Filter Shift: How Effective People See the World

by Sara Taylor

"Filter Shift" describes the notion of unconscious filters: how we create them, how we perceive the world through them, and how they control us. The vast majority of are persistently held back by our unconscious biases and misperceptions, even with the best of intentions. "Filter Shift" explores the unseen dynamics that get in the way, providing a series of blueprints for success.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

150 pages, Paperback

Published January 3, 2017

Reviews

[Stephanie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that helps you recognize the differences in people and how to interact with different people despite their sex, religion, race, ethnicity, abilities, and backgrounds.

The stories that are told that help relate the theories and techniques in this book, that teach in order to be effective with interacting with people, you need to acknowledge the biases that you hold and push past it to truly SEE people.

While I work in the Human Services field, where I am consistently working with diverse people, this is great book for anyone, because at all times we would be interacting with those different from ourselves.

*A copy of this book was provided to me for review purposes only*

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent starting place for helping people develop healthy ways of discussing diversity and changing biased behaviors. We all have filters—the obvious differences we’re hard-wired to pay attention to out of literally our cave-man survival needs to be in groups. And we have frames—what we think is good behavior or the right values—that are less visible. Learning to assume positive intent and recognize, value and accommodate differences rather than downplay them or ignore them is the heart of the message of this book. Only 4 stars because I know there’s an accompanying workbook. The kind of reflection I assume it fosters would be vital to ensuring that reading this book has an impact on one’s behavior.

[Fee (Ebook Addicts) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filter Shift: How Effective People See the World by Sara Taylor

I had no idea what to expect when I started this book, it is a complex book but the message is clear - we unconsciously apply filters to situations, people etc so much so that is instinct for us ans we don't even know we are actually doing it. What this book does is, it sets out to help us shift our filters - "filter shifting is our ability to SEE self, SEE others and SEE effective approach" SEE being our levels of observation See Explain & Evaluate.I'm not going to lie this was one of those books that you really need to sit down, think and understand, and when I first picked it up I did skim through it and pick out the main points but then I sat down and really read it and it really opened my eyes up the fact that I am guilty of filter shifting, and after reading I know that it is not going to be an overnight change but a gradual process to filter shift and rewire my brain. I know I judge and have made comments like those mentioned in the book without really thinking it through, so it has given me an understanding as to why our brains are wired this way in order to help change the way I think and see the world. I received this book through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.
 
4 stars
 


 

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

With all of the anger, bitterness, misconceptions, and blindness taking place in the world, I think this book needs to become a best friend to everyone! We are all born with the horrible personality aspect labeled as 'judgment'. We can't help it. It's instinct. What we CAN help, though, is how we react and the steps we take to understand rather than simply judging. This book is designed to help you do exactly what it's titled - shift your filter on the world. Personally, I know that I wear blinders more often than I should. I have developed an understanding of why I perceive situations in the way I do; however, the next step to actually assuming the behavior, is a whole new level. The final step is to detach the filters. I have successfully completed the third step in some areas of my life but there are others that need a lot of work. One day at a time, right? With the election now behind us, I hope that many of us will learn to develop compassionate behavior toward one another -- even if we are polar opposites. Filter Shift provides a sense of direction for rational behavior versus impulse behavior.

I received this book through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

[Cora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filter Shift: How Effective People See the World, by Sara Taylor: 4.5 stars

