The Danger of Assuming
How Jumping to Conclusions Can Lead to Misunderstandings and Mistakes
Today, I’d like to talk about something that affects our work: assumptions. Have you ever questioned whether you rely too much on guesswork when it comes to project details or decision-making? I’ve found myself thinking about this more often as I’ve witnessed its negative effects on both myself and others.
This weekend, I did a poll asking why assumptions are made. Here are the top three replies:
Lack of information or clarity
Fear of failure or judgment when asking questions
A desire to finish quickly
I can personally relate to each of these. But I’ve learned over time the value of minimizing assumptions. As responsibilities increase, so does the risk of failure. The higher we are, the higher we fall. At some point, it’s not worth it. Assumptions are a gamble performed in isolation, leaving us exposed and lacking accountability.
Here are 3 things we should do instead:
Confirm: Return to the matter at hand as frequently as necessary. Seek meetings, briefings, and reviews. With practice, we can improve asking the right questions earlier in the process.
Document: As you confirm details, document them. Utilize tools such as a Creative Brief to record the essential information.
Communicate: Once you have filled in the gaps, share the information with others involved.
By considering these three practices, we can decrease the misunderstandings and mistakes associated with assumptions.
Hope you’ve found this helpful!
