---
published: true
layout: post
title: There Are So Many Things You Can Improve Around Your APIs Without Measuring
date: 2025-04-15T09:00:00.000Z
tags:
  - Metrics
  - Analtyics
  - Planning
  - Measuring
  - Changes
image: https://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/algorotoscope-master/bf-skinner-thinking-man-5.jpeg
---
In a very binary world it is easy to just follow everyone's lead with what seems like proven wisdom, moving forward and executing based upon what you’ve read and already know. It is easy to fall prey to common business tropes we hear while working within the machine, but I am here to remind you that it is also to always remember that you have the expertise and agency to also reject the status quo. Phrases like “you can't improve what you don't measure” are common place in our industry--used oftentimes to sell you something, but I seem them an opportunity test out your ability to think for yourself. When reading something like this I always recommend to pause, step back, and ask—-is this true? When it comes to your API operations, I bet there are plenty of things you can improve without measuring—-such as:

- **Documentation** - You know your documentation is bad, why do you need to measure it before you improve upon your documentation.
- **Communication** - Teams regularly express there isn’t enough communication between teams, why do you need to measure before doing.
- **Descriptions** - You are already aware that your API operations do not have good enough summaries and descriptions—why not improve?
- **Support** - You know that your response time and quality of your support leaves a lot to be desired, why do you need more evidence-invest!
- **Education** - There is a never-ending appetite for learning new things amongst your team, why measure—just get to work talking to them.

Obviously there are plenty of things we should be measuring across our API operations, but there are many things we are measuring that we aren’t’ improving, and there are also many things we can improve without measuring. Data, reports, and dashboards are useful, but they can also be distractions for us actually rolling up our sleeves and doing the work that is already on the table, and addressing the friction that is right in front of us. I am guessing if you paused for a moment and really thought about it, you could come up with multiple things you can without measuring that would have a positive impact on operations. Don’t fall for the repetition and hum of the machine, and make sure you are thinking for yourself, and not letting others do it for you.