The 90-Day Trust Sprint (Beginner Plan): Make Your Operations Buyer-Ready Without the Jargon
What do buyers actually want from you?
Buyers want clarity and simple proof. Can you explain what your tool or process does in plain English? If it makes a call about a person, can a human check or reverse it? Do you have a short notice for users and a way to appeal? Is there a one-page model card that lists purpose, data used, limits, and human help? Finally, can you share a small evidence folder (policy page, screenshots, sample logs) without a scavenger hunt? That’s the starter set most reviews ask for.
These basics reduce back-and-forth and build trust quickly. They’re short, repeatable, and easy to keep fresh.
How do you start if you have zero process?
Start by mapping reality. List where automation or AI affects people (approvals, flags, prioritization). Mark important decisions—places where a mistake would really matter. For each, write a one-sentence description and name an owner.
Keep this inventory in a shared doc. You are not designing policy—you’re making a clear list. This becomes your backlog for quick wins.
What can you finish in 90 days without slowing work?
Weeks 1–2: Inventory decisions; tag important ones.
Weeks 3–4: Add notice + appeal to important decisions.
Weeks 5–6: Create a model card for your most visible tool/process.
Weeks 7–8: Start logging key decisions and outcomes (lightweight).
Weeks 9–10: Assemble a small evidence folder (policy link, screenshots, sample logs, owner list).
Weeks 11–12: Do a mini review (what worked, what broke, what to improve).
Elaboration: Treat this like product work: small increments, visible artifacts, quick feedback from the teams that rely on you.
How do you know it’s working?
Watch time-to-green-light on reviews, number of follow-up questions, and issue closure time. Track % of important decisions with a human-review path and artifact freshness (updated within 90 days).
Share a simple monthly “trust dashboard” so leaders see progress and blockers. If questions repeat, update the explainer, not the email thread.
Common traps to avoid
Don’t write 20-page policies no one can use. Don’t hide the human-review path. Don’t keep artifacts on personal drives.
Aim for short, owned, discoverable docs. If a step doesn’t help customers or reduce risk, cut it or simplify it.
Actionable takeaways:
Write a 5-line model card for one tool.
Add a notice + appeal line to one important decision.
Start a tiny evidence folder (four items max).
Soft CTA: Use the steps above as a starter kit and adapt them to your circumstances.