Deeper Insights: Resources For Releasing Judgment, Assumptions & Conclusions
Throughout October 2019, DRIVEN has been avoiding the temptation to Judge, Assume and Conclude, and inspiring you to take similar steps in your life and career. We published four articles and delivered an OfficeHours webinar exploring the missteps we all make that lead us to draw unfounded conclusions about the people we interact with daily, while examining the pitfalls that can result and then finally strategizing about making a deliberate change starting from within. For instance, in my recent article Up The Ladder of Conclusions: How Curiosity Can Bring You Back to Earth, I demonstrated how making judgments and assumptions potentially divides us further, and how employing Curiosity and Courageous Conversations can reground us, letting us resynchronize with colleagues.
As with each of DRIVEN’s topics, there are outstanding resources for further reading and listening. These include related DRIVEN articles and external resources like books, podcasts and video presentations. Here’s the October roundup of our favorite links related to releasing judgment, assumptions and conclusions— some of which will link you to additional resources therein. Explore them, and then reach out to us. We’d love to hear what resonates with you in these areas!
Books:
On Assumptions:
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett: This staple in my literary arsenal discusses the importance of first impressions and appearance in a manner that many of us have never considered before.
On Judgment:
The Mood Elevator by Larry Senn: Mr. Senn has developed what turned out to be one of DRIVEN’s favorite training tools. And the book about it goes into detail about moving from judgment (and other cortisol-producing states) to appreciation. The secret pivot point, as you will discover, is Curiosity!
On Conclusions:
Conversational Intelligence by Judith E. Glaser: In the book that inspired my own life and career pivots, Judith goes into detail about one of her signature analogies— The Ladder of Conclusions.
Blog Articles:
The Brain Acts Quick: This Business Insider article breaks down eleven assumptions other people make immediately upon meeting you. Learn from it, be in control of the signals you may be sending others, and give off a better first-impression.N
ot Good, or Not Good Enough: The “Beginner’s Mindset” is exemplified beautifully in this article by Marc & Angel Chernoff on their blog site Hack Life. Heading Number 4, “The Tangerine”, demonstrates how many of us drag ourselves through life with preconceived expectations and assumptions, leading time and time again to disappointment. And of course, there’s a happy ending wherein you’re given useful advice on reframing, and thus enjoying and learning from each new encounter you have.
You Are Indeed An Island: ….but not an isolated one. When you identify and accept your biases, values and motivations, you can end assumption and finally engage effectively with colleagues. This DRIVEN article takes you through the process using the science of curiosity, the art of asking the right questions, and a sweet golf analogy.
It Takes One To Know One: There is great wisdom to be found in this online excerpt from Debbie Ford’s The Dark Side Of The Light Chasers. The lesson: Often when you judge others, you’re actually projecting— or judging what you don’t like about yourself. Check it out, and then toggle over to Tiny Buddha to read
Maria Moraca’s related article which show us that How We Judge Others Is How We Judge Ourselves, complete with some tools that she used to transform her own judgments of others.
Love: The Most Powerful Force: Back at Tiny Buddha, women’s coach Amy Beth Acker gives us a valuable outlook on living without judgment through love and compassion. Her relatable and hilarious story about a grocery store caper with her young kids provides an undisputable lesson for women who do a lot— and judge a lot.
Righteous Rightness: In this article by Robert Solley on Mission.org, our propensity toward making judgments, assumptions and conclusions gets cast in a different light— primarily our addiction to being right. Solley attests that the best way to know if you’re getting caught up in rightness is to become aware of the sensations of righteousness as projected upon you by others. It’s a quick read with a lot of wisdom jammed in.
The Short-Sightedness of Drawing Conclusions: Here’s a fantastic and entertaining little Chinese folk story that puts conclusion into perspective without having to explain all the social science. It will brighten your day and enlighten your mind.
If you enjoy what you’re reading and are considering living life more fully, schedule a complimentary consultative session with DRIVEN HERE.