The Human Instinct to Judge: Why Understanding Takes More Effort

Judgment is one of the easiest things we do. With just a glance, a brief interaction, or a single comment, we form opinions without knowing the full story. It requires no effort, no deeper thinking, just a quick assumption. But what if we took a different approach? What if we replaced judgment with curiosity and sought to understand instead?

Why We Judge So Quickly

Judging comes naturally because it’s simple. It allows us to categorise people and situations in an instant, without investing time or effort. But the truth is, judgment often reveals more about the person making it than the one being judged.

Many who judge and criticize do so because they are unhappy themselves. A quick negative remark or an angry comment can provide a temporary sense of superiority or control. Some people recognize this pattern in themselves, while others remain completely unaware. Regardless, judgment is often an emotional reaction rather than a rational assessment.

Recruitment: The Perfect Lesson in Avoiding Judgment

As a recruiter, I stand between clients and candidates, acting as a mediator. This role has taught me that there are always two sides to every story.

When a client tells me, Maggie, this is unacceptable - can you sort it out? instead of assuming the candidate is at fault, I start by listening. I want to know what happened, why it happened, and whether the candidate is willing to improve. My goal is never just to place blame, it’s to create understanding and find solutions that work for both sides.

The same applies when a candidate comes to me with a complaint about their job. It would be easy to jump to conclusions and think, This is unfair - I need to fix it immediately. But instead, I take a step back. I speak to the client, hear their perspective, and try to understand the full situation. More often than not, the issue is rooted in miscommunication rather than malice or incompetence. I always encourage both sides to talk, giving them a chance to express their concerns and find a solution.

This approach takes more time, but it leads to far better outcomes. Judgment is quick, but communication fosters real progress.

The Danger of Poor Communication

One of the greatest failures in human interaction is the lack of communication and effort. Misunderstandings thrive when people assume instead of asking, react instead of listening, and blame instead of seeking solutions. In today’s fast-paced, reaction-driven world, patience is rare - but it’s also more important than ever.

Social media has only made judgment easier. It takes seconds to post a negative comment or form an opinion based on a headline, without ever looking deeper. The ability to communicate instantly has ironically made meaningful communication much harder.

Breaking the Cycle of Judgment

So, how can we stop this endless loop of assumptions and criticism?

• ?Pause before reacting – Do you truly know the full story, or are you filling in the gaps with assumptions?
• ?Consider different perspectives – What factors might you not be seeing?
• ?Practice empathy – How would you feel if you were in the other person’s position?
• ?Communicate – Instead of assuming, ask questions. Instead of criticizing, seek to understand.

Judgment is easy. Understanding is powerful. The choice is yours.

#ThinkBeforeYouJudge #SeekUnderstanding #BreakTheCycle #EmpathyMatters #RecruitmentLessons