Filter Shift is a non-fiction read that is great for the people who want to think more effectively. And I think this to be true because this book made me question nearly all interactions I have ever experienced. Filter Shift makes readers truly analyze as well as understand how the unconscious mind is constantly creating these “filters” that manipulate each and every encounter we may have, and more specifically how our unconscious biases truly hold us back from being our most effective selves in communicating across difference. Author Sara Taylor, an expert in unconscious bias and cultural competence, states that “effectiveness means seeing greater complexity in the differences, specifically, moving beyond seeing the differences in frame that are easy to identify, and better understanding the differences in filters that most of us have a more difficult time seeing.” Her expertise is very clearly shown throughout this book, and I view it most through the analyses she provides on the “five distinct stages of development.” Overall this book was very well written and it also kept me engaged and wanting to read more (which is very rare), so I applaud the author on accomplishing that. I am confident that this eye-opening book can truly benefit everyone, because not only did it make me genuinely think about how I could better communicate with people who have different “frames” than I do, I believe that anyone who reads this will want to educate themselves on what it means to become more effective in communication.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for concrete ways to move out of minimization and being able to acknowledge difference without judgement, this is a great “how to” guide. As a white woman, I recognize I still have a lot of work to do in recognizing my own filters and removing them to acknowledge difference and find ways to adapt and compromise those differences. This book is just a very small step in this work.

[Jose · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept is definitely interesting and it is thought provoking. The idea of the platinum rule is excellent and I do believe there is some truth to it.

Now, how to get better... big miss. A lot of discussion on the concept and very little on how to improve. That's what happens when a consultant writes a book looking for more business...

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting observations of personal biases and lack of understanding of our differences. Read a bit like a required corporate HR course.

[Kelly Mortvedt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for work. Great primer on unconscious bias. It’s incredibly readable (ie not overly academic) with clear, relatable examples. Will keep this one to refer back to!

[Sharon Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a fascinating insight into how our minds work and how our unconscious mind, through our own stored filters, make such a difference to our perception, our judgment and situations.

It amazes me how our unconscious mind uses filters created from our past experiences, traumas and teachings to make decisions automatically before we really begin to think about them, yet we feel as if we are in control but right now we're really not.

Sara Taylor guides us through the complexity of the mind and filters and shares stories to bring the meanings to light and easier to understand. This isn't a light read but it is an eye opening read, I got my 'aha' moment when I got to page 10 and read 'Think Wine' then going forward things really started to click into place. With Sara's help you can begin to have an awareness of how we can see the same situation/differences so differently to how others see them due to everyone having their own unique set of filters from their own experiences and teachings. So treating each others the same, as you would like to be treated, is just not going to work in many scenarios as the author explains throughout the book and for me especially made clear with the teacher/parent story.

The wrong communication can lead to so many negative outcomes, if everyone could actually try to understand how each other worked and began to see their own prejudices in a new light there would be so much less anger in the world and for that reason I believe everyone should read this book.

With time and effort this can be worked upon so you can communicate more effectively in both our personal and professional lives.

Are we really seeing what we truly want to see and feel?

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took my time with the book as this is not a topic that can be mastered by a single read - through of any one book or any one process. The amount of information contained here is valuable and well thought out. We are shaped with every experience we have in our lives, no matter how we try to remain open and accepting.
One thing I really appreciated was the differentiation between frames and filters. I felt it was well explained, along with the stages of understanding people progress through, including how certain stages have common characteristics.

This book covers more than experiential biases and prejudices. It is an important work for those in all lines of business and communications, especially those with cross cultural contacts. We may think we understand a custom but some things that look simple on the surface can have very different perceptions by the person receiving the message, be it a word, a bow, or a hand gesture.

Each chapter is well organized and includes a summary of the main points to be sure you understand them before you read further.

I voluntarily accepted this book for review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took my time with the book as this is not a topic that can be mastered by a single read - through of any one book or any one process. The amount of information contained here is valuable and well thought out. We are shaped with every experience we have in our lives, no matter how we try to remain open and accepting.
One thing I really appreciated was the differentiation between frames and filters. I felt it was well explained, along with the stages of understanding people progress through, including how certain stages have common characteristics.

This book covers more than experiential biases and prejudices. It is an important work for those in all lines of business and communications, especially those with cross cultural contacts. We may think we understand a custom but some things that look simple on the surface can have very different perceptions by the person receiving the message, be it a word, a bow, or a hand gesture.

Each chapter is well organized and includes a summary of the main points to be sure you understand them before you read further.