Assume Positive Intent

Work from the assumption that people are good, fair, and honest, and that the intent behind their actions is positive. Set aside your own judgments and preconceived notions. Give people the benefit of the doubt.

Daily, we are bombarded with loads of sad and terrible things that some people do – there seems to be a mean world syndrome. This makes it difficult to remember that most of the people in this world are good and they do good things. Our challenge is choosing to trust and be optimistic about humanity. 

I am not advocating that we blindly trust people. There are those that I have had to ‘mark and avoid.’ Yet, I do believe that we should give people the benefit of the doubt rather than be pessimistic about everyone and everything people do. If we don’t really know someone, it would be good to assume they are a good person until proven otherwise.

Are there benefits to assuming positive intent? You betcha! Here are a few for your consideration … it creates positive energy in you and others, there is better communication with positive responses and outcomes, new opportunities for growth open up, there is better collaboration and teamwork, more gets done and rewards grow, complexity is reduced, there is greater personal satisfaction, and everyone is more at peace.

Remember, there is a world outside the one in which you were raised. Others live in those worlds, so there will always be differences. So, let’s put curiosity ahead of our judgments.