…shove them up your arse.
They’re of no use to anyone.
We all make basic assumptions about things in life, but sometimes those assumptions are WRONG. We must never trust in what we assume, only in what we KNOW.
We do it all the time. Make an assumption about a project, a process, a team, maybe even a person. It’s part of modern day life. The corporations we work in encourage us to do it. And actually that’s fine. On one condition. That you’re prepared to test your hypothesis.
The saying goes that to assume is to make an ass out of u and me. This is only true is you believe your assumptions without seeking any validated learning. If you make decisions based on them without taking the time to properly assess their accuracy.
Let’s put on a scientific hat on for a moment. Science is based on having a theory and testing that theory to prove or disprove it. Experiments are run. Data is gathered. Evidence is produced. (And hopefully no rats are made to shit themselves or eat there own babies in the process). The end goal is that the theory is proved correct or not, and the results of the tests enable you to make the call.
The assumptions you make in your working lives should be the same.
You should base decisions, frustration, delight, on evidence. On data. You should avoid making assumptions. But if you are willing to make an assumption, you should at least be willing to test it. You MUST be willing to test it.
You should also be willing to challenge others on the assumptions they appear to be making, stating, sharing and to ask what data they have to support it.
To share the evidence they have gathered to proves that they can make a decision on the strength of it. If they can’t provide it…well you know where they can shove their assumption…