Why We’re So Sure — And So Often Wrong
Have you ever found yourself jumping to conclusions about another person’s motivations, without really being sure you’re right? We can go from zero to 60 pretty fast and base our assumptions about other people’s actions on a bit of data from an interaction or an email. Before we know it, we’ve already decided what it all means, and our next steps are rooted in the story we’ve developed on our own.
Even though we are wired to make snap judgments to protect ourselves, they can also lead us to take actions based on inaccurate assumptions or different interpretations of the “facts.” Those actions can damage relationships, chill communication, or even just cause more confusion. There’s a name for this phenomenon: we call it “jumping up the ladder of inference.” The good news is that once you realize you’re jumping up that ladder, you can regroup, test your assumptions, and make choices that reflect a better understanding of the situation and the other person’s intentions.
Here’s a quick video that further demonstrates what happens when we jump up the ladder of inference, and how we can instead step back down the rungs before we take actions we might later regret.
Nnena Odim is a mediator, ombuds, attorney, trainer, and consultant. She has been mediating since 1997 and has mediated disputes involving issues such as employment, housing, business, consumer, academic/higher education, and domestic relations. Nnena has also designed and/or led conflict management trainings for several local and national businesses and agencies, including the Boston Public Schools, Massachusetts Housing Authority, Neighborhood Works, Coca-Cola, and Netflix. In addition to her mediation and conflict resolution training background, Nnena is trained by the International Ombuds Association and has served as an ombuds for CVS, the American Planning Association, and several local construction companies. After 25 years, Nnena has recently retired from Harvard Law School, where she was the Director and Senior Clinical Instructor of the Family/Domestic Violence Law Clinic at Harvard’s Legal Services Center. In addition to being an active practicing attorney in Massachusetts Family and Probate Courts, she provided experiential training to law students and taught them how to become effective and ethical attorneys. Nnena has worked with the Harvard Mediation Program (HMP) and Harvard Program on Negotiation to provide trainings for students and community members, and to supervise Harvard Law School students in their mediation and negotiation studies. Nnena has also served on numerous panels and speaking rosters on topics including self-care and mental health for students and faculty, establishing boundaries in a professional setting, race and gender, and LGBTQ+ rights. Nnena was honored by the Harvard Women’s Law Association International Committee, received the Harvard Law School Dean’s Award for Excellence, and was a Top Women in the Law award recipient from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Schedule a time to talk with Nnena by 
Josh Hoch has been an experienced ombuds, mediator, and instructor with MWI since 2001. He is the Director of Ombuds & Mediation Services, overseeing MWI’s Organizational Ombuds Panel and Conference Ombuds. Josh currently serves as an organizational ombuds for DAVIS Construction and previously served as an ombuds for CVS Health, a ski resort in Colorado, and a construction company in Boston. Josh also manages and mentors a panel of mediators for the MBTA and Boston Public Schools, providing direct mediation and oversight of conflict resolution services and training. Josh partners with organizations to design and deliver conference ombuds services, ensuring participants have an impartial and accessible resource during conferences, meetings, trade shows, and events. He is a member of the International Ombuds Association (IOA) and the East Coast Ombuds Group (ECOG). With more than 24 years of experience in conflict resolution, he helps individuals and organizations resolve conflicts and build healthier environments. Schedule a time to talk with Josh