Assumptions You CAN Make

Leadership Lesson
“Assumptions You CAN Make”

Most leaders understand that making assumptions is unwise and can result in a bunch of I wish I hadn’t done that problems, at least they understand this academically. Most of us have heard the old saying goes: “When you ASSUME, you make an ASS of U and ME.”

Yet, as imperfect people; leaders, fathers, mothers, teachers, supervisors, managers, and teammates, we all tend to make assumptions.

So the question is, “Are there any safe assumptions that we can make? Are there things that, you can feel okay in assuming and thus behaving accordingly? Here are a few:

• The e-mails you send will be seen by more people than those they are addressed to and intended for.

• Things said “just between you and me” will not always stay, “just between you and me.”

• In all of your dealings with team members, what goes around WILL come around – back at you.

• Your employees cannot read your mind. If you do not tell them what you are thinking, they will assume they know…and there is a good chance they will assume wrong.

• Problems you choose to avoid - will usually get worse.

• “As long as you don’t hear from me, you know you are doing okay” - is just not true.

• Treat one team member poorly, and ten people will hear about it – including your boss … and HR.

• Your ability to get another leadership position, will be directly related to how well you do on the job you have now.

• Whenever you think “no one will know,” someone WILL.

• Whenever you think “no one will care,” someone WILL.

• Whenever you think “it will never be missed,” it WILL.

• Whenever you think you are as good as you need to be, YOU’RE NOT!