Ask the Expert: Demonstrate your success

We need to give evidence of the success of our work. But a lot of what we do involves “softer skills”. How can we show its value?

Be specific about what your work does: its focus; what should change if it is effective; and what exactly that change would look like. Then identify the information required to tell the story of your effectiveness: the users, starting point, the hopes for them, and what will show those aims are achieved. Ask users and staff to record their views about the strengths and challenges of the initiative, and what they would change and why.

Think creatively about what your outcomes look like and how they might be measured. You must ensure all records kept are systematic. It is the systematic nature of a data set that generates robust evidence.

You should also ask someone independent to review what you do, or carry out peer reviews with other organisations. Tell key people what you have achieved. Success stories, especially those that contain evidence of value for money, are highly desired commodities these days.

Answered by Paul Clark, director of the Potential Organisation. He was director of children’s services in Harrow for seven years

Email questions, marked “Experts”, to cypnow@markallengroup.com