1. Foundations of Team Leadership
Ladder of Inference
CONCLUSIONS
ASSUMPTIONS
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FACTS/ DATA
ACTIONS

2. Ladder of Inference
CONCLUSIONS
ASSUMPTIONS
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FACTS/ DATA
ACTIONS
The Ladder is a metaphor for how our mental models influence perception, judgment, and action
“Climbing the ladder,” from data to conclusion, is an automatic, unconscious process

3. How We Usually Climb The Ladder…
Unaware of Some of Our Mental Processes
We are so skilled that we jump to the top rungs of the ladder without knowing it...
We tacitly filter some data and ignore other data
We impose our own interpretations on these data
We draw conclusions from interpreted data
CONCLUSIONS
ASSUMPTIONS
FACTS/ DATA
ACTION
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Source: Action Design/ Pegasus

4. How We Usually Climb The Ladder…
Filters
Assumptions are colored by filters:
Automatic
Inferred to be true
Personal filters come from one’s background, experiences, & beliefs
(Culture-family-faith…)
These often come from Mental Models
These filters are mostly unconscious

5. Implications of the Ladder
Blind about Ourselves
We don’t realize that we are making interpretations because we do not think about our thinking -...
Our conclusions feel SO obvious to us
We see no need to retrace the steps we took
Or explain how we reached our conclusions
Even if others reach different conclusions
Source: Action Design/ Pegasus

6. Steps in the Ladder of Inference
Assumptions
Conclusion
Data
Action
Johari Example
Johari
XX Statement in the Johari
I listened with my filters …
I made an Assumption
I decided which statement was true
I raised my hand accordingly
Filtered Meaning

7. Climbing Our Inference Ladder
CONCLUSIONS
ASSUMPTIONS
FACTS/ DATA
ACTION
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8. Implications of the Ladder
From the Top of the Ladder
When people disagree, they often hurl conclusions at each other from the top of their respective ladders
This makes it hard to resolve differences and to learn from one another
Source: Action Design/ Pegasus

9. Climbing the Inference Ladder
DATA
CONCLUSIONS
ASSUMPTIONS
FACTS/ DATA
ACTION
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10. Implications of the Ladder
Blind about Ourselves & Others
We see the different conclusions of others as obviously wrong
And INVENT REASONS to explain why others say things that are so obviously WRONG
Even if others reach different conclusions
We do not often think to explain how we reached our own conclusions, because our conclusions seem so obvious to us
Source: Action Design/ Pegasus

11. Bushfire Example of Inferences
CONCLUSIONS
ASSUMPTIONS
FACTS/ DATA
ACTION
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Scenario #1
Action-Leave
Conclusion- Safe to drive away in car
Assumption-Car can outpace fire
Data Selected- CAR
Scenario #2
Action-Stay
Conclusion- Unsafe to drive away
Assumption-Fire moves faster than car
Data Selected- CAR

12. SO WHAT? Self Awareness As a Tool of Reflection
Can be used to slow down thinking
Make more obvious one’s assumptions
CONCLUSIONS
ASSUMPTIONS
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FACTS/ DATA
ACTIONS

13. Lessons from the Ladder
Effective Conversations Are Enabled by Moving Up & Down Our Ladders
If we are willing/able to climb down one’s ladder
And make an effort to review data together
And to share with each other our reasoning and assumptions
CONCLUSIONS
ASSUMPTIONS
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FACTS/ DATA
ACTIONS

14. Able to Come Down Our Inference Ladder
CONCLUSIONS
ASSUMPTIONS
FACTS/ DATA
ACTION
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15. Using the Ladder Positively
ONESELF
Pay attention to how your conclusions are based on your inferences
Explain to others the steps in your thinking, from the data you select and the meanings you paraphrase, to the conclusions you reach
Ask others if they have other ways of interpreting the data or if they see gaps in your reasoning
Source: Action Design/ Pegasus

16. Using the Ladder Positively
OTHERS
Assume that others may reach different conclusions because they have their own ladder of inference with logic that makes sense to them
Paraphrase (aloud) the meanings you hear in what others say
Ask others to explain the steps in their thinking
Source: Action Design/ Pegasus

17. Analyzing Our Inference Ladders
Foundations of Team Leadership
Open FTL
Analyzing Our Inference Ladders
Exercise Format
Review the details of the Ladder of Inference steps
Re-create on the exercise sheet’s ladder the steps you inferred in one of the Johari mystery card “read-out”
What assumptions did you make?
How did these lead you to the conclusions you made?

18. Inference Ladder & Mental Models
DATA
CONCLUSIONS
ASSUMPTIONS
FACTS/ DATA
ACTION
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19. Inference Ladder Exercise
Open FTL
Foundations of Team Leadership
Inference Ladder Exercise
DATA
CONCLUSIONS
ASSUMPTIONS
FACTS/ DATA
ACTION
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