What It Is What Is Assessed Process Outcomes Classification Verification Marks GUIDE TRUST Scope Submit for Verification
Independent Verification Body

The Human
Standard.

Independent verification of human-led processes in critical decision-making environments.

Organisations are assessed against defined criteria using real interaction evidence. Outcomes are determined through structured review, not self-declaration.

An organisation either meets the standard or it does not.

The Standard
Independent
None
No existing framework verifies this at interaction level
Evidence Sources
300+
Framework developed through large-scale interaction analysis
Outcome
Verified or Not Verified
No exceptions. No negotiation.

Compliance confirms permission to operate. This verifies the human standard behind delivery.

What The Human Standard Is

An independent verification framework.

The Human Standard is an independent verification framework.

It exists to assess whether organisations maintain meaningful human ownership, judgement, and accountability within processes that directly impact outcomes for clients, customers, or candidates.

It does not provide guidance, coaching, or advisory services.

It conducts assessment only.

"A process can be fully documented and operationally correct while delivering a system-led, impersonal, or inconsistent experience. The Human Standard exists to verify whether it is not."

This Standard Does Not
Provide guidance, coaching, or advisory services of any kind.
  • Optimise processes or procedures
  • Provide training or developmental input
  • Influence outcomes prior to or during assessment
  • Offer recommendations on how to meet the standard
  • Engage with organisations beyond the assessment process
Its sole function is to assess, verify, and issue a formal determination.
Assessment Criteria

Assessment is based on observable behaviour within real interactions.

Ownership of Communication and Decision-Making
A clearly identified individual must hold and maintain responsibility throughout the interaction sequence.
Continuity of Responsibility
Human involvement must be sustained across the full process. Diminishing engagement following initial contact is a failure indicator.
Evidence of Reasoning
Recommendations or actions must demonstrate visible professional reasoning. Process execution without demonstrable human judgement does not meet the standard.
Responsiveness and Engagement Quality
Responses must be timely, contextual, and demonstrably authored by a responsible individual. Generic or templated responses do not meet the evidential threshold.
Treatment of Context and Individual Circumstance
Each interaction must demonstrate individual consideration. Generalised or templated handling of individual circumstances constitutes a failure indicator.

Assessment is conducted against complete interaction sequences, not isolated examples.

Evidence Requirements
What Must Be Submitted
Email chains
Message exchanges
Documented decision points
Supporting context where relevant
Submission Requirements
  • Must represent genuine processes
  • Must be complete from initial contact to outcome
  • Must remain unaltered and non-reconstructed

Hypothetical, edited, or partial submissions are not accepted. Submissions are evaluated in full. Partial evidence is not considered.

The Process

Evidence-led.
Independently conducted.

Assessment is evidence-led and independently conducted. No advisory input is provided.

Submission requirements: Documented evidence across all verification areas must be compiled, structured, and presented prior to submission. Incomplete or insufficient evidence will result in a failed determination. This is not a self-declared verification. Application does not imply eligibility or likelihood of verification.

01
Evidence Submission

Evidence is submitted by the organisation. Submissions must be complete, unaltered, and representative of genuine interaction sequences from initial contact through to outcome.

02
Interaction Review

Submitted interactions are reviewed against defined criteria. Each interaction sequence is assessed in full. Isolated examples are not considered in isolation from the complete sequence.

03
Findings Documentation

Findings are documented across all relevant assessment areas. Evidence is formally recorded. Determinations are supported by specific observed behaviour, not inference.

04
Outcome Determination

A formal outcome is issued based on observed consistency across the submitted evidence. The determination is Verified or Not Verified. Determinations are made independently and are not influenced by commercial relationships.

Outcomes

Each assessment results in one of two outcomes.

Every organisation evaluated receives a formal determination. An organisation either meets the standard or it does not.

Where the standard is not met, verification is not awarded. Where the standard is met, a verified designation is issued and a classification is applied based on the strength and consistency of evidence.

A designation is not issued through application. It is issued through evidence. Application does not imply eligibility or likelihood of verification. Not all organisations will meet the standard.

Outcome One
Verified

The organisation demonstrates consistent human-led behaviour across all assessed interactions. Evidence meets the standard across all defined criteria.

  • The defined standard is met
  • Human involvement is evidenced and consistent
  • A classification is applied based on evidence strength
  • Verified designation and formal documentation issued
  • Valid for 12 months from date of determination
Outcome Two
Not Verified

The organisation does not meet the standard based on submitted evidence. Verification is not awarded. The organisation must not present itself as verified.

  • The defined standard has not been met
  • Verified status is not awarded
  • Verified designation must not be claimed or displayed
  • Re-evaluation available after a minimum of 90 days

"Evidence determines outcome. Not intention. Not application."

Classification

Where verification is awarded, a classification is applied.

Classification is not a product tier. It is a formal reflection of the strength, consistency, and depth of evidence observed during assessment.

Classification is not awarded. It is determined through assessment. It is not selected by the applicant.

Classification One
Baseline

The essential requirements of the standard are met. Human involvement is present and evidenced across required areas.

Upon Verification
  • Verified mark
  • Formal determination documentation
  • Listing on The Human Standard verified register
  • 12 month validity period
Classification Two
Consistent

Repeatable, reliable human-led behaviour is demonstrated across interaction sequences. The standard is met with evident consistency.

