1. Describe in detail a bad decision that you made at work in the past, or any work-related decision that you wish you could "do over." Be sure to indicate your career field, as you describe this decision. Analyze that bad decision using Steps 1-7 of the Ladder of Inference. At which step of the Ladder of Inference did your decision-making begin to become faulty? (In other words, at which stage did your decision begin to show signs of a bad decision?)

The Ladder of Inference

Steps 1-7 of the Ladder of Inference

Step 7. I take actions based on my beliefs.
Step 6. I adopt beliefs about the world.
Step 5. I draw conclusions.
Step 4. I make assumptions based on the meaning that I added.
Step 3. I add meaning to what I see (cultural and personal).
Step 2. I select data from what I observe.
Step 1. I observe data and events.

2. Imagine that your classmate is the leader you are coaching, and you are helping the leader analyze his or her decision-making process using the Ladder of Inference. Which probing follow-up questions would you ask-customized for this specific situation that your classmate described-to facilitate the coaching dialogue? What is the goal, or what do you hope to happen as a result of this dialogue?