Notice the difference between observation and interpretation
Someone leaves a meeting early. That is an observation. Saying they were uninterested is an interpretation. Separating the two makes room to ask what happened rather than assuming we already know.
Consider the context
Was the room noisy? Did the conversation move quickly? Was the purpose of the meeting clear? Did the person need a break or more processing time? The aim is not to decide that one alternative explanation must be correct. It is to recognise that several explanations may be possible.
Make curiosity a practical habit
Before the next conversation, pause and ask: what did I actually observe, what meaning have I given it, and what else could be happening? Where appropriate, invite the person’s own account. Their understanding of the experience matters.
Adapted from themes in the supplied ReStory Practice Resource.
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