Type 08
Sensemaker
You see how details connect.
About the Sensemaker
You connect details to understand what is happening. You notice what keeps recurring, how information from different sources fits together, and what background might help explain an event.
You may notice how your sleep relates to your mood, how a habit fits into your day, or what keeps happening in a recurring disagreement. These connections can help you understand your experience and explain your view to others.
Strengths in everyday life
Comparing the details
You bring together information from different sources and compare it. You may notice that some details support each other, conflict, or help explain one another.
Considering the circumstances
You remember what was happening around an event. That background can change how you understand a fact that seems straightforward on its own.
Explaining the connections
You help people understand how separate events may be related. You can also explain how those connections might affect a decision they need to make.
What can get in the way
When you look for a complete explanation, you may delay a useful next step. Decide what you need to understand before acting and what you can learn by trying.
Other people may struggle to follow connections that seem obvious to you. Start with the few details that explain your conclusion, rather than sharing every link you have considered.
Understanding each other
With a Sensemaker, explain the relevant background and ask a specific question. When discussing a recurring problem, consider whether there is an explanation neither of you has thought of yet.
If you are a Sensemaker, explain your conclusion with a few clear examples. Ask the other person whether it matches their experience before assuming your explanation fits.
Questions worth asking
- Which connection helps explain what is happening?
- What am I assuming about how these details are related?
- Can I explain what I have noticed in three clear steps?