Read the Signals
Building an Emotion Hypothesis
When an employee's behavior shifts, something is always underneath it. This activity gives you practice pausing before reacting. Your role is not to diagnose. Your role is to notice observable signals, form a working hypothesis, and lead with curiosity rather than assumption.
Core Principle
Behavior is data, not the full story. A leader's job is to notice, hypothesize, and inquire with care.
What you will practice
- Noticing observable behavior without immediately judging intent
- Selecting a likely emotional driver as a hypothesis, not a conclusion
- Avoiding attribution errors such as assuming laziness or poor attitude
- Choosing leader responses that validate, question, and support
- Recognizing that some signals are stronger than others