My most recent guest, Gerry O’Sullivan, talked with me about her process, The Journey of Inference. As she puts it succinctly: “Our Journey of Inference interprets the world of observable data according to our unique perspective or paradigm.”

It’s clear from Gerry’s process and our conversation that our inferences can get us into trouble, precisely because we each carry a unique perspective or paradigm.

Dictionary definitions of infer are, if not quite unique, not fully consistent.

For example, one says infer means to conclude through reasoning. Another than infer means to guess or use reasoning. And yet another states

Infer can mean “to derive by reasoning; conclude or judge from premises or evidence.”

It’s that guessing, those premises, that can wreak havoc. 

Do you have comments or suggestions about a topic or guest? An idea or question about conflict management or conflict resolution? Let me know at [email protected]! And you can learn more about me and my work as a mediator and a Certified CINERGY® Conflict Coach at www.dovetailresolutions.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/janebeddall/.

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