Conditions of Satisfaction

A few years ago I was in one of those corporate “let’s talk about communication” year-long programs. A lot of it was fluff but one piece stuck with me years after sitting in that boardroom: Conditions of Satisfaction.

The idea is pretty simple – when assigning your employees/coworkers/friends assignments, we tend to automatically think they see the same picture that’s already in our head. However, everyone is different and brings different experiences into their world. I may see a black/blue dress, you see a white and yellow one. We are both right depending on the light.

So, to avoid disappointment, the requestor needs to take on more responsibility. They need to communicate the acceptance criteria that clarify the desired outcome.

Instead of saying “I need a competitive analysis” and leave it up to chance, the requestor needs to spend some time thinking about exactly what they need: I need you to look at these specific 3 competitors and create a PowerPoint deck showing how we line up in creative design, ease of check out, and languages supported.

Sure, it takes a bit more time when handing out requests, but the quality of the work from my experience seems higher. Employees know you really care about this project because you are so detailed up front, and you end up with a product that you were already envisioning. A win-win!

Have you tried this tactic out? Have an up-spin idea? Join the conversation in the comments below or explore more in this topic through the tags.