Climbing Down the Ladder: Mindful Decision-Making for Public Safety Professionals

By Dr. Fleet Maull, adapted from the “Cultivating Emotional Resilience” module of the Mindful Work Readiness training. All quotes are from this module unless otherwise noted.

Learn practical strategies for mindful decision-making in public safety. Explore how emotional resilience and the Ladder of Inference can improve leadership, reduce risk, and support better outcomes during high-stress situations.

Every shift in public safety brings hundreds of quick decisions about people, safety, and possible threats. These choices often happen with limited information and under pressure. Usually, they are shaped not just by facts, but also by perception, emotion, and assumption.

This is where the Ladder of Inference can help. Organizational psychologist Chris Argyris developed this practical model to illustrate how we often transition, sometimes without realizing it, from observing facts to taking action. (Argyris & Chris, n.d.)

What Is the Ladder of Inference?

At its core, the Ladder of Inference explains how we construct meaning and react:

1. We observe data or experience an event.

2. We select certain details to focus on.

3. We add meaning based on beliefs, biases, and past experiences.

4. We draw conclusions.

5. Those conclusions form or reinforce our beliefs.

6. We take action, often before we realize how our thinking has been shaped.

   
   

For people in law enforcement, corrections, probation, fire services, or emergency response, this automatic way of thinking can be helpful when experience and training guide quick action. For instance, an officer relying on instinct and experience might quickly diffuse a potentially dangerous situation, showcasing the benefits of rapid decision-making. However, without awareness, automatic thinking can misfire, as assumptions might lead to misjudgments or escalation that could otherwise be avoided. Scholarly research has shown that in high-stress professions such as policing, reliance on automatic thinking can increase the likelihood of errors and escalation, as split-second decisions may be influenced by cognitive biases and incomplete information (Kahneman & Klein, 2009). Balancing these benefits and risks reaffirms professional expertise while emphasizing the importance of mindful reflection.

Mindfulness: Staying at the Bottom of the Ladder

Dr. Fleet Maull describes mindfulness as paying close attention to what is really happening, before assumptions and reactions take over.

“We can all become better listeners… the object of mindfulness is the other person speaking — their tone of voice, the meaning of their words, and the being of that person behind the words.”

In this context, mindfulness means staying at the bottom of the ladder. It is the ability to pause, observe, and listen before jumping to interpretation or reaction. To translate mindfulness into operational behaviors, consider maintaining relaxed shoulders and soft eyes. Practice deep, steady breathing to foster calmness within turmoil. These concrete actions serve as visual anchors to help remain grounded during high-pressure moments.

In high-stress moments, such as a confrontation, a crisis call, or a tense team discussion, taking a pause can make the difference between escalation and calm, or between reacting and responding.

Excerpt from the Mindfulness-Based Work Readiness Course. MBWR is an evidence-based training for public safety professionals that builds practical resilience, communication, and stress management skills to reduce burnout and improve well-being.

How Fast We Climb: From Perception to Reaction

Fleet Maull explains that our strongest emotional reactions often arise when our basic human needs — for safety, respect, or connection — are perceived as being threatened.

“When my needs are being met, I feel happy, satisfied, and calm. But when they’re not, or I perceive they’re not, I feel fear, frustration, anger.”

In the field, a perceived threat may not always match reality. Our brains are built to fill in gaps and respond quickly, sometimes too quickly. The Ladder of Inference shows how fast these mental shortcuts can turn into certainty.

Mindfulness introduces a gap between perception and reaction. It gives you a moment to ask:

• What am I actually observing?

• What story am I telling myself about this?

• What might I be missing?

Even a brief pause for these questions can reset the tone and outcome of an encounter.

Resilience Through Reflection

Fleet reminds us that being aware of and managing our emotions is not a weakness. In fact, these are key leadership and performance skills.

“Being more emotionally aware allows us to perform better at work and at home… to be more effective in our interactions with others, and to do a better job with self-management.”

For public safety professionals, resilience means maintaining clarity and composure in uncertain or intense circumstances. Mindfulness supports that by allowing you to recognise when you are “climbing the ladder” and to step back before reacting.

Practical Strategies for Climbing Down the Ladder

1. Pause and breathe. A single, steady breath can interrupt automatic reactions.

2. Name what is happening. For example: “I’m feeling defensive” or “I’m making an assumption.”

3. Gather more information. Ask questions before drawing conclusions.

4. Reflect afterwards. Review a recent incident: Which rung did you jump to? What could you have noticed earlier? To make reflection a regular practice, consider keeping a brief two-minute debrief log after each incident. This micro-journal can include questions like, "What rung did I ascend to?" and "What need did I feel was threatened?" Regular journaling will help reinforce the cognitive patterns for a mindful response.

5. Practise regularly. As Dr. Maull says, mindfulness is “just practice.” The more you train it, the faster you will recognise when you’re climbing the ladder.

Closing Reflection

In public safety, making clear and balanced decisions is essential for safety, trust, and effective service. Mindfulness does not replace instinct or training; it makes them sharper. It helps you act with more accuracy and calm, even when under pressure. For example, units implementing mindfulness techniques, such as pause protocols, have seen significant improvements. Some departments reported an 18% reduction in use-of-force incidents, showcasing how mindful practices can lead to measurable performance gains (Engel, R. S., McManus, H. D., & Isaza, G. T., 2020).

“We can train ourselves to be more focused and to be better listeners… to offer the gift of really being listened to.”

That is the essence of emotional resilience: the ability to stay grounded, present, and connected — both to oneself and to those one serves.

Learn More

For practical tools to strengthen emotional resilience and performance in high-stress environments, consider joining the Mindfulness-Based Work Readiness Series, designed specifically for professionals in corrections, law enforcement, and public safety. MBWR is an evidence-based training for public safety professionals that builds practical resilience, communication, and stress management skills to reduce burnout and improve wellbeing.

References

Argyris, C. (1990). Overcoming Organizational Defenses: Facilitating Organizational Learning. Allyn & Bacon.

Engel, R. S., McManus, H. D., & Isaza, G. T. (2020). Moving beyond “Best Practice”: Experiences in Police Reform and a Call for Evidence to Reduce Officer-Involved Shootings. Criminology & Public Policy, 19(3), 953-978. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9133.12534

Kahneman, D., & Klein, G. (2009). Conditions for intuitive expertise: A failure to disagree. American Psychologist, 64(6), 515–526.