Non-Judgmentalism: Appearances Can Be Deceiving (But Not Always)

This Post in a Nutshell

Make fast judgments about situations.
Be slow to make permanent judgments about people.

I had an electrical problem that I couldn’t solve on my own, so I searched YouTube for the solution. Among the search results was a video that looked promising, but I didn’t like the picture of the guy in the thumbnail. He didn’t look like someone I could trust to help solve my problem. I almost went past his video, but something made me give it a second glance, It turned out that his video solved my problem. I almost ignored it because I didn’t like the way he looked. I wasn’t being non-judgmental.

This is embarrassing, but the reason I didn’t like the way he looked was that he didn’t look like me. Yeah, I know I was being shallow and judgmental. I wonder, however, how often we overlook a qualified solution because we don’t like the way the person offering it looks. Maybe we don’t like their hairstyle, their skin color, or the way they talk. In this case, I didn’t like the way he dressed. My narrow view of what’s good and bad nearly cost me the solution to my electrical problem.

The problem is not just that we sometimes misjudge others by their appearance or other superficial qualities. It’s also that sometimes it’s good to make judgments based on appearances. We’re often told not to rush to judgment, yet think of those times that call for snap judgments.

Non-Judgmentalsim vs. Healthy Judgmentalism

There are many times when quick judgments are appropriate. Here are three examples of situations where making a quick judgment based on what you see or hear is not just okay, it’s smart:

1. When there’s a potential risk or threat

If something looks or sounds wrong, assume it might be wrong until proven otherwise.

• A suspicious email
• A system behaving abnormally
• Someone asking for access in a way that doesn’t add up

This is not a time for non-judgmentalism. You don’t ignore your instincts here. You act on them.

In IT especially, hesitation is how small risks can turn into big incidents.

2. When you need to adjust your communication in real time

Tone matters. A lot.

• Someone sounds frustrated → you slow down and show empathy
• Someone sounds rushed → you get to the point
• Someone sounds confused → you simplify or clarify

You’re making a judgment about how to respond, not about the person.

That’s what separates people who are easy to work with from those who aren’t.

3. When you have to make a fast decision with limited information

You won’t always have the luxury of full data.

• A ticket looks urgent
• A project feels like it’s slipping
• A conversation is about to go sideways

You read the signals and make a call.

Waiting for perfect information is how problems get worse

The simple takeaway

Make fast judgments about situations.
Be slow to make permanent judgments about people.

That one distinction will keep you out of trouble while still letting you act decisively.

The guy whose appearance I didn’t like? His solution was exactly what I needed. I nearly missed it because of my biases.

I made a fast judgment about a person, and it nearly cost me the solution to my problem.

What are some situations where making a snap judgment was the right thing for you to do? Leave a comment below.

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