A Quiet Lesson on Assumptions and Respect
One of the quiet mistakes we make as adults and as leaders is assuming “they already knew”—when in truth, we never took the time to understand what really happened. Assumptions are easy; understanding takes effort. And when assumptions are spoken out loud without context, they can turn into unfair judgments. Today reminded me that knowing part of a story does not mean knowing the whole story. Arriving at a moment and concluding someone was “late” without knowing the work that started hours before, the responsibilities carried, or the waiting that already happened, is not leadership—it’s haste. It overlooks reality and dismisses effort. Respect is not automatic just because someone holds a title. Respect is earned through communication, awareness, and manners. Especially when we stand at the same level. Especially when we are all managers. Leadership does not mean correcting others publicly, interrupting a process without permission, or projecting annoyance instead of curiosity. Lea...