Assumptions are like icebergs. The biggest problem with them is that they are typically unseen. And what you can’t see, can destroy you.
For example: You’re hoping to land a new client to secure a future round of funding from your VCs. In this situation there are a ton of hidden assumptions:
- That there’s a reasonable chance of you winning the new client.
- That the client is interested in you and willing to commit to the deal, instead of just shopping around
- That getting the client is what will convince VCs to put money into your business
- That the VCs are willing to invest in your company
- That the VCs still have money to invest.
- That the deal will go through quickly and without problems.
I could go on and on but you get the point. All of these assumptions can torpedo your plans quickly if you’re not careful. But how do you surface these assumptions?
By talking about them out loud.
You would think that this is standard practice for anyone making a decision. And yet, you remember what happened to the Titanic? Yea, it went down just 4 days into the journey. And the key assumptions that those engineers missed?
They assumed that the lookout would know the size of the icebergs from the top of the ship. And that he would tell the captain in time to make a course correction.
Really? Really??
Think you’re immune? Sorry to say this, but you’re not as smart as you think. You regularly gloss over the hidden assumptions. And that could be fatal to your business and your team.
Make it a habit to surface those assumptions. You can’t afford not to.
A New Source Code 