{"id":9171,"date":"2026-04-27T10:40:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T17:40:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/safecarebc.ca\/?post_type=huddle&#038;p=9171"},"modified":"2026-05-12T09:20:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T16:20:44","slug":"choosing-curiosity-over-judgment","status":"publish","type":"huddle","link":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/?huddle=choosing-curiosity-over-judgment","title":{"rendered":"Choosing curiosity over judgment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">After this huddle, staff should be able to:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Identify<\/strong>&nbsp;the difference between a judgment and a curious question.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Discuss<\/strong>&nbsp;how assuming positive intent can reduce workplace tension.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to run the safety huddle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the huddle leader, do the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Before the huddle, review the huddle content and huddle leader notes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have resources ready, such as policies, employee assistance programs, or SafeCare BC resources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose a scenario that fits your workplace and read it aloud.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use the guiding questions to lead the discussion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use huddle leader notes as support while leading the discussion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep the discussion short to about 5-10 minutes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Definitions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Language is not neutral; the words we choose&nbsp;directly set&nbsp;the tone for our&nbsp;workplaces. When we reach for quick labels or judgments about why someone is doing something, it often creates a culture of \"watching and whispering\" that makes people feel unsafe. Choosing curiosity means pausing to ask what else might be going on before we&nbsp;jump to conclusions about&nbsp;behaviours.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scenario for long-term care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maryam&nbsp;is a highly experienced care&nbsp;aide&nbsp;who has worked at Pine Grove&nbsp;Village&nbsp;for 18 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lately, she has noticed that a newer staff member, Chloe, consistently leaves the floor exactly when her shift ends, even if the morning routine is still slightly behind.&nbsp;Maryam&nbsp;feels frustrated, thinking, \"Chloe just doesn't care about the team.&nbsp;She\u2019s only here for the&nbsp;paycheque&nbsp;and leaves us to clean up the mess.\"&nbsp; One afternoon,&nbsp;Maryam&nbsp;is about to make a sharp comment to Chloe about her \"lack of commitment\" just as Chloe is grabbing her&nbsp;coat.&nbsp;Maryam&nbsp;pauses, remembering that she&nbsp;doesn't&nbsp;really&nbsp;know&nbsp;why Chloe leaves so abruptly. She&nbsp;can&nbsp;either deliver&nbsp;the criticism&nbsp;or ask a question.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guiding questions for long-term care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What is the \"judgment\"&nbsp;Maryam&nbsp;has already made about Chloe, and how might that affect how they work together?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If&nbsp;Maryam&nbsp;says, \"You never stay a minute late to help us,\" how is Chloe likely to respond?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What are some \"unseen\" reasons a colleague might need to leave exactly on time?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How could\u00a0Maryam\u00a0rephrase her frustration into a curious question instead?\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scenario for home care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mai&nbsp;is a home health care aide who often feels the pressure of&nbsp;travelling&nbsp;between clients. She&nbsp;frequently&nbsp;checks in with her coordinator, Maria, via a messaging app. Lately, Maria\u2019s responses have been&nbsp;very short.&nbsp;Sometimes&nbsp;they are just&nbsp;one-word answers or a \"thumbs up\" emoji.&nbsp;Mai&nbsp;starts to feel like Maria is being dismissive or annoyed with her questions. She thinks, \"Maria is so impatient. She clearly thinks I\u2019m incompetent because I\u2019m asking for clarification.\"&nbsp;Mai&nbsp;finds herself wanting to stop reaching out altogether to avoid feeling judged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guiding questions for home care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How does&nbsp;Mai\u2019s internal \"label\" of Maria as \"impatient\" change her willingness to communicate?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In a busy home care&nbsp;organization, what might be happening on Maria's end that&nbsp;Mai&nbsp;can't&nbsp;see?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How could\u00a0Mai\u00a0use an \"I statement\" to clear the air without sounding like she is accusing Maria?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Huddle leader notes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Organizational support<\/strong>: A healthy organization fosters a workplace where workers still have energy left for their personal lives after their shift ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Create a safe space:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Listen<\/strong>, respect all views, and be mindful of others\u2019 challenges.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Guide<\/strong> the discussion to focus on what participants can control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Move<\/strong> the conversation from complaints to solutions, strengths, and helpful actions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Invite <\/strong>anyone with specific concerns to talk with you after the huddle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key discussion points:&nbsp;<\/strong>Use the&nbsp;objectives&nbsp;and key discussion points below to guide the huddle if needed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Judgment shuts doors:<\/strong>&nbsp;Labelling&nbsp;a colleague (e.g., \"lazy,\" \"unprofessional\") usually makes them defensive and stops real communication.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Curiosity opens them:<\/strong>&nbsp;Asking \"I wonder what's going on?\" shifts the energy from resentment to understanding.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Generosity is a choice:<\/strong>&nbsp;When we talk about people generously, we create a space where they are more likely to be generous toward us.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Unseen burdens:<\/strong>\u00a0We often\u00a0don't\u00a0know the full story of our colleagues' lives (second jobs, childcare, eldercare).\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This safety huddle can be used to lead a discussion on how assuming positive intent can reduce workplace tension.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":9280,"template":"","tags":[],"audience":[118],"topic":[209,409,173],"class_list":["post-9171","huddle","type-huddle","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","audience-audience","topic-organizational-culture","topic-phs-days","topic-psychological-health-and-safety"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/huddle\/9171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/huddle"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/huddle"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9171"},{"taxonomy":"audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Faudience&post=9171"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftopic&post=9171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}