The Magic of Assuming Positive Intent

You’ve likely heard the old story about a driver on a dangerous, winding, narrow road who barely escapes a head-on collision when another driver comes at him swerving from around a blind bend. That oncoming driver gestures wildly and yells, ‘pig!’, inspiring an angry response… until the original driver rounds the corner to discover a large pig in the middle of the road and realizes that he had been warned – not insulted.

How frequently does this silly tale play out in the workplace? Today’s highly polarized environment teamed with unprecedented levels of stress and burnout have left many of us tender, reactive, and prone to make our own decisions about the motivations of those around us. In some cases, there seems to be societal momentum that carries us toward negative assumptions and responses. And these internal processes affect the person making those assumptions and those around them.

What if we performed a mental reset and made assuming positive rather than negative intent our default instead? Imagine the positive effect on:

• Stress, mental health, and physical wellbeing
• Trust, communication, and relationships
• Business results (like quality, collaboration, innovation, and service)

Assuming positive intent isn’t about playing Pollyanna or seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. It’s not about rolling over, being weak, or not acting when necessary. It’s a deliberate mindset shift rooted in the understanding that we can’t read the hearts of others and, as a result, must learn about their motivation rather than assign it. It’s the discipline of withholding judgment… until there’s something concrete to judge. It allows us to interrupt the knee-jerk reaction to assign malintent and, in the process, preserve precious mental, emotional, and relational resources.

Last week, I was removed from an invitation to a client meeting that had significant implications for my work with the organization. I felt excluded, marginalized, and disrespected. It would have been easy to stew in those emotions and imagine the behind-the-scenes motivations. And it would have been destructive. Because within hours, my client contact called to apologize, explaining that the team had realized they didn’t have their act together and didn’t want to waste my time while they figured things out. We scheduled a meeting for the following week when they’d be better prepared – and I discovered their positive intent.

Imagine the number of instances like this that occur every day. The potential for negative assumptions and the downward spiral that follows is extraordinary. Equally extraordinary, however, is the magnifying effect of leadership behavior in this regard. Leaders who want to cultivate a culture of assuming positive intent within their groups can start with these three strategies.

I'm excited to share my first Fast Company article... and a glimpse at how I'm processing my own responses to the proliferation of (and enormous possibilities associated with) AI tools like ChatGPT. Who else is experiencing a little AI-xiety? What are you doing to work through it? 

Lisa Spinelli is an ICF-accredited Career and Executive Coach, editor of the book, Teachers to Trainers, and the author of Take Charge of Your Career Path. She is also a partner in a training startup called iKnowCare, a workshop training program designed to help meet the needs of the caregiver in the workplace. Lisa most recently worked as a director of content at

Degreed, an upskilling platform, and at the Association for Talent Development (ATD). She has created military transitioning workshops with the USO, hosted and created the ATD podcast, The Accidental Trainer, and has been published over a hundred times in various media outlets. Follow her on LinkedIn or visit her website to learn more. 

Lisa Spinelli is a passionate career and executive coach. As an Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Lisa helps professionals in a variety of industries navigate the murky waters of career transition and growth. She creates a holistic deep-dive into her clients’ communication skills, strengths, and well-being practices to develop their self-awareness and career pathways.

 If you’re looking for career coaching, Lisa is an ideal partner. Just shoot me a note and I’d be happy to connect you.

Heather R Younger is the founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix. She is an international keynote speaker, host of the Leadership with Heart podcast, and a workplace culture, employee engagement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant. Heather has a law degree from the University of Colorado Boulder. She is the best-selling author of The 7 Intuitive Laws of Employee Loyalty and The Art of Caring Leadership.

When employees, colleagues, and customers are not being heard, organizational culture, employee happiness, and overall organizational success will suffer. In her latest book (and I think her best book yet), The Art of Active Listening, you'll find tools you can implement, regardless of whether you’re in-person or virtual, that benefit all team members and customers, strengthen overall engagement, and creates a space for everyone to have a voice. In this video resource, Heather explains how to use active listening to avoid miscommunication at work.

Last month, I spent a day at the AthenaOnline studios shooting 16 new videos for clients.

I have worked with AthenaOnline for many years and have enjoyed creating bite-sized lessons that are used by organizations worldwide like this one on Helping Employees Gain Momentum (This link will only remain active until May 1st, but feel free to enjoy and share it with colleagues until then.)

AthenaOnline offers free weekly lessons from authors like myself. Learn more and sign up at: https://athenaonline.com/newsletter.

Join me April 25 for my second Linkedin Live Audio event. I'll be joined by guests, Sarah Metcalfe and Hedinn Sveinbj?rnsson, as we explore the role happiness plays in today’s post-pandemic workplace. Bring your questions and join in or just sit back and enjoy the conversation. Register to attend here. 

Do you want to be an empowered leader, drive engagement in your team, and take your business to new heights in 2023? Join me at The Empowered Leadership virtual event, April 17-23rd, the ultimate mastermind experience for HR professionals, managers, and executives. Gain insights and strategies to foster open communication, increase team efficiency, and embrace a collaborative culture. Register now and become an Empowered Leader! 

Career development is a journey. But who’s in the driver’s seat? Download this self-assessment to learn more about your own mindset and approach to development. Then encourage your employees to do the same thing so you can help them take greater ownership of their growth.

Thanks for reading,

Julie