[October 18, 2024] People make assumptions in everything we do, otherwise nothing would get done but here the reference is to the important assumptions. The basic principle of good habits is “never assume anything” of consequence.
I originally published this article years ago but resurrected it because of its relevance in today’s presidential race. The terrible performance of Kamala Harris in a Fox interview is telling. People assume she’s smart, articulate, experienced, and capable. She isn’t, and the interview made proved her lack of “smarts.” But the assumption remains.
Does this mean we should never trust anyone and anything? Of course not, we should be able to trust but we should also be able to verify our assumptions. In the military’s formalized decision making process, there is a place to make a list of facts and assumptions.
An important task of leaders is to turn assumptions into facts as quickly as possible. When that is not achievable, contingencies are built around the unknowns, those pesky assumptions that we cannot verify as fact. This is a good methodology for not having an assumption we were counting on to come back later and cause us to fail.
An old saying that I heard repeatedly in the military was, “assumptions makes an ass out of you and me.” The drill sergeants actually drew it on the chalk board for us trainees: ass|u|me. They seared it into our brains … so to speak. The saying has been around for a while and the originator of the phrase is lost in antiquity.
The point was that when people make assumptions, they are invariably wrong. In war when assumptions are made, and not verified, they are likely to get you killed. Those drill sergeants, with experience in Vietnam, knew what they were talking about because we heard the many stories of life and death.
For senior leaders, the best way to get to the truth and eliminate assumptions is to talk with many people about the same issue. That is what most of us do. We ask multiple people throughout the organization about their thoughts on a particular issue. Leaders would be amazed at the feedback when obtained from different levels in the organization, just by asking and listening.
Today’s lesson is to never assume anything; that is, never assume anything of importance without actively verifying its truth.
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Please read my books:
Sir, well said. Of course, we all know about what making assumptions do ….. ass|u|me. I does seem that we all have to re-learn the basic rules of good leadership and of having a good life. Gen. Satterfield points this out in his book ——-
“Avoiding complacency is a popular pastime in leadership symposiums, and numerous self-help articles and books are written on the subject. A few tips for avoiding complacency are: get a good night’s sleep, never assume anything, don’t underestimate others, stay focused, and surround yourself with energetic people. Complacency can get you killed (or injured), destroy your career, and screw up your life. Everyone is vulnerable. Don’t get comfortable … stay paranoid! Keep your eye on the ball; be vigilant.”
— 55 Rules for a Good Life: Pursuing Truth and Responsibility by Brig. Gen. Douglas Satterfield
https://a.co/6QtuOZm
A classic article.
I agree. And worthy article to read. 📚
Gen. Satterfield is doing us a kind favor with this re-print article on assumptions. We all make assumptions. We all pay little attention to their validity, big or small. Assumptions are driven by necessity. Assumptions are driven also by ideology and that is the point of his second paragraph. Those who think Kamala Harris is qualified to be president because she was Vice President have made an ideologically based assumption, and that assumption has been proven wrong. But they won’t give it up despite reality hitting them between the eyes.
🤣🤣🤣Good comment, Danny.😂😂😂
Great article on assumptions.
All of us here are happy that your recent surgery was a success and you are back online. Others said something similar, so I’ll keep my comments short. Your series of letters is my favorite and I look forward to the next series.
YES!!!!!!!
Gen. Satterfield, off topic question, How are you doing after your surgery?
I’m very slowly improving. Thank you for asking. 👍
Good news for you and for us. We missed you that day last week you were in surgery but now you’re back. I can understand that your Daily Favorites is on hold until your health improves and that is a good decision. Keep the articles coming and especially your letters to your granddaughter. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Good news.
“ With the exception of one cordial but somewhat challenging segment on 60 Minutes, Vice President Kamala Harris has spent her entire presidential candidacy going from one softball media appearance to another. That ended Wednesday night when she sat for an interview with Fox News anchor Bret Baier. Finally, Harris faced probing and persistent questions about her record as vice president and plans for the presidency. And in 27 minutes of back-and-forth, she had virtually no answers. She pushed back hard but, for all her words, had little to say. ” – Bryon York
❤️Great comment on Kkkaaaammmmmaaaallllaaaa.❤️
Good re-pub and excellent timing. The presidential campaign of Kamala Harris is falling apart as more people get to see her in action. They “assumed” she could get the job done but obviously that was wrong. Many still believe she can do the job. Shows how hard it is to give up our fantasies.
Kamala is worse than an idiot. She’s a dangerous idiot.