What Does Move the Needle Mean?

If you’re new to the job market, you’ve likely heard the phrase “move the needle” thrown around a few times. In the business world, this phrase has an important meaning that you should familiarize yourself with.

Simply put, move the needle is an expression that suggests the need for or the accomplishment of measurable progress towards a desired goal. It’s a phrase that implies measurable, quantitative success and a proactive approach to achieving it. As an example: if a company’s goal is to increase their website traffic, then a project that moves the needle might be targeting and optimizing their key search phrases.

The phrase “move the needle” is closely connected to the idea of “Key Performance Indicators” (KPIs). KPIs are metrics that measure the success of a project or company. For example, a KPI might be website visits, number of product sales, customer satisfaction levels, or any other significant metric. Generally speaking, any result that can be quantified can be thought of as a KPI.

When someone talks about “move the needle,” they’re referring to anything that could be used to measure progress towards a desired goal. Whatever the goal may be, the “needle” that is moved is the KPI resulting from an action taken in order to reach that goal.

So, as someone new to the job market, keep an ear out for the phrase “move the needle.” Oftentimes, employers will use the phrase when talking about achieving success and measuring progress. Being aware of the meaning behind “move the needle” will help you demonstrate to potential employers that you understand the importance of goal achievement and measurable results.