Converse in Good Faith Be sincere, fair, open, and honest, regardless of the outcome

Converse in good faith: Converse with the intent to be sincere, fair, open, and honest, regardless of the outcome of the interaction. 

Converse in good faith

In human interactions, good faith is the intent to be sincere, to be fair, open, and honest, regardless of the outcome of the interaction.

Credit: Wikipedia

Assume good faith

We should not only speak in good faith, but also always assume that others are speaking in good faith until proven otherwise. Most people are honest in their beliefs and interactions and genuinely believe they are the good guy.

A real conversation is always in good faith. If either person is lying, deceitful, or has a hidden agenda, the exchange is not in good faith and is not a conversation.

How do we determine if someone is speaking in good faith? We can’t — it’s a judgment call. But we shouldn’t be too quick to judge. Often, people are in the grips of tribal thinking  (including ourselves) and are not consciously acting in bad faith.

How to respond to bad faith

How should we respond if we feel the person we are conversing with is not acting in good faith?

• • We can call them on it. If we know the person well and they usually talk in good faith, they may respond positively. On the other hand, they may deny it.
  • We can walk away. This may be the best response in many situations, especially if the relationship is not important to us.
  • We can carry on the conversation as if nothing had happened. But now we can be on guard against further deceit and disingenuity. In our heightened sense of observation, we learn more about their character. This response may be a good one if we wish or need to keep the relationship, though we are probably no longer talking in good faith ourselves.

Resources

• The Consilience Project: The Endgames of Bad Faith Communication