1.
Assume Positive
Intent
Mentor Program, July 2013
Geraldine Gollehon
Amy Gunter
Shannon Chappell

2.
Why are we here today?
The Mentor Program…our Mentors:
Dennis Paul
Laura Pratt
Les Boothby
• Our team, our work, how we got here
today!

3.
Today’s Journey
• Accountability (to yourself & others)
• ‘The Story’
• Assumptions
• Intent vs. Action
• ‘One Way Street’
• …did we mention accountability!

4.
Welcome to Cubeville!
He looks busy. I’ll
be quiet so I don’t
disturb him.
What a
SNOB! She
can’t even
say ‘good
morning’!

5.
Cartoon
• What do you see, hear and feel?
• What do you ASSUME…?
• How do our assumptions vary?

6.
Assumptions
• How do we respond when we make
assumptions?
– ‘Making assumptions is a setup for suffering because
usually we gossip about our assumptions. We make
assumptions and believe we are right, then we defend
our assumptions and try to make others wrong.’
The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz

7.
Assuming Positive Intent?
o Assume- to take up, to take in, to suppose,
to take upon one’s self without proof
o Positive- having a good effect, positive proof
o Intent- determination or resolve, a state of
mind

8.
Assume Positive Intent… our
definition!
• Consciously choosing to assume our co-
workers, friends and family are operating
at the best of their abilities.
• Our Internal Well-Intended Behaviors.

9.
Negative Intent…
-Feelings of Incompetence
-Low Self-Worth
-STRONG EMOTIONS!!!

10.
Emotions and Intent
BEHAVIOR:
– Anger
– Fear
– Resistance
– Frustration
– Aggression
The True Motive:
– Maintain boundaries
– Safety
– Self Preservation
– Motivation to seek
more information
– Protection

11.
Emotions and Intent
BEHAVIOR:
– Happiness
– Pride
– Achievement
The True Motive:
– Involvement of Other
– Acknowledgement
– Self Esteem

12.
Why can’t I find the PI?
• Tend to explain away
others behaviors
• Many times tend to
assume negative intent
• Easier to fall into telling a
‘story’ to explain OUR
OWN behaviors

13.
Moving from Strong Emotions to
Positive Intent:

14.
The Art of PI

15.
Positive Intent is:
• Mind Opening…
• A Skill or Art…
– Learned
– Practice
– Accountable
• Self Driven…
– You are the student
and teacher.
– PI is unique to YOU!
Consciously
choosing to assume
our co-workers,
friends and family are
operating at the best
of their abilities.

16.
Positive Intent
• The Why and the How…
• Accountability and Results
• Practice, Practice, Practice!!!
• Relate to Leadership

17.
The Why…
• Creating a High Performance Culture:
– Increase employee engagement scores
• Elevations Employee Value Proposition:
– ‘Elevations is the best place you have ever
worked!’
• Net Promoter Score
• Work/Life Fit

18.
But How…
• Accountability!
• Motivate & Empower.
• Keep promises & commitments made to
others.
• Manage conflict.
• Walk-the-Walk!!!

19.
The How…
• Be Humble.
– Have a willingness to learn.
– Embrace Feedback and Change
• Ask Yourself…what do I want?
– “What am I behaving like I want?”

20.
Accountability
• Take personal accountability for our
actions & results.
• Actively engage in discussions & commit
to decisions once they are made.
• Embrace the belief that all injuries are
preventable & that achieving a healthy &
safe environment starts with ‘ME’!

21.
Results
• If we assume there are positive intentions
behind every behavior, then we will find
them as opposed to waiting for proof.
• Does PI make any behavior OK?
– Positive Intension speaks more to change and
healing than morality and justice.
– Internal and self-motivating.

22.
The Art of PI:
• “A One-Way Street”
• Self Driven…
– You are the student
and teacher.
– PI is unique to YOU!
• Requires Practice!!!
Consciously
choosing to assume
our co-workers,
friends and family are
operating at the best
of their abilities.

23.
Practice, Practice, Practice
• Make people feel valued & appreciated.
• Achieve results & celebrate!
• Have a ‘can do’ (positive) attitude & drive
to get the job done.
• Help people to be their best by providing
coaching & feedback.

24.
Practice, Practice, Practice
• Elevations Core Values:
– Integrity, Respect, Passionate, Creativity, Driven
by Excellence
• Elevations Employee Proposition:
– “Elevations is the best place you have ever
worked!”
• Elevations Leadership Development System:
– Core & Lead Competencies
– Mentor Program

25.
Link to Leadership
ECU Training Courses:
– Valuing Differences
– Essentials of Leadership
– Crucial Conversations
– Crucial Confrontations/Accountability
Other Resources:
– http://www.vitalsmarts.com/
– FYI: For Your Improvement by Michael M Lambard and Robert Eichinger
– Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goldman