Are you Curious about Why you Think the Way you Do?
What would make this important as a Next Gen Leader for You and Your Team?
In a world of change and constant pressure to make decisions, we often act and jump to conclusions. It happens quickly and unconsciously. This is why we do not realise how we develop a certain action or response.
A coaching tool that provides us insights into this thinking blind spot is called the ladder of inference. It provides insight into the mental processes that occur within the human brain and how mental models are formed unconsciously. This simple yet powerful tool helps us check assumptions made by ourselves and others. How we behave depends on how we understand the situation we are in. It describes our initial perception of a situation and then follows a succession of mental steps that need to be taken to work towards an action.
Note: Image inspired by The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge:
This human thought process only takes a fraction of a second.
What can we do as emerging next gen leaders and coaches to avoid climbing the ladder of inference or help others to avoid it?
Through being aware of this human tendency and our own blind spots, we can consciously pause, breathe, and stay present. This creates a space where we can begin to habitually check our own thoughts and actions, while modelling this to others.
It takes a reflective space and adopting a curiosity about life-long unlearning.
I accept that this is the way our brain works so we safely make sense of our world as we naturally pull from past experiences.
What would it look like if we used our past experiences as a benchmark, but in a way that helps us pause, get curious, and question our past assumptions and beliefs?
The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook describes three ways you can change to improve the way you communicate and avoid you or others climbing the ladder of inference:
- You can become more aware of your own thinking and reasoning (reflection, or reflective practice).
- You can make sure that others understand your thinking and reasoning (advocacy).
- You can ask questions of others about what they are thinking and test your assumptions (inquiry).
This sounds simple, but it’s not easy!
It definitely is a process, so lets’ exercise compassion, a growth mindset, and self-forgiveness on this journey as we learn to unlearn our engrained unconscious biases.
How could pausing and listening to your diverse and next gen leaders increase your bottom line results?
What value could this awareness bring to you and those you serve?
The Coaching Nest provides you and your team a reflective space for more conscious conversations! The result, Next Generation Women Executives & Business Leaders EMERGE STRONG Owning their Purpose, Power & Presence, while Increasing Profits!
To stay in touch with me, feel free to check out my giveaway for 8 Quick Questions to Tame your Quacking Duck: https://thecoachingnest.ca/quack/