Recently, my daughter and I had an insightful conversation about her plans after high school. She made an interesting observation, claiming that the Class of 2022 was “the last graduating class of its kind.” Naturally, I asked her what she meant.

She described the freshmen and sophomores at her school as a “different breed,” citing examples of their perceived lack of maturity. I couldn’t help but find it amusing, especially when I reflected on my own parenting challenges.

In these discussions, we’ve been working toward reducing the use of generalizations and phrases like:

😬 Everyone
😬 Always
😬 Never

These sweeping statements are easy to fall into, but they can lead to misunderstandings both at home and in the workplace. Imagine, for instance, a teammate saying, “Everyone is upset with the recent change.”

👉 The Risks of Hasty Decisions

Making decisions based on vague, generalized claims without gathering sufficient information can have serious consequences. It’s essential to pause and ask clarifying questions, such as:

❍ Who is everyone?
❍ How many people does that include?
❍ Why did they choose you as the messenger?
❍ What is the reason they are upset?

Exercising caution before respeonding can be the difference between success or failure in your communication.

By exercising caution before responding, you can avoid knee-jerk reactions and instead create space for meaningful dialogue. Taking the time to gather more information not only helps you uncover the real issue but also equips you to determine the best course of action.