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Ladder of Inference
Why it matters?
This reasoning tool, created by Harvard Professor Chris Argyris and popularized by Peter Senge, helps us fill in the gaps of our thinking.
Often our personal conclusions seem obvious to us as we see every situation from our own perspectives. However, people can often come to very different understandings from their particular vantage point, and that can lead to a variety of misinterpretations.
The Ladder of Inference model helps us make sense of the situation in order to act — helping us “think through our thinking” and align with others.
To avoid conflict and jumping to unnecessary conclusions, it’s important to make sure your actions and decisions are based on reality. Each of the steps on the ladder represent a layer of our mental processing when it comes to gathering data and deciding on actions.
How it works?
Available Data: the reality we observe.
Selected Data: the aspects we pay attention to based on our experiences and beliefs
Interpretations: the cultural or personal meaning we place on those aspects.
Assumptions: the personal assumptions made based on the meanings that were interpreted.
Conclusions: the conclusions we draw based on our assumptions.
Beliefs: the beliefs I adopt about the world based on these conclusions.
Actions: the actions taken based on my beliefs.
- Our own conclusions can seem obvious to us so it’s important to evaluate where my (vs. others) conclusions are coming from. Notice your conclusions as inferences rather than fact.
- Assume your reasoning process will have gaps or errors you cannot see.
- Always use examples or cases to illustrate the data you selected that led to your conclusions.
- Paraphrase the meanings you hear others say without judging them or making them wrong. Assume everyone may reach different conclusions and that yours may not be correct.
- Explain the steps in your thinking based on the ladder, with an openness to having your gaps recognized.
- Ask others to explain the steps in their thinking based on the ladder.
- Align the gaps in thinking with the group to see if there is a step on the ladder that you can all agree on before moving forward.
Examples
Understand the factors that important to you by setting and weighting criteria when it comes to making a good decision.
Sources:
SystemsThinker: The Ladder of Inference
The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge