Basics about challenging conversation
Some conversations can be very challenging, either because they have a high emotional loading or affect us very personally. Avoiding such conversations is, most of the time, not an option. In some cases avoidance is exacerbating the situation. Therefore, it is essential to learn how to best approach such conversations to maintain one’s own effectiveness.
The key elements of this course have been selected to take a more conscious approach to how we engage with others when discussing difficult subjects. This can help to avoid a lot of misunderstandings and frustration. At the heart of this module is the ladder of inference. A structured approach which enables you to avoid the pitfalls in such discussions and helps to create a productive yet honest conversation. This concept was first developed by Chris Argyris (1990).
Note: For a more in-depth learning experience, please also check out the standard or premium versions of this course.
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The ladder of inference
The Ladder of Inference was first put forward by organizational psychologist Chris Argyris and used by Peter Senge in The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization. Permutations of the model emerged over time, yet in its basic approach all variations of the tool help you understand your thinking steps that can lead you to jump to wrong conclusions, and so, following it through step by step, can help you getting back to hard reality and facts.