Upon Verification
  • Consistent verified mark
  • Full determination report and scorecard
  • Listing on The Human Standard verified register
  • Formal documentation for use in tenders and submissions
  • 12 month validity period
Classification Three
Exceptional

A high level of judgement, ownership, and consistency is demonstrated across all assessed areas. This classification is reserved for organisations whose evidence clearly exceeds the defined standard.

Upon Verification
  • Exceptional verified mark
  • Full determination report, scorecard and findings summary
  • Principal listing on The Human Standard verified register
  • Formal documentation for use in tenders, proposals and regulatory submissions
  • 12 month validity period
  • Priority scheduling for annual re-evaluation
Validity and Re-Evaluation

Verification is valid for 12 months from the date of determination. All verified organisations are subject to re-evaluation to maintain verified status. Verification may be withdrawn where the standard is no longer met upon re-evaluation.

Issued Verification Marks

Formal marks issued upon verified determination.

Verified organisations receive a formal verification mark reflecting the classification determined through assessment.

Verification marks are issued only following a verified determination. They are not self-declared, purchased, or selected by the applicant.

Verified Baseline Mark
Classification
Baseline
Essential requirements evidenced across assessed interactions.
Verified Consistent Mark
Classification
Consistent
Consistent application evidenced across assessed interactions.
Verified Exceptional Mark
Classification
Exceptional
Exceptional consistency and judgement evidenced across assessed interactions.

Issued only upon verified determination. Valid for 12 months. Subject to re-assessment.

Active Verification Application

GUIDE. Now accepting initial assessments.

Financial Services
GUIDE
Genuine Understanding In Dedicated Expertise

GUIDE applies The Human Standard verification framework to financial services organisations. It determines whether advice and client-facing processes demonstrate genuine human ownership, judgement, and accountability throughout the client interaction.

In an environment where firms are required to evidence Consumer Duty compliance and client outcome quality, GUIDE provides structured, independent verification of how service is delivered in practice. Verified organisations receive formal documentation for use in regulatory submissions, tenders, and proposals.

First Contact
Initial engagement must be personalised, timely, and demonstrably human-led
Individual Understanding
Advice must be evidenced as individually considered, not templated
Clarity of Communication
Options must be communicated clearly and verifiably understood
Sustained Engagement
Human involvement must be maintained throughout, not limited to initial contact
Now Accepting Initial Assessments

Verified organisations receive independent evidence of Consumer Duty alignment and human-led delivery, formally documented for regulatory audit, proposals, and procurement.

Assessment is conducted on anonymised evidence only. No client data is disclosed or retained beyond evaluation.

Verification Mark
GUIDE Verified Exceptional
Example — Exceptional
Mortgage Advisory Verification

Classification is determined through assessment. All three marks are detailed in the Issued Verification Marks section.

Active Verification Application

TRUST. Now accepting initial assessments.

B2B Sales
TRUST
Transaction Reliability Under Sales Testing

TRUST applies The Human Standard verification framework to B2B sales environments. It determines whether sales processes demonstrate genuine human involvement, ownership, and judgement across real buyer interactions.

Most sales processes present as human-led. Few remain so when interaction-level evidence is reviewed.

In an environment where buyers are increasingly sensitive to automation and templated outreach, TRUST provides independent verification of how sales interactions are actually conducted in practice.

TRUST evaluates actual interaction behaviour, not declared sales methodology.

Outreach Authenticity
Initial outreach must demonstrate genuine authorship and intent
Follow-Up Behaviour
Follow-ups must be contextual, relevant, and non-templated
Ownership of Conversation
A responsible individual must own the interaction throughout
Evidence of Reasoning
Responses must demonstrate clear thinking, not automated output
Now Accepting Initial Assessments

A single anonymised interaction sequence (3 to 8 messages) is sufficient for initial review. Full assessment requires complete process evidence.

Assessment is conducted on anonymised evidence only. No client data is disclosed or retained beyond evaluation.

Verification Mark
TRUST Verified Consistent
Example — Consistent
B2B Sales Verification

Classification is determined through assessment. All three marks are detailed in the Issued Verification Marks section.

Scope

Applied where human judgement is expected.

The Human Standard is applied across sectors where decisions materially affect outcomes, human judgement is expected, and process ownership is critical.

It operates independently. It does not optimise processes, provide training, or influence outcomes. Its role is to assess and verify.

Initial applications are focused on regulated and client-facing professional services where the gap between stated practice and actual delivery has material consequence.

Advisory and Consulting Environments
Where individual clients rely on professional judgement to make decisions with material financial, legal, or personal consequence.
Client-Facing Professional Services
Where the quality of human interaction directly determines the outcome and experience of the individual being served.
B2B Sales and Commercial Processes
Where human-led engagement, communication quality, and accountability in delivery materially affect client retention and outcome.
Position
Does not optimise processes
Does not provide training
Does not influence outcomes
Does not engage beyond the assessment process
Human-led. Evidence-based. Independently verified.
72%
of client interactions cite human involvement as the primary determinant of outcome
Based on large-scale interaction analysis
300+
interactions analysed in developing the verification standard
0
existing standards independently verify human accountability in professional services
4
professional service sectors targeted for The Human Standard verification
Submit for Verification

Does your organisation
meet the standard?

Founding evaluations are currently being conducted. Capacity is intentionally limited.

Verification is awarded only where the defined standard is met based on submitted evidence.

Not all organisations will meet the standard.

Read The Standard