Ladder Session1
1 like416 views
This document discusses the concept of the "ladder of inference", which describes the cognitive process by which people draw conclusions from available data. It explains that people tend to draw inferences unconsciously and automatically based on their own mental models, experiences, and biases. This can lead to inaccurate conclusions if higher rungs of the ladder such as assumptions and beliefs are not checked consciously. The ladder of inference is presented as a tool to increase awareness of one's own thinking and perspective, improve communication, and make informed decisions.
Ladder Session1
- 1. LADDER of INFERENCE Climbing a Different Kind of Ladder 1 Presented by Sylvia Gaffney, Ph.D.
- 2. 2 ✓ Improve communica>on ✓ Reach agreement or advance resolu>on ✓ Arrive at new possibili>es ✓ Learn from another’s perspec>ve ✓ Allow for mul>ple voices ✓ Understand resistance to change ✓ Surface outdated assump>ons ✓ Understand the logic behind recommenda>ons Why the Ladder? ü Facilitate conflict solu>ons ü Improve team interac>on ü Open for diverse opinions ü Prevent overreac>on ü Understand your immediate response to a situa>on ü Uncover own & other biases ü Unearth reasoning & origin of your assump>ons ü Surface and test your thinking before you discuss a topic
- 3. Frequently Climb in Organiza>ons ✦ Unconscious ✦ Automa-c ✦ Inaccurate or incomplete info Has everything to do with jumping to conclusions Has li<le to do with moving up in status or posi-on 3
- 4. Opera>ng on Auto Pilot Good for breathing, diges-ng food, word processing & driving Not so good when ac-ng or speaking without thinking Automa-c Reasoning Processes ✦ Our brains are absorbing tons of data 4
- 5. Mental Models ✦ Lens we use to see the world ✦ Saves -me based on past experiences ✦ Able to quickly make sense and categorize ✦ Important because they unconsciously influence what we see and how we act Unconscious & deeply held images or pictures of how the world works for us 5
- 6. Ladder as a Good Metaphor Ladder is a useful piece of equipment that allows us to climb UP and DOWN – and, easily access places we wouldn’t reach without it Ladder is grounded and when used in a safe environment does the job it’s needed and intended to do 6
- 7. Meaning of Inference Draw conclusions from facts we already know and have in our head ✓ Hear the tone ✓ See the body language ✓ Consider the culture ✓ Know the expecta>ons Given this. . . then that . . . Using CLUES to figure something out 7
- 8. Basic Concept of the Ladder ✦ Guides us in making sense of our own thinking ✦ Guides us to be<er understanding of the thinking of others Helps us bring our thinking to conscious awareness as we are constantly bombarded with massive amounts of info 8
- 9. Communica>on Considera>ons “The single biggest problem in communica=on is the illusion that it has taken place.” George Bernard Shaw 9
- 10. Different Interpreta>ons and Responses are Evident ✦ Past experiences ✦ Beliefs ✦ Level of awareness ✦ Mo-vators ✦ Social iden-ty ✦ Personal iden-ty Determines what we see, hear, how we behave, AND, what we select to pay a<en-on to next THINK: car, dog, house, tree, power, quality, valued, diverse 10
- 11. Jargon and Acronyms Company specific lingo & language – works as a shortcut in communica-ng Ambiguous ‘blinking’ words – causes confusion because of many possible or different interpreta-ons ✦ Conscious of language ✦ Confirm shared meanings ✦ Consider person and context 11
- 12. Emo>onally Charged Triggers ✦ Topics ✦ Words ✦ Phrases ✦ People ✦ Events ✦ Situa-ons ✦ and more… What causes you to move rapidly up the ladder without ever checking your thinking process? ✓ Take >me to pause & reflect ✓ Surface the triggers ✓ Be aware of their poten>al to derail your thinking & behavior 12
- 13. Automa>c – Unconscious – Rapid Data = Anything that can be observed, read, heard or experienced Lots happening in a well laid-‐ out sequence from the point of observing data to when we actually take ac;on 13
- 14. Ladder of Inference Observe Data 14 Observe Data
- 15. Ladder of Inference Observe from a pool of all available Data Screen Data 15 Screen Data
- 16. Ladder of Inference Observe from a pool of all available Data Screen Data Select Filtered Data 16 Select
- 17. Ladder of Inference Observe from a pool of all available Data Screen Data Select Filtered Data Add Meaning 17 Add Meaning
- 18. Ladder of Inference Observe from a pool of all available Data Screen Data Take Ac>on Select Filtered Data Add Meaning Make Assump>ons, Draw Conclusions & Adopt Beliefs 18
- 19. We Don’t Even No>ce “The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to no=ce. And, because we fail to no=ce that we fail to no=ce -‐ there is liEle we can do to change... un=l we no=ce how failing to no=ce shapes our thoughts and deeds.” R.D. Laing 19
- 20. For More Informa>on OPTIMIZE Central sylvia@gaffney.com www.gaffney.com 20 Sylvia provides custom-‐designed consul-ng services in organiza-onal effec-veness and change managements assistance to companies on a na-onal and interna-onal basis. Her work helps companies integrate their business planning through a systems perspec-ve. She facilitates processes to improve team building and blending, leadership development, intergenera-onal challenges, cultural change issues, resilience, strategic reten-on, and strategic staffing. Sylvia owns and operates Gaffney Corporate Strategies and Op;mize Central. Presented by Sylvia Gaffney, Ph.D.