If you do not set success criteria, you cannot judge impact. That is when leaders rely on feelings and anecdotes.
Success criteria
These define what improvement looks like and how you will know.
Good success criteria are:
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Specific
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Time-bound
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Measurable
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Linked to the original pattern
Example:
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“By Week 6, Year 8 attendance will return to 94% or above, with fewer than 10 students below 85%.”
Decision rules
These define what you will do based on what you see.
Examples:
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“If we see improvement for three consecutive weeks, we continue and refine.”
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“If there is no change by Week 4, we adjust the approach.”
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“If the pattern worsens, we pause and re-check assumptions.”
A practical rule
Use one main success measure and one supporting measure. Too many measures create confusion.
Key Takeaways
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Decide what success looks like before acting.
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Use decision rules to protect against drift.
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Keep measures few and purposeful.
Quick Check
Write one success criterion and one decision rule for a problem you are working on.