Inspection Basics

An inspection is a structured moment to review work against an agreed standard. Done well, it is one of the most encouraging parts of service: clear feedback removes guesswork and lets genuine effort be seen and acknowledged.

Inspections only work when the standard was agreed in advance. You cannot fairly review against a target your partner never knew about, so the standard comes first—always.

Inspect against the written standard, not your mood on the day. A good standard is concrete enough that two people would agree on whether it was met:

• Completeness — was every part of the standard actually done?
• Quality — does the result meet the level you agreed, not just "good enough"?
• Care — attention to the small details that show pride in the work.
• Timing — was it ready when it was meant to be?

• Both of you should know the standard before you begin.
• Set a calm time—never rushed, never in the middle of a stressful moment.
• Gather what you need: the checklist, good light, and the space itself.
• Decide how the outcome will be recorded before you start.

Walk through the standard point by point. Name what was met clearly and warmly. Where something falls short, be specific about the gap and what "fixed" would look like, so the next attempt has a clear target rather than a vague sense of having failed.

Specific and kind beats vague and harsh, every time.

Open with what went right—this is not flattery, it is direction, because it tells your partner what to keep doing. Then give at most one or two specific corrections; a long list of faults overwhelms and discourages. End on the next clear step.

Close on a clear note: what is certified, what to practice, and when you will look again. Record the outcome so progress is visible over weeks rather than forgotten by morning. Over time the record becomes a story of growth you can both point to.