TQS Myths (1) – Never mind about the application . . .

No prizes for working out when I took this picture.

The weather at the beginning of February was pretty bad.

If you look at the picture, you can see some spring flowers are coming through.

If you’re an expert in horticulture you might be able to work out what some of the flowers are by looking at their leaves, but it would be relatively hard work.

Even if you’re an experienced gardener, you won’t be able to work out what’s under the snow. You don’t have enough information.

The TQS application has a lot in common with this photograph.

If you write about things the certification body’s requirements do not ask for, for example, writing about your strategy, as opposed to your strategy for working with employers, you could be covering up your successes.

If you leave your good practice hidden in the snow, and don’t write about it at all, no one will see it. You know it’s there, but the assessors won’t, because they can’t move the snow and you can’t ask them to wait for the thaw.

The TQS application is a snapshot. It’s your snapshot of your organisation, and if you take your picture in the wrong way, or in the wrong circumstances, you won’t be able to make the points you wanted to make to the lead assessor.

The application matters; the snapshot matters. You won’t get a chance to take the picture again, so make sure you take the right picture now.

It could be years before I have another chance to take a picture of that flower tub at that time of the year, surrounded by that amount of snow. I took my chance, and I have the picture. Make sure you take your opportunity when it comes to writing your TQS application.