The Ladder Of Inference: Managing The Ladder-Growing Personally And Professionally Essay Sample

The ladder of inference describes the thinking process that I go through often without realizing it as I target to get from facts to decisions or actions. The ladder helps me to draw better conclusions and challenge other people’s conclusions based on reality and true facts. In going up the ladder of inference I start with facing and accepting the reality and facts. The second stage is to experience reality based on my beliefs and prior experience. This helps me interpret the reality and facts I face. I then apply existing assumptions at times without considering them. From the interpreted facts and assumptions I am able to draw conclusions and later on develop beliefs based on the conclusions that I make. Finally I am able to take actions that I deem right because they stem from what I believe.
The ladder of inference assists an individual improves communications in three major ways: Reflection means that make an individual increase the reasoning and thinking capacity. Second, advocacy improves the thinking and reasoning of a person by increasing visibility. Finally, inquiry factor deals with how people think and reason of others. On the other hand, the tools found in the ladder of inference assist in improving my versatility with guests, employees, or people. For example, while in a meeting the ladder of inference helps me express myself to the people through advocating my position. Advocacy closes out some opportunities and gives no room for challenging our thinking. I faced a situation where as the sales manager I had to decide on a business strategy to increase sales in my company. I advocated for change in production channels. My seniors insisted on increasing the salaries and introducing more rewards in order to motivate employees. There was a lot of confusion and misunderstanding and I had to go down in order to make an inquiry with other members of the sales department.
Inquiry involves asking questions in order to understand some other person’s point of view. I once jumped into conclusion that a workmate named Susan was avoiding me because she took long to respond to my email. Previously we had a small disagreement and upon reflection on that previous incident I concluded that she was sabotaging me. I decided that I had to mouth her the next time we met. We met later that week, Susan stretched her hand to me but I declined to greet her and instead rebuffed her harshly. Upon evaluating my actions later, I felt guilty that I had acted on an unfounded basis. I talked to a close friend who advised me not to apologize to Susan immediately. I gave Susan a call and we met and I apologized for my actions.
In order to grow personally and professionally I use advocacy, inquiry and reflection to gain insight into how I can go about taking appropriate actions. Advocacy means I make others aware of how I reason and make my inferences as well as draw conclusions. In the selection of the course to pursue in college I employed advocacy by engaging and sharing my dreams with my friends and family. When I am in a dilemma I employ advocacy to help improve my versatility and hence improve my relationships with guests, family, friends and workmates.