Fact or Inference – You Decide – Podcast 55
Podcast: Download
14 minutes 
3 More Tips from Skirt Strategists Katie and Carol Fact or Inference, You Decide…
67. Know when to ask for more time before making a commitment.
68. Know when to be decisive.
A common weakness for women is decisiveness. Sometimes our effective approach of bringing others into a decision is interpreted as waffling or insecurity in making a decision. This is an area where many of us could grow.
Sometimes there is no clear choice between A and B. This is the time to muster all of your feminine qualities, including intuition, and just make a decision based on what you know at the time, even if it feels a little risky. Some of your justification may come from gut-feelings – listen to this intuition.
Don’t be afraid to decide. It’s not life or death. Just a decision. Unless, of course, it is life or death, then ignore this completely
69. Don’t take any message as gospel until you have heard it from the source.
Remember that “telephone” game in grade school?
Messed-up messages are common, frequently unintentional, and dangerous. Not checking your sources can be perilous to your credibility and will eventually affect your professionalism.
Stay away from gossip too.
Fact or Inference Exercise (Promised on the podcast. If you listened to the podcast you know the answer. But which one is right?)
What Do You Hear/See?
Team Work Skills
“Jones, a buyer with the XYZ Company, was scheduled for a 10 o’clock meeting in Smith’s office to discuss the terms of a large order. On the way to that office, the buyer slipped on a freshly waxed floor, and, as a result, received a badly bruised leg. By the time Smith was notified of the accident, Jones was on the way to the hospital for x-rays. Smith called the hospital to inquire and no one there seemed to know anything about Jones. It’s possible that Smith called the wrong hospital.”
Having read the above paragraph, classify each of the following statements as “Fact” (F) or “Inference” (I). Use the following definitions:
Fact: Inference:
- _______ 1. Mr. Jones is a buyer.
- _______ 2. Jones was supposed to meet with Smith.
- _______ 3. Jones was scheduled for a 10 o’clock meeting.
- _______ 4. The accident occurred at the XYZ Company.
- _______ 5. Jones was taken to the hospital for x-rays.
- _______ 6. No one at the hospital which Smith called knew anything about Jones.
- _______ 7. Smith had called the wrong hospital.
A statement that can be easily verified by checking its source. A statement about the unknown based on what is known.