Someone doesn’t return your call. A friend seems unusually quiet. A coworker responds with a short message.
It’s easy to create an explanation without knowing what actually happened.
Maybe they’re upset. Maybe they’re avoiding you. Or maybe they’re dealing with something you know nothing about.
Assumptions can turn ordinary situations into unnecessary misunderstandings.
Before deciding what someone’s behavior means, consider asking a simple question.
Is everything okay? Did I misunderstand something?
You may discover that the explanation is completely different from what you imagined.
A conversation can clear up something that assumptions only make more complicated.
The Simplifier’s Take: Understanding begins when we replace assumptions with questions.
Before you decide what someone’s actions mean, give them an opportunity to explain.
– Orlando Espinosa | The Simplifier of Information®