"To assume is to make an ass of you and me.” – Unknown
“What we think is not an opinion, but an opinion. In order to have an opinion, we must have arguments. An argument is evidence. A discussion is an exchange of arguments. The goal of a discussion is to analyze a matter from multiple perspectives, not to win.” – unknown teacher at Petr Vítek elementary school
Who among us has never fallen into the trap of assumptions? We all know it to some extent, and even the most advanced and aware of us cannot avoid it. Sometimes we all slip into forming our own picture of things without enough information. This can unnecessarily lead us into conflicts or mistakes that could easily be avoided without them.
Prejudice versus facts
A presumption is an assumption that we make without sufficient information or evidence. It is a kind of “blind guessing,” where we make decisions based on feelings, first impressions, or even someone’s hints, but we lack verified facts. Assumptions often arise quickly – for example, when we see someone’s expression or hear a snippet of conversation and then automatically piece together a whole story from it. But this may not correspond to reality at all.
Our founder, Petr Vítek, often recalls a quote from her elementary school teacher (which you can find written at the beginning of this article), in which she tried to explain to her students that what each of us thinks is not so much an opinion as our personal opinion. And that is why it is necessary to realize what the difference is between them. An opinion is just our personal impression or feeling, it is not an objective assessment of the situation, but only a subjective view. If we want to have a real opinion, we should base it on facts, have arguments ready and be willing to discuss it. The point of the discussion is then to understand and analyze the given matter from multiple perspectives, which can then shape the opinion in turn.
How not to make assumptions?
Sure, someone might say that making assumptions is human – and they'd be right, it's something we have in us by nature. But just like other traits (or maybe bad habits? :)), this one can be worked on. And how to do that?
- Focus on the facts – Instead of guessingand, what someone else probably "thinks," you should base it on what they actually saidor he proved it.
- Verify – Sometimes a simple question like “What exactly did you mean by that?” or “Am I understanding correctly when…?” is enough.
- Be curious. – Those who ask questions will learn more. Be curious, clarify what is unclear to you. It will help you understand others and their perspectives.
At Impact Hub, we don't make assumptions.
That's a bit of a lie. Although we ourselves and each other realize that it's better not to make assumptions, none of us are perfect. In addition to one-to-one conversations, we try to approach this topic systematically and in teams we regularly undergo training in radical openness and non-violent communication.
For training radical openness We learn to give immediate, direct, positive and critical feedback with personal interest in the other, thereby promoting open communication, trust and responsibility in the team, and moving both the individual and the team towards better results. Non-violent communication is a communication method that focuses on how to communicate with respect and empathy in a way that avoids conflict and promotes mutual understanding. It simply involves focusing on the needs and feelings – both your own and those of others – and expressing them in a way that is non-attacking and non-defensive.
We see this as a necessary foundation for building trust and mutual respect. In an environment full of different personalities, assumptions easily creep into communication and can quickly distort the intentions or needs of others. By asking, verifying, and listening, we create a trustworthy environment where everyone knows that their ideas and needs will be perceived without prejudice. Such an environment is then the basis for sharing thoughts, ideas, and joint innovation – and that is what we are all about here.
Making assumptions is natural for all of us, but we can control them. If we focus instead on fact-checking and open communication, we will better understand others.
Are you curious about what it also means for us at Impact Hub? Courage, Sustainability, Cooperation, Responsibility or Confidence?
