Stage #2 - Evidence
Moving from narrative to shared reality.
Moving from narrative to shared reality.
In fast-moving environments, most conflict is not about values or intent. It’s about different interpretations of incomplete information.
Assumptions harden into facts
people argue positions instead of validating reality
Decisions get made on partial data. Confidence replaces accuracy, and risk compounds quietly.
Analysis paralysis sets in
debate grows because evidence is not defined
Urgency increases, clarity decreases, and action stalls while teams debate interpretations.
Evidence is the disciplined act of validating reality before interpreting it.
Evidence does not eliminate judgment. It delays interpretation long enough to establish shared facts.
Leaders separate claims from facts before debating meaning.
Typical prompts include:
Evidence is complete when the group agrees on what is real.
These are the practical signs that shared reality is established — before interpretation or decisions are made.
Claims are clearly separated from facts
The group can distinguish observation from interpretation without defensiveness or posturing.
Multiple signals point to the same reality
Data, observed behavior, and work outputs align across sources. The story is not dependent on one signal.
Missing information is explicitly named
Unknowns are visible instead of silently filled with assumptions. Next questions are clear.
The group feels calmer, not pressured
Uncertainty decreases because reality is no longer being guessed at. The team is ready to move into Learn.