1. End Game: Consolidating Opening Moves: Setting the Stage
Your Learning
Middle Game:
Digging Into
the Work
Future
Progress
Identifying
Hooks &
Releases
Opening Moves: Setting the Stage
Biography
of Big
Assumption
Follow-Up Survey
Continuum of Progress
Testing
the BA
Self-
Observations
Honing
The
Map
Initial
Survey
Overturning the Immunity to Change: The Coaching Journey
© Minds At Work, 2010

2. About the Bio Exercise
The purpose is to help someone to uncouple further from his or her Big Assumption
Using the metaphor of assumptions as a pair of glasses through which we see the world, the bio exercise invites the client to connect with where the glasses came from
It’s more of a right brain approach to uncoupling than the other exercises (e.g., vs. BA testing, which is hypothesis testing, data driven). Elicits pictures, feelings. Not intended to have an immediate cash-in conclusion. Sometimes it seeps in.
N.B.: overturning one’s immunity does not depend on completing this exercise.

3. BIO OF THE BIG ASSUMPTION (Version 1.0)
From ITC Workbook: (Exercise 5) Explore the history of your Big Assumption: When was it born? Are there specific situations, feelings, important events or “moments” you can recall? How long has it been around? What were some of its critical turning points? Perhaps there is one “story,” event, “snapshot” or episode that captures something from your past that may have gotten your Big Assumption started or served to emphasize its importance? Again, do not intentionally change anything you do or think relative to your Big Assumption.

4. Example Bio of A Big Assumption: “I assume competence doesn’t include uncertainty”*
I immigrated to the U.S. from Korea when I was 5 years old. I started school in 1st grade and knew no English—I couldn’t speak or read it. I could barely understand it when people talked to me. The most shaming experience for me happened on a daily basis: I had to leave the room to go to a special reading teacher. It was horrible. The kids ridiculed me. Just thinking about that event makes cringe.
But it was worse than even that. I knew how to read Korean at an early age and I was a talker too. When I came here I felt incredibly inadequacy that I didn’t know how to communicate with people. I remember being afraid, as a young boy-- what happens if I get lost? There’s no one I can communicate with.
* For greater context, see next slide for full map

5. Commitment Doing/Not Doing Hidden Competing1.
Commitment 2.
Doing/Not Doing 3.
Hidden Competing 4.
Big Assumption
To develop my ability to lead myself and others in open-ended, discovery-oriented dialogue
I don’t allow space for new thinking, because I generate answers
Self-talk: “I don’t know” and then I stop contributing
I fall back on what I know
I don’t inquire into people’s comments
I try to find flaws
I become judgmental
I compare things to my mental model
Fears: I wouldn’t feel legitimate; I’d let people down; I wouldn’t feel competent; I’ll put others on the spot; I’ll be revealed; I’ll be wasting my time & I’ll feel irresponsible; I won’t understand it; I won’t be able to solve/ fix what I don’t understand; I’ll feel diminished_________
To avoid feeling incompetent
To staying in my comfort zone
If I didn’t feel competent, then I would be incompetent
Without competence, I couldn’t be a good leader or follower; I wouldn’t be adding value
Uncertainty / ambiguity are signals of my incompetence
If I’m not in my comfort zone,
I feel uncomfortable and incompetent
I assume competence doesn’t include uncertainty
Uncertainty is something to be reduced
© Minds at Work

6. Example Bio continued: Client’s reflections “I assume competence doesn’t include uncertainty”*
In what ways does the biography (or biographic moment) explain your Big Assumption?
Not knowing how to read and communicate meant I felt uncertain all the time in school. I equated being uncertain with being incompetent.
Does your biography (or biographic moment) illuminate any additional Big Assumptions you might be making? Do you notice any definitive, i.e., this- always-happens, quality?
It illuminates other of my BAs, like uncertainty is bad (something to be reduced).
To what extent do you believe and feel the situation or events from your biography (or biographic moment) apply to your current life? If you think they do, how so?
Doesn’t apply at all anymore. But this is the 1st time I’ve understood why being competent is so important me!

7. BIO OF THE BIG ASSUMPTION (Version 2. )
BIO OF THE BIG ASSUMPTION (Version 2.0*) *Based on materials from Learning as Leadership