Never assume

This is what Nick Rowney says in the "About Me" section of his blog.

I don't say things to be liked I say them because I BELIEVE them.

Reputation isn't about being liked, it comes from standing for something.

My whole life has been about interacting with people from all walks of life and it has taught me NEVER to assume.

Credit: Nick Rowney

This resonated with me as one thing that is high on my list of "lessons learnt in life" is never, ever, ever, assume things about anything or anyone. Its all too easy to jump to conclusions as to why someone has said something or done something. Most of the time we are wrong. Very wrong.

To me this is where conversation or dialogue plays its part in understanding issues and people. Rather than say - "that was a stupid move" or "that was a stupid thing to say". Its far more creative and revealing to say "that's interesting, so why did you do that?" or "that's interesting, why did you say that?" It also potentially saves a relationship.

But you need to do it out of genuine curiosity not as some cheap conversational technique.