I believe you’re doing your best. Do you give me the same courtesy?
I recommend Assumption of Positive Intent as an educator mindset, but it’s equally beneficial across the range of human interaction.
Assumption of Positive Intent actual benefits me as much as my students, children, friends, colleagues, relatives. Maybe more.
It benefits others because my reactions are based on human respect.
It benefits me because anger is far less likely to enter the equation when I assume you’re doing your best.
It benefits me because now I can recognize your challenges better and target my support for you when I assume you’re doing your best.
It benefits me because I’m far less likely to lose my equanimity when I assume you’re doing your best.
It benefits me because I can lead with empathy, knowing how my best often falls short, too.
It benefits me because I can better connect when I don’t think you’re doing less than your best or somehow trying to manipulate or cheat me.
Trust is so essential to human connection, and it’s much harder to rebuild when it’s broken. Assuming positive intent is one way I can work to maintain and build trust.
I admit it’s not always easy, but it’s always worth striving toward. The benefits to defaulting towards assuming positive intent outweigh the occasional time when positive intent might not be present.
