• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Tammy Lenski

Disagree better | Tammy Lenski

  • Hello
  • Articles
  • Podcast
  • Books
  • Programs
  • Contact
  • Login

Examining mental models

sketch of elephantMental models are the explanations and pictures we construct in our heads to make sense of the world. The parable of the blind men and the elephant illustrates how our mental models influence our conclusions -- the man touching the tail thinks an elephant is like a rope, while the man touching the tusk believes an elephant is more like a spear, and the man touching the trunk concludes an elephant is like a snake. We disagree better when we can detect our blind spots, examine our assumptions, and interpret our experience through multiple lenses.

Examining mental models

The triviality trap

Sit up straight and pay attention. You’re missing something.

Examining mental models

Disagree better: The truth

April 17, 2022

Examining mental models

Making the impossible possible

It’s wild how well these kinds of questions work.

Examining mental models

Conflict resolution is like driving at night in the fog

You only need to see two or three feet in front of you.

Examining mental models

An alternative to perspective-taking when you want to reduce animosity

Try counterfactual thinking instead.

Examining mental models

What is the real issue?

Real is a rabbit in a bramble patch.

Examining mental models

How to be truly helpful when someone is upset

Dismissive positivity and buried empathy begone.

Examining mental models

On the importance of knowing what really matters

And how to avoid potholes, too

Examining mental models

3 reasons they won’t change their behavior–and what to do about it

Changing our minds is exhausting.

Examining mental models

Upstream conflict resolution

Get ahead of acute or chronic conflict.

Examining mental models

Every conflict contains a bid to be seen

I matter.

Examining mental models

Avoid this common blunder when confronting difficult behavior

Welcome to Do-Land.

Examining mental models

Blame vs contribution (and how to make the shift adroitly)

Intention matters.

Examining mental models

A lesson in compassion and understanding from a most annoying woman

Thank you, Universe.

Examining mental models

Flip the problem to illuminate hidden solutions

Prevent your natural negativity bias from hijacking your smarts.

Examining mental models

Doubt your conflict story

It’ll steer you wrong.

Examining mental models

A visualization for letting go of things you can’t change

Find a quiet spot for two minutes.

Examining mental models

This common (but faulty) reasoning leads to bad decisions

Don’t fall for the sunk cost fallacy.

Examining mental models

The Picasso trick for better problem solving

Love is blind.

Examining mental models

A good way to overcome resistance

Stop trying to persuade them out of their resistance.

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 6
  • Go to Next Page »

Footer

 

©2002-2023 TAMMY LENSKI • SITE POLICIES

  • Safeguarding the space between
  • Fine-tuning communication
  • Cultivating emotional agility
  • Examining mental models
  • Using good process