Discernment
(Lesson 2)
Context:
In this final part of the lesson, we’ll look at one more way to develop discernment and also discuss why this durable skill is especially important in the age of AI.
Developing Discernment
3. Cultivating Reflection
Reflection and discernment are essential because they protect us from becoming reactive in a fast-moving world. Without reflection, decisions are driven by pressure, habit, or ego rather than purpose. Without discernment, we may act quickly—but not wisely.
In the workplace, these abilities lead to wiser decisions, stronger integrity, and more thoughtful leadership. In life, they give us perspective—helping us see beyond emotion or ego to what truly matters.
Reflection sharpens awareness; discernment guides direction. Together, they shape choices that stand the test of time.
Four Steps
David Kolb, an American educational theorist, is best known for his 1984 book Experiential Learning. His model outlines a process that helps individuals reflect deeply in order to gain discernment.
Begin by examining a real experience you’ve had. Then take time to reflect on what happened and why. From that reflection, draw conclusions or lessons learned. Finally, apply what you’ve learned by testing your insights in a new situation.
Imagine your team is getting a new manager, and a coworker remarks, “All women managers are bossy and don’t listen.”
Concrete Experience: You recall your own experiences. While one or two female managers may have seemed controlling, you’ve also worked with women who were excellent listeners and collaborators.
Reflective Observation: Comparing these experiences, you notice that great managers—regardless of gender—share qualities like empathy, understanding, positivity, and trust.
Abstract Conceptualization: You realize that good leadership isn’t defined by gender but by the development of these human qualities.
Active Experimentation: Instead of adopting your coworker’s bias, you approach your new manager with openness and a willingness to cooperate.
Discernment through reflection helps you resist others’ assumptions and make your own informed, fair-minded judgments. It takes patience, logic, and self-control. But by reflecting before making a decision or taking action—by practicing discernment—you become the kind of employee who is extremely valuable in the workplace.
Developing Discernment in the age of AI
You an’t belive
Discernment means stepping back to understand the whole picture before forming an opinion. That includes what led up to a situation, the emotions involved, and a person’s past actions or experiences.
In both work and life, it’s easy to react to what’s right in front of you—a mistake, a tense conversation, or an outcome that feels unfair. Our brains are wired to make quick judgments to save time and energy, but those snap reactions can blur the truth.
Identify patterns, pressures, and histories that may not be visible at first glance.
People and events rarely exist in isolation.
Excercise
Context doesn’t excuse poor behavior, but it helps explain it—and that understanding can guide a wiser, fairer response.
In the picture above, a team lead is meeting with a team member who has been late the past week and hasn’t completed all her assignments recently.
If you were the team lead, what questions would you ask to better discern the situation before taking action?
Developing Discernment
2. Separate Conviction from Context
Strong convictions give direction and purpose, but without discernment, they can harden into judgment. Your convictions may come from deeply held beliefs, your culture, or past experiences—all of which shape how you see the world.
It’s important to hold firm to your values while still considering the circumstances that shape someone’s actions. You can disagree without condemning, and correct without shaming.
With empathy, discernment allows you to create space to see things from another perspective—theirs.
This aspect of discernment will be invaluable in building and maintaining relationships—both on the job and in life.
Metacognitive Assignment
How are you doing with your metacognitive task this week? Were you able to identify anyone in your life that you may have misjudged? Did you need to use discernment with any of your friends to better understand who they really are—or why they acted the way they initially did?
Also, take notice of how easy or difficult it is for you to see things from someone else’s point of view, especially when you completely disagree.
Thought of the day.
Don’t believe everything you think.