Lesson 4: Articulating with Precision | Amy Herman

Medical professionals developed a concept known as the “pertinent negative.” It reminds doctors to give absent symptoms as much weight as those that are present. In this video lesson, art historian Amy Herman explains how you can use the concept to improve your ability to articulate ideas, a critical skill for success in the 21st century. Hold yourself accountable Two people can look at the same object or situation and see something different. We are each accountable for the way we observe, articulate, and prioritize information in our environment. Be mindful of the words you use to describe your observations. Pay attention to details and be precise when describing them. Consider the pertinent negative Learning how to interpret and communicate new data and information are critical skills for success in the 21st century. The pertinent negative is saying what isn’t there in addition to what is there to give a more accurate picture of what you see. The pertinent negative gives us a broader way of analyzing and articulating things. For example, when evaluating performance, look for what didn’t happen in addition to what did happen. Describe both the affirmative and the negative—what met your expectations and what didn’t. © Freethink Media Inc., All Rights Reserved. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Go Deeper with Big Think: ►Become a Big Think Youtube Member Get exclusive classes and early, ad-free access to new releases without leaving Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/@bigthink/membership/ ►Become a Big Think Web Member Get the entire Big Think Class library, premium print issues, live events, and more. https://bigthink.com/membership/ ►Subscribe to Big Think on Substack Get all of your favorite Big Think content delivered to your inbox. https://bigthinkmedia.substack.com/subscribe/ ►Listen to Big Think Interviews on Spotify Insights from the world's biggest thinkers, now as a podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/7KRYoRD1NdF2aoQcBMyPlb ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Amy Herman Amy Herman is a lawyer and art historian who uses works of art to sharpen observation, analysis, and communication skills. By showing people how to look closely at painting, sculpture, and photography, she helps them hone their visual intelligence to recognize the most pertinent and useful information as well as biases that impede decision-making. In 2000, while Herman was the head of education at The Frick Collection in New York City, she developed her “Art of Perception” seminar to improve medical students’ observation and communication skills with their patients. She subsequently adapted the program for a wide range of professionals and leads sessions internationally for the New York City Police Department, the FBI, the French National Police, the Department of Defense, Interpol, the State Department, Fortune 500 companies, first responders, the military, and the intelligence community. She holds a B.A., a J.D., and an M.A. in art history. Her book Visual Intelligence was published in May 2016 and was on both The New York Times and The Washington Post’s bestsellers lists.