“We guarantee quality”… but is that still enough?

 Let’s face it: “I deliver high-quality texts” is not a value proposition.

It’s expected. It’s assumed. And it’s something every other translator and writer is saying, too.

But in medical translation and writing – where our work sits at the intersection of ethics, compliance, patient safety, and communication – quality is not the finish line. It’s just the start.

The real question we should be asking is:

• What does this work enable?

• What outcome does it help achieve?

When we reframe our role through that lens, everything changes – from how we approach projects to how we communicate our value.

From “quality” to “clarity with purpose”

You might have produced a linguistically perfect translation. Or written an impeccably structured document with flawless references.

But did it…

• Help a patient understand their treatment options?

• Pass ethics review without major changes?

• Prevent a delay in a submission or trial?

• Reduce the support burden for your client’s team?

That’s where the real value lies. And that’s the shift we need to lean into.

Start with the outcome in mind

Before you start typing, ask yourself:

• Who is going to read this?

• What is this content supposed to do?

• What decisions or actions does it support?

• What happens after this file leaves my hands?

This perspective changes everything – from tone and terminology to formatting and delivery.

When working on a patient-facing leaflet for a chronic condition, your job isn’t reduced to preserving the technical details.

It’s also to make sure the patient walks away feeling informed, reassured, and empowered. That’s the outcome.

Deepen your definition of “quality”

Being outcome-focused doesn’t mean giving up on quality. It means expanding it:

• Clarity, not just correctness

• Fit for purpose, not just fidelity

• Timeliness and format compatibility

• Conceptual alignment with the project’s goals

• Cultural and regulatory appropriateness

Think of it as quality with context, where value is measured not just in clean language, but in reduced friction, faster workflows, and better decision-making.

Workflow awareness = fewer headaches (for everyone)

Understanding the broader content chain helps us ask better questions and deliver smarter outputs:

• Will this file go to layout? Better check for character limits and soft returns.

• Is this a revision of a previously approved version? Match terms and formatting closely.

• Will this content be submitted to a health authority? Use standard, compliant phrasing.

Being proactive can prevent rounds of edits, alignment issues, or even miscommunication down the line. These aren’t “extras.” They’re part of the job – and part of the outcome.

Clients don’t always talk about quality. But they feel the outcome.

You know what clients remember?

• “That translation passed first time – thanks!”

• “That version matched the layout perfectly. No fixes needed.”

• “You spotted something no one else caught.”

That’s what builds trust and long-term collaboration. Not promises of “excellence” – but evidence of impact.

When “quality” is weaponized

Let’s be honest: Sometimes, “quality” becomes a catch-all excuse.

• “The client wasn’t happy.”

• “They felt it needed to be improved.”

• “We decided to make some tweaks internally.”

Except those “tweaks” weren’t shared with you. No concrete feedback. No explanation. No opportunity to clarify. Just ghost edits, extra rounds, or surprise rewrites – often with the implication that something was wrong with your work.

This is where outcome-focused thinking becomes your anchor.

Instead of asking “Was it perfect?”, you can ask: “Did it achieve its goal? Was it accurate, clear, and ready for the intended use?”

And even better: you can ask those in every project, not just when things go sideways.

This helps shift the conversation from vague standards to shared goals – protecting your time, your role, and your professionalism.

AI makes this mindset essential

Artificial Intelligence (AI) I won’t:

• Flag contradictions in the source text

• Ask about mismatched inclusion criteria

• Adjust tone based on local ethics requirements

• Rethink the structure to fit a leaflet instead of a SmPC

Outcome-focused professionals bring human intelligence, judgment, and contextual insight. And that’s exactly what sets us apart.

Position yourself through outcomes

Want to stand out? Reflect outcomes in your case studies, bios, or testimonials – not just what you did, but what it achieved.

For translators:

❌ “Translated 10,000 words of clinical content.”

✅ “Translated a full set of ICFs for a multi-site trial – approved by all ethics committees with no revisions.”

For writers:

❌ “Wrote a clinical trial summary for patients.”

✅ “Wrote a lay summary that helped patients understand study findings and was approved without edits by the sponsor’s review team.”

It’s more memorable, more meaningful, and a more accurate reflection of your value – not just as a language expert, but as a contributor to the project’s success.

We’ve spent years honing our craft – refining processes, mastering terminology, and meeting every brief with care. But it’s time to move the conversation on.

"Quality” still matters, of course, but it’s not the whole story. What really counts is what our work makes possible, how it fits into the bigger picture, who it helps, and why it matters. Because yes, being accurate and error-free is essential. But it’s not enough on its own. The real value is in the outcome – in work that’s not just correct, but useful, timely, and impactful. And that’s where we can really make a difference.