Where Am I Now? The Importance of Determining Current State
Maybe you’ve heard of maturity models (or have used them) and maybe you haven’t. Either way – let’s chat about them, shall we?
A maturity model is an assessment tool that measures the respondent's maturity in one or more areas through a series of questions. In doing so, it allows that person or group of people to determine their current state of maturity and what they need to learn or implement to advance their state.
How Maturity Models Help Identify Our Current State
So, how does the maturity model deliver this information? Maturity models are set up as a series of levels. The model assumes that anyone taking the assessment will travel through the levels sequentially as they become more adept in whatever is being measured. As in, a person taking the assessment for the first time may measure at a Level 1. As they improve, they reach a Level 2, and so on. Time spent in each level depends on many factors and no two people or organizations are the same.
Moving up to future levels isn’t always a guarantee or desired. One of the key values of maturity models is to help us identify where we are. If, once you find out your level, you’re comfortable with where you’re at, that’s ok, too! The practice of being with what we have, of being where we are right now, and letting that be enough is so important. You shouldn’t let future levels rob you of experiences available in your current place. Instead, let where you’re at dictate the narrative.
Cake Baking Maturity Model Example
Let’s look at baking cakes as an example. If we were setting up a maturity model to assess this skill, our levels might look something like this…
Level 1: Can easily follow recipes and produce delicious cakes.
Level 2: Able to make successful swaps when certain cake ingredients aren’t on hand and can bake a few types of cakes without referencing a recipe.
Level 3: Familiar enough with the principles of cake baking that they can create original recipes.
Knowing Your Current State Is the First Step in Your Roadmap
The first step to working with a maturity model is assessment. As mentioned above, it’s so important to know where you ARE before you make any plans about what steps to take next. If all you want to do is bake a cake for a few birthdays once or twice a year, then let Level 1 be enough. However, if baking is something you enjoy and want to improve on, you can look towards the level ahead of you to prioritize what skills you should acquire next.
Prioritizing is a huge benefit of maturity models. If a Level 1 cake baker knows they want to progress in their hobby, they have a clear path forward – the specific skills that will get them to Level 2 (i.e., learning ingredient swaps and getting comfortable with common recipes). Maturity models are based on the idea that if we want to move beyond Level 1, it’s more important for us to learn the things at Level 2 than Level 3. (Once you’re at Level 2, then you focus on Level 3, and so on.) It’s like a roadmap!
But we can’t unlock the benefits of our roadmap without first knowing where we are. Our starting point is a critically important piece of information that can help us decide; a) where do we want to go, and b) what skills do we need to get there?
