It still amazes me that the statement "Assumption is
the mother of all F*** ups". We all
seem to know what is best and what the other means without verifying it. I was totally shocked when I heard that my friend may have a boyfriend just because she goes home every weekend and speaks over phone at late nights. Everyday when she sits with me and explains her pathetic situation, all I do is Roll over the floor and Laugh. Why ASSUME when you don't know ? That made me write this post.
In theory there are several options;
1. We assume the
other person thinks like us;
As we are all human we think for and from ourselves. This means that we have a certain order in the chaos in our head that is very logical to the individual. Since we cannot look into the other person’s chaos (yet), we assume he/she has the same kind of structure, because to us, this seems logical. In doing so, we forget the fact that every chaos is unique as is the structuring of it. This structuring of the chaos is compulsory to make sense of it all. If we can make sense of something, the other person should be able to as well. And thus the assumption has been created.
As we are all human we think for and from ourselves. This means that we have a certain order in the chaos in our head that is very logical to the individual. Since we cannot look into the other person’s chaos (yet), we assume he/she has the same kind of structure, because to us, this seems logical. In doing so, we forget the fact that every chaos is unique as is the structuring of it. This structuring of the chaos is compulsory to make sense of it all. If we can make sense of something, the other person should be able to as well. And thus the assumption has been created.
2. We presume that
the other party is on the same level as us;
We are all professionals, working or non working because we have a small certain level of education and or knowledge. Because of this, we should be at least on the same level of "brainpower". Even though this might be true if speaking in general, the application of this "brainpower" is different for everyone. As some people can think abstract, others might never be able to. Next to this, different levels of approach are often causing the problem. Someone from the business might have a complete different idea about a certain requirement then someone from IT.
We are all professionals, working or non working because we have a small certain level of education and or knowledge. Because of this, we should be at least on the same level of "brainpower". Even though this might be true if speaking in general, the application of this "brainpower" is different for everyone. As some people can think abstract, others might never be able to. Next to this, different levels of approach are often causing the problem. Someone from the business might have a complete different idea about a certain requirement then someone from IT.
3. We think we know it all (been there, done that);
As we meet different people, we tend to do the same thing with everyone because of the fact that this is a best practice and/or it works best for us. Which is not a bad thing obviously (don't invent the wheel every time). But by doing so, we might forget that new people means new experience , means new...well actually everything. We should not be sure that the best practice is applicable here as well without some fine tuning and adapting to the current situation.
As we meet different people, we tend to do the same thing with everyone because of the fact that this is a best practice and/or it works best for us. Which is not a bad thing obviously (don't invent the wheel every time). But by doing so, we might forget that new people means new experience , means new...well actually everything. We should not be sure that the best practice is applicable here as well without some fine tuning and adapting to the current situation.
4. We don't read thoroughly enough;
When we read documents, we can do this in many ways. By just reading what it says or intensively trying to make sense of it all and finding out if what it says really is correct. Even the later can be done from many viewpoints. We assume that statements in the documents are overall correct and that the professional that wrote it, would probably know what he/she was talking about. Especially when it seems to be very complex or Simply our Printed Lab records.
When we read documents, we can do this in many ways. By just reading what it says or intensively trying to make sense of it all and finding out if what it says really is correct. Even the later can be done from many viewpoints. We assume that statements in the documents are overall correct and that the professional that wrote it, would probably know what he/she was talking about. Especially when it seems to be very complex or Simply our Printed Lab records.
5. We don't dare to ask, because the other party might think
we are stupid;
We all know it; afraid of asking a question because everyone seems to know what someone is talking about. But...there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers! We don't like to be seems as stupid or ignorant, so we just avoid asking the questions and might try and find out what is being said in another way. Or make an assumption (and there it is again). Asking questions is easy, getting answer too, this becomes more difficult as days go by , because people would expect you to know what it is about. Then again, we cannot read each other's minds.
We all know it; afraid of asking a question because everyone seems to know what someone is talking about. But...there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers! We don't like to be seems as stupid or ignorant, so we just avoid asking the questions and might try and find out what is being said in another way. Or make an assumption (and there it is again). Asking questions is easy, getting answer too, this becomes more difficult as days go by , because people would expect you to know what it is about. Then again, we cannot read each other's minds.
6. We don't dare to ask, because we are stupid;
Well....that is certainly the case with some people....but actually this is a lost case...just replace them ;)
Well....that is certainly the case with some people....but actually this is a lost case...just replace them ;)
All in all, some points why we make assumptions in my
opinion which is one of the biggest pitfalls of Epic flop ! Especially when
assumptions across parties are made.
Most effective tip I can give is ; DARE TO ASK
ANYTHING & EVERYTHING ELSE IT WILL START BURNING !
-Thoughtless Saint gave his piece of mind and well I did d some ramifications :P
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