(There will be exceptions to some of these presuppositions, but they are a very useful foundation for effective communication and change work.)

1. People respond to their map of reality, not to reality itself.
2. Every behavior is motivated by positive intent.
3. People always make the best choice available to them at the time.
4. Every behavior is useful in some context.
5. Communication is expressed in all three major sensory modalities in addition to words.
6. The meaning of your communication is indicated by the response that you get.
7. People function systematically, according to a structure.
8. Choice is better than no choice. Always add choices; never try to subtract them.
9. Anyone can learn to do anything that someone else can do.
10. People already have all the resources they need.
11. There is no such thing as failure, only feedback.
12. If we break a task down into small enough chunks, any task can be accomplished.
13. Satisfying objections is necessary for lasting change. Respect “resistance.”