E008_What is common sense anyway, and how do you spot it?

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Today, we discuss what common sense is. 

One gentler descriptor during our research was 'Common sense is a sound, practical judgment usually developed through life experience rather than any formal training. 

Here is another description: 'Your common sense is your natural ability to make good judgments and to behave in a practical and sensible way'. 

Developing Common Sense can seem like a tricky thing. But you can easily practice using common sense by being more aware and reflecting on situations before you make decisions. 

 A few years ago, Nuala attended a presentation on common sense, and she had never forgotten the speaker's words when he said,

Common sense is only common when there is an agreed understanding that makes sense to everyone involved. 

We have adopted this stance. 

The question for you, our listeners, and both of us is how do we have the conversation upfront to get an agreed-upon understanding? 

And maybe it takes a bit of buy-in, a bit of debate, a bit of giving up some of my opinions and a bit of you giving up some of yours, maybe learning from you or vice versa, so that we come out with an agreed understanding and move forward so that it makes sense to everyone. 

When working in multicultural environments, consider that what makes sense in one world or worldview may not make sense in another. Therefore, what's common for one person and what's common for another person can be two completely different things.

And when we think of safety, we often think of those complete misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and unnecessary conflicts, assuming it is all just common sense. And the assumption that they would have done it the right way, the first time.

When we think of the words 'common sense', we can only base it on our past experience,  but we're living it in the present to change the future. 

Here are 8 tips that may help you understand Common Sense and how to spot it. 

1. Appreciate that people are different and come with a multitude of life experiences that may not match yours.
2. Make time to have the conversation upfront to get a mutual understanding, which may dramatically reduce conversational waste further down the line.
3. Check for jargon and develop agreed-upon conversational rituals instead.
4. Is there a WIFM? (What's In it For Me) more efficient, safer, prior experience, etc.
5. Are you triggering the right response?
6. Match the message to the person.
7. Don't make assumptions.
8. Always ask the question… Based on what? Is the assumption based on what you perceive as common sense?

Remember this one thing: Common sense is not as common as we assume. It is only common to your life experience and possibly those who ha

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This episode was produced under Safety Collaborations Limited and now continues as part of Karin Ovari Limited. While we are not currently releasing new episodes, the entire library remains active, and the topics covered are just as relevant today as when they were first recorded.

To learn more about my current work in leadership and communication, visit karinovari.com and the leadership community, The Supervisors Hub.

Connect with us on LinkedIn: Karin Ovari, Nuala Gage,

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Stay Safe, Stay Well
The Safety Collaborators