Resource: The "If This Were Working..." Test

kmcneil — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:35:51 GMT

Why This Matters:

Naming a problem is easy. Defining success is harder and far more important. Without clarity, even well-intentioned changes can feel like “one more thing” instead of meaningful improvement.

The “If This Were Working…” Test

Try This:

Complete this sentence without listing strategies or solutions:

“If this challenge were truly improving, I would notice…”

Write 3 specific signals such as:

What teachers would say differently
What behaviors might change
What would feel lighter, smoother, or more sustainable

Avoid vague words like better or improved. Aim for observable or felt indicators.

Optional AI Boost (if helpful):

Copy/paste/type your sentence into an AI tool and ask:

“Can you help me rewrite these success indicators to be more clear and observable?”

This can help refine language before committing time or resources. Be sure to check any AI output for accuracy, relevancy and bias.

Share:

Reflect on the following:

“How might this definition of success help me avoid solving the wrong version of the problem?”

Share your thoughts, questions and/or AI output in this thread.

topic Resource: The "If This Were Working..." Test in Discussion Space

Resource: The "If This Were Working..." Test