You Know What Happens When You Assume!

I see it every day… assumptions flying all over the place! When it comes to your business e-mail communications you can not, should not, must not assume.

Just one wrong assumption can cost you business, opportunity, a potential client or, and I’ve seen this happen, business relationships compromised due to misunderstandings, lack of confidence or trust due to incorrect assumptions. Being business is all about relationships, it is clear that avoiding assuming is a wise approach.

• Assumptions made about what the other side is thinking. Did they state that is what they were thinking? If not, don’t assume.
• Assuming what the choice of punctuation means other than accepting it on it’s face value.
• Assumptions made as to what type of person is on the other side. Do you know this person well? Even if you do, can you emphatically state you KNOW what they would do or think in any given situation — probably not — so don’t assume.
• Assumptions made about a person’s level of education or intelligence. That’s a tough one — even I do so on occasion and have to put myself in check. Try very hard to not assume here — until everyone realizes the power of perception, they will continue to send typo filled, grammatically incorrect, error laden e-mails — regardless of their level of intelligence and yes, education!
• Assumptions offered in answer to a query or question that are not correct. Read the question or query completely, entirely, before answering. Your assumption can make you look like the one not paying attention to the conversation.

If you catch yourself assuming and are not sure what the other side meant, e-mail back and ask for clarification before you reply based on your assumptions. Before doing so though, make sure you are not making assumptions that simply are not backed up by the choice of words and how they were used. By asking for clarification based on unsubstantiated assumptions only serves to reflect that you are assuming!

Assumptions only serve to hinder communications, can affect long term relationships and encourage misunderstandings. Whether it be a coworker or supervisor, customer or new contact keeping your assumptions in check will help to add clarity to your communications and build stronger relationships over the long term.

Some More Info for You:

1. Professionals Don’t Assume What They Don’t Know
2. Don’t Jump to Conclusions in Your Business E-mail
3. Your Business E-mail Wardrobe
4. Spell Names Correctly
5. To Reply or Not to Reply