Can You Assume Positive Intent?

One of the worst managers I have ever worked for gave me one good piece of advice.

"Always assume positive intent".

Assuming positive intent means believing the person you are interacting with has good intentions, even if their words or actions may seem harmful or hurtful. It involves giving the benefit of the doubt and refraining from immediately jumping to negative conclusions about their motives. Further, WFH has made this much harder to do, resulting in fragmented relationships and connections. This impacts the company's performance and sales.

Assuming positive intent is a choice, and it may not always be an easy one. You have to be intentional and present.

It requires consciously shifting your mindset and approaching situations more positively and empathetically.

While it may be challenging to assume positive intent in certain situations, it is ultimately a choice you can make. By assuming positive intent, you are choosing to give others the benefit of the doubt and approach situations with a more open and curious mindset. In other words, be curious, not furious.

When the Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi, was asked by Fortune magazine what the most important leadership advice she had been given was, she said, “Whatever anybody says or does, assume positive intent.” When you follow this advice, your whole approach to a person or problem becomes very different.

However, it's important to note that assuming positive intent doesn't mean ignoring or dismissing negative behavior or actions. It simply means refraining from immediately jumping to negative conclusions about someone's intentions and instead considering alternative explanations or perspectives. Choosing positive intent is challenging and requires effort and practice, but it can lead to more positive and fulfilling interactions with others.

Assuming positive intent can be challenging, especially if you feel you have been burned in the past. It takes some energy and effort, for sure. However, here are some things that can help you cultivate the habit of assuming positive intent:

1.????Self-awareness: Become aware of your own biases and assumptions. Notice when you quickly judge or react negatively and ask yourself whether there might be a more positive explanation for the situation.

2.????Empathy: Try to put yourself in the other person's shoes and consider their perspective. Think about what might be going on in their life or what they might be feeling.

3.????Benefit of the doubt: Give the other person the benefit of the doubt and assume they have good intentions unless there is clear evidence.

4.????Open communication: If you are unsure about someone's intentions or if their words or actions are causing you discomfort, communicate openly and respectfully with them. Don't clam up and walk away angry. Instead, could you ask for clarification or share how you are feeling?

5.????Practice: Like any habit, assuming positive intent takes practice. Start small by consciously choosing to assume positive intent in everyday interactions and gradually build up to more challenging situations.

So, what is the result? You will live longer, breathe easier and shore up a relationship. That is a good outcome by any measure I can think of.

And as one of my best friends always says to me when we talk about the difficult choices we have t make," I ain't selling easy here." But you have to work on this, and good things will come.

Todd Cohen, CSP, has been inspiring and motivating audiences for over 15 years, teaching them to sell themselves to achieve goals and incredible success. His sales culture keynotes and workshops are in demand from audiences from every background, including salespeople! Delivering approximately 90 appearances every year worldwide, Todd leaves people with a story to tell and feel great about themselves!

Todd has just released his third book,?"Mastering the Sales Mindset."