US Submarine Commander Explains How to Make Observations Not Evaluations - Leadership Nudge #330

US Submarine Commander Explains How to Make Observations, Note Evaluations

Get better at making observations. For example, there's a meeting and there was an email, apparently, that went out. You don't remember seeing the email, you missed the meeting. It's embarrassing. You go to the person who ran the meeting, you could say, “Yeah, you didn't send me that email.”

But that sounds like an evaluation or maybe even an accusation. And it might not actually be true. They might have sent you the email.

“I didn't receive the email.” Again, you don't know that for sure.

“I don't remember seeing the email.” That is an observation. State the world as you know it.

Here's another example. “That doesn't make any sense.” Well, it doesn't make any sense to you. Or maybe even better, “I don't understand what you're trying to get at,” because it might make sense to other people.

Here’s a final example. Someone comes up to you with a plan to say here's what I'd like to do. You could say, “I don't like that plan.” Judgment and evaluation. Or, “That plan makes me nervous . . . queasy . . . uncomfortable in the following way.” Now you're stating an observation, from your perspective.

Make observations, not evaluations. I'm David Marquet. That's your Leadership Nudge.

[John-crgb]

Spot on! Evaluations right off the bat can quickly turn what should be a conversation into a confrontation.

[johnfletcher]

Excellent. I can learn from the last one.

This video is well executed. Some of the videos in this series have a shaky camera or strange background or something which makes me less inclined to share them.

(See how I implemented the tip! Pat on the back for me please.)

[RacyMusic]

It's incredible how these short videos can bring so valuable information. This man is a genius ! Tks For sharing David.

[HeahMinAn]

"Guide my understanding if I get it wrong"

This is 1 of the sentences that I use regularly in my business process role so that I can understand where my team member is coming from.

Thank you for your reminder.

[vincentfournier]

Really good tip. It requires to think a little bit before speaking as well, which is more oftn than not useful too...

[julianfreto]

Totally agree. One thing that I have learnt is talking in this way makes people/recipient of the message less reactive - very important when emotions are high