When someone tells you something for the truth, you naturally take it on face value, don’t you? If there is no denying it for being the truth you accept it. Am I right? So, where and when and why do we start assuming things?

A while back my wife and I had a discussion about our son and the job that he managed to get at the same firm she works at, and he actually also reports directly to her. Through half of Covid he did not have a job and has a family to support, so naturally we had to support them. Luckily, they live in a flat at our home and they are quite independent and separate from us. This all put a massive financial strain on us as a family until he secured this job. We could say he now got promoted and will receive a substantial salary increase for which we all are immensely grateful.

To add to the spice, I have been coaching 2 of their owners for the past 3 years and know them quite well I would say through all our discussions, etc. We know that they are very careful with money and for that reason are quite successful. We also know that they do not make financial decisions based on whims, which is something to be admired.

So, when this promotion for our son came on the cards, it took forever to materialize, well that is how it felt for me in any case. Eventually the discussion took place for a permanent position, but nothing was discussed or agreed upon about salary package, etc. In the meantime, he had to work his butt off to assist, because one of the ladies went on maternity leave, which actually triggered his appointment. A day before payday he gets told what his salary would be, and it all sounds great. Come payday, he only receives his non-permanent salary after a month of grind. I had to give the background for you to understand what assumption can do.

We immediately assume, my wife and I, that this is very unfair. How do they treat their new personnel? Surely, they must know the importance! We assumed the worst and that he will only receive his full salary the next month. We assumed that our son was taken advantage of, because of my wife’s relationship with the company. We assumed that her bosses were just stingy and decided that this unfairness needs addressing immediately. A lot of assuming went on, don’t you think?

On arrival at work, and here is the lesson, the accountant merely made a mistake in not paying the agreed salary. Something we never thought about. It never crossed our minds that that is most probably what happened.

The lessons:

• Never assume, always wait for the facts
• Trust your gut about the people you work with, they will look out for you
• Never underestimate the power of thought, it can derail many good things as it can invent many good thingsTrust is not just made-up, it is earned, same as loyalty.