Emailing Others With Your Assumptions

Several times each week, being I have so many sites online, it is inevitable that I will receive emails where the Senders are assuming something about me or one of my sites. The great majority of these assumptions are improperly accusatory and based on little to no actual knowledge or experience about the issue at hand. But that doesn’t deter these type of emailers.

Maybe it’s me; but I don’t assume things about topics I know nothing about. I don’t assume to know how my car works just because I drive one — I am not a mechanic. When I go to the Doctor with an ailment, I don’t assume what my treatment is — I let the person who is educated in the field, my Doctor, ask the appropriate questions, take the necessary steps to determine what the diagnosis is. Even then, I don’t tell him what to prescribe. I’m not a Doctor!

But when it comes to technology, there is no end to those who email others apparently believing they know enough about what they are typing about to tell those who are proven professionals in their fields what to do about something, to fix this or that, or to scold them about improper practices.

Certainly this approach does not bode well when trying to form a positive impression or from new business relationships or partnerships. Nor would assuming with coworkers lend to creating a positive teamwork type environment.

If I have a concern or I think something is “wrong” I ask a question in a genuinely courteous and curious manner. Not in an accusatory tone; not with the intent that I am trying to point out what the other side in my view doesn’t know or understand. I want to understand and find out what’s up.

Especially when it comes to your business communications with contacts and coworkers, be very careful when accusing or pointing out what you perceive to be “wrong”, “broken” or “not working.” First check your settings, clear your cache, reboot your computer, check with your ISP, check your firewall settings, check your spyware settings, check your spam filtering settings. Ask questions before assuming.

And more importantly, unless you have solid expertise to know for a fact what at the root of the issue at hand, check your perceptions at the door! What are you basing your accusation on? It had better be in actual experience and knowledge.

What I recommend you do when you run into onliners who communicate in this manner, is to do what I do. Go back in a courteous, professional, factual and informative manner so that they can learn how their assumption indicated how much they really didn’t know while actually teaching them something on a topic they thought they knew all about.

The smarties send me an email of thanks for enlightening them. The others, well, they are probably too business sending assumption-filled emails to other onliners and site owners. Some folks have way too much time on their hands.

Some More Info for You:

1. Emailing Privately Off-Venue
2. Don’t Overreact Based on Assumptions