Work In Colour - Work. Think. Live. In Colour
Wednesday 3rd June 2009 | 2 comments
Assumptions are useful, often vital even. They provide a framework for our daily routines, reflect shared values and generally simplify life (imagine trying to get out of bed in the morning without assumptions about gravity, stable floors, hot coffee and warm slippers - or, in my case, Ugh boots).
The trick with our habit of making assumptions is this: sometimes they stop us questioning the status quo, or seeing new possibilities. We assume our assumptions are actually unchangeable facts, or that the things about our lives that were true 10 years ago are still true...
We take it for granted that the earth is round (and as far as I can tell, that's fair enough). But through the Middle Ages and as late as the Renaissance, many many people believed the earth was flat. This had a huge impact on seafarers and those in sciences from physics to astronomy - and beyond.
It is useful to question our assumptions from time to time, especially when faced with big decisions or unknown futures. