Summary: The power of clarity can be transformative when building solutions. The necessity of clarity helps avoid misunderstandings caused by jargon. The CLEAR Path Strategy, comprising five steps - Clarify, Leave, Examine, Articulate, Refine - aids in simplifying complex problems and creating effective solutions. Discover how this model enhances decision-making and leads to impactful learning experiences.
In the world of building solutions, whether it be learning experiences or product/program development, the complexities of our work can often be shrouded in the fog of industry jargon. If you’ve attended a conference in the past few years, you’ll know the familiar feeling of leaving sessions hearing about “gamification”, “microlearning”, and most recently “AI”. These concepts can certainly lead to viable solutions, but without understanding the problem they seek to address, it can oversimplify the complexity of human learning.
It's a common pitfall that can obscure the true challenges we face and the solutions we seek to implement. Shane Parrish’s new book Clear Thinking offers a compelling prescription to this, “writing out the problem makes the invisible visible." That is an excellent approach in guiding us towards the light of understanding and away from the shadows of ambiguity.
On past projects, I created a model I’ve used to assist with the needs analysis phrase of solution engineering. This tool, which I called the CLEAR Path Strategy, is a simple way to transform ambiguity into actionable clarity. It helps ensure solutions are tailored to meet organizational and learner needs. This post invites you to explore the power of clarity in L&D and provides practical steps to pursue this model.
The Veil of Jargon
Jargon serves as a shorthand among experts, but it also builds walls. Consider the L&D professional who asks for synchronous and asynchronous learning modalities to leverage pedagogical outcomes. This request feels impenetrable. Yet, when simplified, they may simply be asking for live and self-paced training to improve performance results.
By using jargon, we risk alienating our audience, miscommunicating our needs, and, most critically, misunderstanding the very problems we're attempting to solve. This is where the invisible remains unseen, and effective solutions remain out of reach.
The CLEAR Path Strategy
Pinpointing the true nature of challenges can often be as complex as the solutions we are designing. This is where the CLEAR Path Strategy emerges as a guide focusing on the strategic element of problem-solving and decision-making. It offers L&D practitioners a structured, five-step approach to dissect and comprehend intricate problems effectively. By embedding this framework into the needs analysis phase, you embark on a journey from confusion to clarity and paving the way for impactful and strategic learning experiences. This framework ensures that the resulting learning solutions are not only precise but also deeply aligned with the core needs of their organization and learners.
CLEAR is an acronym standing for Clarify, Leave, Examine, Articulate, and Refine, which summarizes the steps of the strategy and emphasizes the outcome of clarity:
Clarify: Simplify the problem to its core elements in straightforward language.
Leave: Step away to create space, gain perspective and let insights emerge.
Examine: Review the problem with fresh eyes or with a colleague.
Articulate: Communicate the problem clearly to ensure understanding.
Refine: Use feedback to iterate and further clarify the problem.
Clarity in Action
To better grasp the power of this framework, here’s a few scenarios where I used the framework to help guide my thinking towards more impactful solutions.
The Case of the Ineffective Training A customer reported "suboptimal user engagement with eLearning modules." After writing down the initial challenges and reflecting with the stakeholders, we were able to realize the actual issue was users (in this case employees) found the current training irrelevant to their daily tasks. This increased understanding led to a redesign of training content to better align with job realities. This project was connected to a larger initiative of aligning job roles and training needs.
Gamifying for the Sake of Gamification Another organization came away from an industry conference desiring to "integrate advanced gamification elements to incentivize learners." Through an intentional clarification journey, we discovered their true need was to make learning more enjoyable to improve completion rates. This shift in understanding moved the solution from complex game mechanics to incorporating simple, fun elements into existing courses.
These are just a few examples. If you are interested in learning about more examples I’ve worked through with organizations, please reach out to me.
Crafting Impactful Learning Experiences
When the problem is clearly understood, the solution often becomes self-evident. Clearly defined problems allow us to more easily reach better outcomes. This road is paved with intention:
Design with Precision: Solutions tailored to the real issue are more likely to succeed.
Communicate Effectively: Clear problems can be explained to stakeholders across the board, ensuring buy-in and support.
Measure Success: When the problem is defined without ambiguity, the impact of the solution can be more accurately measured.
As teams navigate the intricacies of organizational L&D, we must wield clarity as both sword and shield. It cuts through the tangled underbrush of jargon and protects against the missteps of misunderstanding. The CLEAR Path Strategy can help not only reveal the invisible but empowers us to make informed decisions, craft meaningful learning experiences, and ultimately, drive change.
Take Time to Reflect
In your next L&D project or initiative, ask yourself:
Have I described the problem as if explaining it to someone outside my field? Tip: The Feynman Technique can help with this.
Does my understanding of the issue hold up after stepping away for a time? Tip: The Leave step in the model can help with this and can be very enlightening.
Can I think about past projects when clarity helped transform a challenge into better outcomes?
These reflection questions are not merely rhetorical. They are a call to action. Embrace clarity, and watch as the invisible becomes visible, leading to solutions that are as effective as they are enlightening.
This pursuit of clarity is not just an exercise in communication; it is a commitment to excellence in our profession and can illuminate the path to impactful learning and development.
Stay curious!
Colt
About Colt Alton
Hey! I'm Colt. By trade and training, I help develop people and organizations. Subscribe below to follow my thinking on building impactful learning experiences, learning technology and product development, and whatever else is on my mind. Thanks for visiting, thanks for reading.
