Assert verses Assess

There is a fundamental and important distinction between making an assertion and making an assessment. For six sigma coaches, the distinction is important as part of their routine practice. It is fundamental to the difference between a directive verses a non-directive approach to coaching.

An assertion is a statement of fact by the coach. Hopefully, it is based on objective evidence. However, the “fact” and its connection to reality may be questionable. The assertion is stated as if it was true. It is a judgment made by the coach.

An assessment is an interpretation of reality offered by the coach to the player. It is based on observed behaviors, outcomes, or something tangible regardless of how subtle. For example, a coach may notice a stakeholder briefly frown during a belt’s presentation and taken with other observations make an assessment that the stakeholder is not comfortable with some aspect of the project or that the belt is not framing the message so the stakeholder can hear and appreciate the message.

When the coach offers an assessment, the player remains responsible for considering the assessment, evaluating its importance, and determining if and how to take action to meet the issue.

When a coach states an assertion, the coach is telling the player what the issue is and unfortunately that message often carries a hidden negative message of blame on the player

Coaches need to help players understand the difference between an assertion and an assessment early on in the coaching engagement. And coaches must explicitly ask permission from the player to offer an assessment every time the coach offers an assessment.

One form a coach might use when offer an assessment to the player is to say: “May I offer you an assessment?” When the player agrees, the coach then repeats a litany similar to: “This is an assessment. It is only an assessment. It may or may not be true. That is up to you to determine.” Then the coach might say: “I observed this behavior and that effect and I interpret those events to indicate…”

Then the coach and the player can approach a discussion of the events and reactions and perceived effects from a non-emotional stance and somewhat detached stance so the player is then in a position to take on board the message and move forward to use the assessment.

Learning to offer assessments rather than to state assertions is a basic way to frame a message so the player can clearly hear the message and take action on it. And it often is one of the most difficult techniques to master because too frequently we are all use to stating assertions as facts.

This blog is a service of The Six Sigma Coach, LLC. We provide coach training to experienced six sigma practitioners. For more information about our workshops, visit our webpage at http://www.TheSixSigmaCoach.com or contact us at russ@thesixsigmacoach.com