A central premise to SAVI is the idea that verbal communication can be ambiguous or contradictory. The idea is that the higher the level of ambiguity or contradiction, the less likely the information found within a message will be received or understood.
Someone says to you, "So, you don't really think that's a good idea, do you?" A leading question like that boxes the other person into a corner. It's really not a question at all. It communicates to the receiver that there's a better way to think about things, and the other person doesn't get it! The likely reply is going to be a defensive response like, "What's wrong with it?!" We've set the stage for a debate, at least, or possibly the groundwork for a good fight!
Our natural tendency is to react in defensive ways when we encounter ambiguity and contradiction. One benefit SAVI provides is that it allows us to have a more highly developed awareness of ambiguity and contradiction when either or both are introduced into a conversation. SAVI helps us identify less defensive ways of responding to and working with the ambiguity and contradiction we find in our daily interactions with others.
Here's an example of how a person might respond to the leading question in the above example using SAVI in a way that leads to higher productivity and morale:
A: So, you don't really think that's a good idea, do you?
B: It sounds like you don't agree with my idea, and you have another way to approach this situation. Do I have that right?
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