Become a master of difficult conversations and build strong relationships.
An epic tool that will help see things in a whole new light and become a far more effective communicator.
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:
The Ladder of Inference explains how people reach conclusions and make decisions. Source: Great Places to Work
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 for their journey. 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.
With this knowledge, we can approach difficult people and tricky conversations with an enlightened perspective. Instead of judging, we can ask:
Why do they see it this way?
What information am I missing?
How can I explain my perspective in a way that is clear and respective of their perspective?
If you'd like to learn more about the Ladder of Inference, here are some awesome links to help you out:
Solving the Problem with Problem-Solving Meetings