How to become a master of difficult conversations
And build positive relationships - even with those you don't agree with.
If you find yourself baffled by people's opinions, dumbfounded by other'’ decisions, or think your colleague has jumped to a crazy conclusion - then you need a ladder.
The Ladder of Inference, that is.
The Ladder of Inference is a potentially life-changing model I just learned about and had to share it with you! It explains our human reasoning process and maps out step-by-step how and why we draw conclusions and reach decisions.
Despite how it might appear on the surface, we all go through these steps. And when you understand this, suddenly a seemingly nonsensical decision can make sense.
The ladder shows us that:
We all start with the limited pool of information available to us—the observable data and experiences.
We then select what information we pay attention to—generally those things that are particularly significant to us. The human brain can process 11 million bits of information every second. But our conscious minds can handle only 40 to 50 bits of information a second. So our brains have to be selective.
Then, we apply meaning and interpret the information we pay attention through the lens of our own experiences, culture, and education.
Finally, we draw a conclusion based on the interpretations that form our beliefs and drive our actions.
When we stop and look at the decisions, beliefs and actions of others with the Ladder of Inference, suddenly we have a new understanding and empathy. We can appreciate that we don't have the same information or experiences they do and that if we did, we may come to the same conclusion.
If you’d like to learn more about this incredible tool, I’ve got some great links for you on the blog and dive into it in this video:
x Lee