Jul 14 / Adrian Lorains

The stranger I never saw again

It was over a decade ago.

I attended a 'people in health' forum. A friend organised the event and told me the sessions would be useful. But the most valuable thing I learned wasn't from one of the presenters.

It happened during a sidebar chat with another attendee. We didn't exchange details.

I never saw him again. I can't even reach out to tell him the impact he had on my career. 

Lesson Outside the Presentation

We were discussing the insights from the session. To be honest, I can't remember a single thing about the presentation. Our minds forget so much of the information we hear.

But I remember what he said next. He told me to read a book called Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner.

I bought it. I read it.

Engagement Is Not Success

I saw a parallel. Levitt and Dubner showed me that people look at data and see what they want to see.

I realised we do the same thing in managing changes.

We measure who shows up. We measure who clicks "open." We call it success. But that is just engagement.

I took that insight and built it into the way that I measure change.

Focused not just on engagement, but also on impact.

Just because they listened doesn't mean the change is working.

What do you measure?

Changing with Confidence Mini Course

If you want to start measuring success in a more comprehensive way you can grab the template or join the discussion in the Free Changing with Confidence Mini Course.

Changing with Confidence Book

If you want to learn more about how set expectations of success around changes and learning for your people, then grab Changing with Confidence or book a call with Adrian.
Created with