Leaps of Abstractions

Our minds move at lightening speed, and while while that may protect us from danger, there is also something dangerous about this.

Let's explore further.

Leaps of abstractions are essentially the generalizations or assumptions that we have about people, places and things. They actually slow down our thinking, especially our abstract thinking, because we think so quickly, while forming assumptions, we lose the ability to challenge those assumptions.

Lets use this as an example.

Has someone ever told you a story or belief about someone, and before you can even think about it, you've already formed the same thoughts and assumptions about that person? Or maybe the story they are telling you about that person is validated by you based on the limited information you have about that person (maybe it's something that you saw). This limits your ability to see that person from a different perspective, and to challenge yourself to realize that you often don't have enough information to make a concrete decision about someone, but it impedes your ability to see that person in any other way.

That's where it gets dangerous, especially in leadership.

How do we spot leaps of abstractions?

1. start by asking yourself about the views you have about that person, the way the world works, or whatever is going on for you in that moment.
   

2. Ask yourself if you're willing to acknowledge that the information you have may be inaccurate or misleading.