Precisely Prescribe — A Menta-Morphosis Competency

Introduction:

A Precise Prescription is a written statement of exactly what we  will commit to doing.  It often signifies the end of the thinking process.

Used for

This is used to help bridge the gap from idea (the conclusion to which your process has brought us) to action (what we are going to do to implement the solution). We use it when we have arrived at a conclusion and are ready to turn that conclusion into real action.

So, in the learning system, for example, the precise prescription moves the process from the ‘best idea’ to ‘the next step.’  The precise prescription can be written for an individual – as in the learning system — or a group, as in a strategic plan.

         Input/ Output

The starting point for this competency is a short list of high-priority items (maybe even one) and the result is a written statement of exactly what we will do.

         How to

We write out the statement  and then edit it by comparing it to these criteria and making changes  in the statement.

Regardless; the statement should meet these criteria:

1. For an individual, the Precise Prescription should begin with the words ,   “I will….” and then specify, in as precise a way as possible, what it is that we will do.
2. It should express behavior (action). So, If we’ve just taken my module on asking better questions, we could think “I’ll think about asking better questions.”  That’s a good intention, but not a precise prescription. That is not acceptable, while “I will ask three better questions” is. A Precise Prescription is the device that bridges the gap between idea and action.  It should be based on the idea that preceded it, and make the transition to describing the action that should proceed from that idea.
3. It should be expressed in the smallest unit of time available (either the closest deadline or the most common frequency). So, “I will do this six times a year,” is not the most common frequency. It would be better expressed as, “I will do this every other month.”  The  month is a smaller unit of time than the year.

If it is something we do only monthly, than the unit is month.  If weekly, then a week, and daily, every day.

So, “I will ask three better questions in every sales call every day for the next three weeks.”  is a good precise prescription. Note that it sets us up for the next step in the process, which is to arrange for some form of accountability.

4. It should be written in such a way so that at the end of the period of time, an                            objective observer would be able to say, “Yes, he/she did it,” or “No, he/she did not do               it.”

So, for example, let’s say we have sat in on one of my seminars on asking better questions.  At the end  we’ve decided:  “I’ll think about asking better questions.  I’m going to do that.” That statement Is a good intention, but it is not likely to lead to changed behavior.  If we change it  into a Precise Prescription like this:   “I will ask three good questions in every sales call every day for the next three weeks,” we’ll be far more likely to actually do what we want to do.

Typically, we’ll write out your intention, and then edit it a couple of times, comparing it to the criteria noted above, until we have a satisfactory precise prescription.

         Variations