Where is work harder than it needs to be?

A short diagnostic that identifies where meetings, workflows
and communication create unnecessary mental load and how to improve it.

Find out more about Cognitive Inclusion Architecture
👋 Try the Cognitive Friction Audit™
🔍 What does it do?
  • Takes 5–7 minutes
  • Immediate results
  • Optional follow up call
  • No cost

Most organisations measure productivity, engagement, or wellbeing. Very few measure cognitive friction — the hidden effort employees expend navigating unclear systems of work. This audit assesses four key areas:

  • Meeting Design
  • Workflow Clarity
  • Communication Load
  • Adjustment Learning

You will receive:

  • Overall Friction Band (Low / Moderate / High / Critical)
  • Category Friction Bands across all four areas
  • Primary and Secondary Friction Drivers
  • Recommended Actions and Strategic Implications
  • Pattern Analysis and Interpretation
🏢 Your Details

Please complete all fields to begin the audit.

📅 Meeting Design
Question 1
Meeting agendas are shared in advance, clearly stating the purpose and expected outcomes.
Question 2
Each meeting clearly identifies whether its focus is discussion, decision-making, or information sharing.
Question 3
Decisions made and action owners are documented in writing within 24 hours of each meeting.
Question 4
Participants are given adequate time to review complex material before being asked to contribute.
Question 5
Meeting frequency and duration are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain necessary and efficient.
Question 6
Only those whose contribution is genuinely required are invited to attend meetings.
🗂 Workflow Clarity
Question 7
Roles and decision-making authority are clearly defined and understood by all relevant team members.
Question 8
Project priorities remain stable for long enough to allow focused, uninterrupted work.
Question 9
Task sequencing is clear, so individuals understand what needs to happen first and why.
Question 10
Standards for 'what good looks like' are explicitly defined rather than left to assumption.
Question 11
Deadlines are realistic and set with consideration of available capacity.
Question 12
Work rarely needs to be redone due to unclear expectations or late-stage changes.
💬 Communication Load
Question 13
Information is stored in clearly defined locations rather than scattered across multiple platforms.
Question 14
Communication channels have agreed purposes, distinguishing between urgent and informational messages.
Question 15
Focused work periods are protected, with interruptions kept to a minimum.
Question 16
Key information is summarised clearly rather than buried within lengthy message threads.
Question 17
Expectations around response times are explicit and realistic.
Question 18
Employees can stay informed without needing to monitor multiple channels simultaneously.
🔄 Adjustment Learning
Question 19
Adjustment requests are documented and reviewed to identify insights that could benefit the wider organisation.
Question 20
Managers feel confident discussing and implementing adjustments without needing to escalate.
Question 21
Patterns in adjustment requests are analysed to identify systemic issues in work design.
Question 22
Effective adjustments are shared and applied across teams where appropriate.
Question 23
Employees feel safe raising cognitive or workload concerns at an early stage.
Question 24
Adjustments are reviewed periodically to assess their effectiveness and identify refinements.
✅ Ready to Submit

You have completed all 24 questions. Click the button below to calculate your Cognitive Friction Audit™ results.

Your personalised friction analysis will be displayed immediately after submission, showing your overall band, category scores, key friction drivers, and recommended actions.

How we use your data

  • We'll email you your audit results and may follow up briefly with relevant insights.
  • Responses may be used in anonymised, aggregated form to improve the audit and our research.
  • Your data is kept secure and never shared with third parties. You can request deletion at any time.