Ever Better Today:
Season 2 Episode 87

Limbo and Ladder of Inference

Welcome to Ever Better Today: the daily podcast for creating your optimal business, career, or overall life in ten minutes or less. I’m Lisa Conners Vogt, Executive and Leadership Coach and founder of Ever Better Coaching and Consulting. Let’s jump in!

Notes from this episode are below.

How do you respond when you ask a question and don’t get an answer?

When you don’t receive a “yes” or a “no” do you assume it’s a maybe? Do you assume you did something wrong and it’s a “no”? Do you assume a “yes” is coming?

The Ladder of Inference is a model that describes how our minds work when faced with uncertainty.

Do you tend to cilmb a positive or a negative ladder of inference? Most of us lean towards the negative.

 

Ladder of Inference

This is a model that describes the steps that we take, mentally, to reach a conclusion
and then take an action.

 
 

Here are the “rungs” of the Ladder of Inference from a negative perspective…

 

This is the lowest rung of the ladder. Imagine that you’ve asked for business with someone and you haven’t gotten a response.

Reality and Facts

 

This is where you are selecting the “facts” that work best for your situation and your beliefs.

Selected Reality

 

Based on those selected facts, you add negative meaning to the situation or to that silent response you are experiencing.  

Interpreted reality

 

Here you are assuming that the silence means “no” based on your interpreted reality and that your proposal will be rejected by your client.

Assumptions

 

In this rung, you convince yourself that silence equals a no!  

Conclusion

 

Now your assumptions which became your conclusion is set in your mind as a belief. However, you haven’t checked the facts and if you had researched further or given it more time, you may have identified a different situation.

Beliefs

 

Now you take action based on your negative belief. Perhaps you reach out to your client with a nasty note and cause unnecessary turmoil. Oh my!

Action

 

Here’s how to use the Ladder of Inference in a positive way…

  • Recognize that a silent response might mean they are reviewing your proposal and need more time.

  • When you’re in limbo, stop yourself from taking a negative mental journey by taking positive actions. Consider reaching out to others, networking, contacting potential clients or exercising.

  • Reach out to someone whose opinion your respect to get a broader perspective. This will help every time!

 

To learn more about Ever Better Coaching, Consulting, or Podcasts: