strengthen team alignment around a common definition of success.

Resources Required

• 2 hours
• 6-12 participants
• Whiteboard or digital collaboration tool (e.g. Miro, MURAL, FigJam)
• Sticky notes or digital equivalents
• Markers or annotation tools
• Timer
• Pre-prepared slides with a short primer on the North Star Approach

Process

1. Welcome and Context (10 minutes)

• Introduce the purpose: “We’re here to define our North Star, which is one metric that captures the value we create for our users/clients/customers and guides our work as a team.”
• Briefly explain the North Star Approach:
  • A single metric for customer value.
  • Supported by 3–5 input metrics that drive it.
  • Used to align team priorities and decisions.

Facilitation Tip: Keep this section short and practical. Avoid jargon.

2. What Value Do We Deliver? (20 minutes)

• Ask: What’s the most important value our product/service creates for users?
• Silent brainstorm: each person writes one idea per sticky (5 minutes).
• Share and cluster: group similar ideas together (10 minutes).
• Discuss as a team: refine clusters into 2–3 core value statements (5 minutes).

Facilitation Tip: Push the team to think about customer value, not internal outputs.

3. Drafting Candidate North Stars (25 minutes)

• Introduce examples from other companies (without prescribing).
• Small group activity (10 minutes): in pairs or trios, draft one potential North Star Metric.
• Share back to the full group (10 minutes).
• Quick round of clarifying questions (5 minutes).

Facilitation Tip: Ask, “Does this metric truly reflect customer value? Would improving this predict growth?”

4. Selecting the North Star Metric (15 minutes)

• Set criteria together: measurable, linked to value, actionable, leading indicator.
• Use dot voting to shortlist the top candidate(s).
• Open discussion: confirm one clear North Star.

Facilitation Tip: If the team struggles, capture 2–3 candidates and agree to test them, rather than forcing one prematurely.

5. Identifying Input Metrics (25 minutes)

• Ask: What behaviours or activities drive the North Star?
• Silent brainstorm (5 minutes).
• Share and cluster into themes (10 minutes).
• Select 3–5 input metrics that the team can realistically influence (10 minutes).

Facilitation Tip: Keep input metrics specific and controllable. Avoid vanity metrics.

6. Bringing It Together (15 minutes)

• Draw the North Star at the centre of the board.
• Map chosen input metrics around it.
• Discuss: How will we track this? Where should we make progress visible?

Facilitation Tip: Push the group to think about frequency of measurement (weekly, sprintly) and ownership.

7. Wrap-Up and Next Steps (10 minutes)

• Summarise:
  • Agreed North Star Metric
  • Chosen input metrics
  • Where and how progress will be tracked
• Agree on follow-up: when the team will review and refine (e.g. quarterly).

Facilitation Tip: Close with a reflection round. Ask each participant, “What excites you about using this North Star?”

Secret Sauce

• Keep value front and centre: Whenever the group drifts toward internal goals or revenue, gently ask, “How does this reflect customer value?”
• Use time-boxing: Run activities in short, timed bursts (5–10 minutes) to keep energy high and avoid endless debate.
• Frame with examples: Share quick, well-known North Stars (Spotify: time spent listening, Airbnb: nights booked) to spark ideas and show credibility.
• Push for clarity: If a proposed metric sounds vague, ask, “How would we measure that weekly?”
• Balance voices: Use silent brainstorming before discussion so quieter participants’ ideas appear on the board.
• Anchor to action: Keep asking, “Is this something our team can influence directly?” when selecting input metrics.
• Plan for iteration: Say upfront that the first North Star is a draft—it makes you look pragmatic rather than perfectionist.
• Close with ownership: End by confirming who tracks the metrics and when the team will review them, so it feels grounded.