Stop Making Assumptions
We all make assumptions. We assume why people are difficult to get along with; we assume why an employee is not doing the job correctly; we assume why someone doesn’t act the way we expect. Assumptions lead to judgements and judgements about people and situations can lead to negative emotions, damaged relationships or missed opportunities. The following steps will help you to avoid judgements and validate your assumptions:
- Get the facts; ask questions, research the issue and determine the cause of the situation.
- Don’t generalize; deal with people and situations on an individual, case-by-case basis.
- Examine your own actions and behaviors before attributing blame to someone else.
- Spend more time getting to know the other person and his/her underlying motivations.
Work on validating your assumptions this week!
For more information on how we can help you incorporate this week’s Best Practice into your organization, please visit: www.ShaunHopkinsSeminars.com
January 16, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Is that ever the truth…and not just in business either! I once had a boss that always said “when you assume you make an ASS-U-ME” (ass out of U and me).
Hope you enjoyed Spain! Welcome back to -25
Cheers, Jim