|
Before proceeding, double check your assumptions.
June 2011
|
I |
The Principle
Before engaging in high impact, high risk conversations or courses of action, clear your mind of any automatic assumptions you might have made about the situation and the people involved. Open up to the possibility that there is another way to look at things.
Common Assumptions
- The other people involved are all looking at this issue with only their own best interests in mind.
- Everyone is hard wired like me. We share common values, methods of decision-making, conflict styles and communication preferences.
- The other person involved has always acted in a certain way in the past. So he/she is likely to continue the same pattern today.
- My perspective is both correct and complete because I have collected all the pertinent information related to this issue.
- The keys to our success in the past will continue to be the keys to our success in the future.
Reflect:
Think of an issue in your workplace that you would like to resolve. How can you approach the situation with a fresh look? What are some assumptions you might have made? How can you challenge or test those assumptions?
Take Action:
Go into your next meeting with the intention of asking more questions. Be curious and see how it works for you. Copyright 2011 Forward Focus |
