Easier INC

Creating Confirmation Statements

 

Regular readers will know that I developed Confirmation Practices as an alternative to the usual routine of 'management by the numbers'. They work by (i) framing statements about things that matter most in an individual's or team's work (ii) reflecting on these statements in order to tune into what's happening (or not happening) (iii) then deciding action to maintain or improve the situation.

Made into a habit it's a simple way to stay on top of what matters most. For example, teams that are responsible for delivering an improvement project might use statments such as:

1. We are working on the right things
2. We are working on the right number of things
3. We are working on things at the right scope and scale
4. We are working on things at the right pace
5. We are getting the right results

(NB I call this specific routine "Right Fiving").

I'm often asked though, "How do I come up with effective Confirmation Statements?". It's something that I have typically done instinctively so this blog is an attempt to capture and codify that instinct in case it helps others.

Creating Confirmation Statements

It's easy to get lost in trying to boil the ocean of all the things you could focus on and create statements for. Ditch that and start by simply picking an area that you already know you want to lock in or improve. For example, think about your current pain points, things that get missed or conversations that don't happen but should.

Pick just one of these that matters to you most and write a statement that you could reflect on to tune into how that thing is going. Don't overthink it. Just capture it in the first way that comes to mind.

Now look at this statement and ask yourself, “Does this help me to reflect accurately about something that really matters?”. If the answer is ‘yes' then it’s a good statement. It may be made better via some of the tactics below but if the answer is ’no’ then no amount of finessing it will help - bin it off and try again.

Fine Tuning Your Confirmation Statements

Now that you have a viable Confirmation Statement you might want to hone it.

Start by considering whether an activity focussed statement or a purpose/outcome focussed statement feels most helpful. "I review my to do list at least once a week” is an activity focussed statement. The purpose or value of the activity is implicit (i.e. it leaves us asking “What is it that reviewing my to do list weekly enables that is of value?”). So consider:

• UPSIDES OF PURPOSE/OUTCOME FOCUSSED STATEMENTS = they tend to liberate thinking about the different ways that purpose/outcomes can be achieved. They guard against the potential for false reassurance (i.e. doing useless things brilliantly and mistaking that for a success).
• UPSIDES OF ACTIVITY FOCUSSED STATEMENTS = they tend to be much more concrete and so can lead to more focussed reflection and action. If the issue you want to guard against is a lack of discipline - or framed more positively, you want to hardwire a new habit/ritual - then these sorts of statements can be better… just remember to step back from time to time to ask whether that new habit/ritual is achieving its purpose.

As necessary, redraft your initial statement before considering whether to finesse it with one of the following tactics...

• Reframing your statement from the outside, i.e. from the perspective of another.
• e.g. “My team-mates would describe me as reliable”
• Useful for >>> Helping to challenge perspectives and assumptions.
• Using language that stretches the ambition.
• e.g. “My team-mates would describe me as 100% reliable, all of the time”
• Useful for >>> Making it easier to share uncertainties and vulnerabilities.
• Using language that is open to interpretation.
• e.g. “I am working on the right things”
• Useful for >>> Helping to surface differences in perspective and improving shared understanding.
• Using language that is fun or provoking.
• e.g. “We don’t waste time on tyre kickers”
• Useful for >>> Promoting engagement and creativity… (and can make it easier for people to share information that feels risky or controversial).
• Keeping statements short and simple.
• e.g. “I’m getting the support I need”
• Useful for >>> Promoting engagement and an emphasis on action.

These tactics reveal the simple truth that there is no one right way to write your Confirmation Statements. There are just choices to be made and experimented with... so go do that, let me know how it goes and give me a nudge if you need some help.

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Format: Blog

Tags: How To

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