If You Don’t Believe in Your Service, Why Should They?
Share
You’ve got a brilliant service. You’ve got passionate staff. You’ve got positive outcomes.
But when it comes to writing the tender, something strange happens — the language gets diluted. “We strive to…” “We aim to…” “We endeavour to…” It’s as if we’re trying not to sound too confident, just in case.
Here’s the thing: if you don’t believe in your service, why should they?
💡 Confidence Builds Credibility
Commissioners are reading dozens of bids. The ones that stand out are the ones that say:
- “We do this well — and here’s how we know.”
- “This is what makes our team effective.”
- “Here are the real outcomes we’ve delivered.”
That’s not arrogance. That’s assurance backed by evidence.
🚫 What Undermines Confidence?
- Vague language: “We try to deliver person-centred care…”
- Over-apologising: “Although we are small, we…”
- Hedging bets: “Where possible, we aim to…”
This tells commissioners you’re unsure — and raises doubt.
✅ What Shows Belief?
- Strong verbs: “We deliver…” “We enable…” “We support…”
- Evidence: “92% of people said they feel safe using our service.”
- Values in action: “We don’t just promote independence — we embed it in our care planning.”
Confidence is quiet, clear, and purposeful.
🔁 Confidence vs. Arrogance
You’re not saying your service is perfect. You’re showing it’s thoughtful, responsive, and grounded in reality. That’s what wins trust — and points.
So next time you write a tender response, ask yourself:
- Does this sound like we believe in our work?
- Are we showing value, not just describing process?
- Would I feel reassured if I were commissioning this?
If not, revisit it — and write like you mean it.
Written by Mike Harrison, Founder of Impact Guru Ltd — specialists in bid writing and strategy for social care providers
Visit impact-guru.co.uk to browse downloadable strategies, method statements, or get in touch about tender support.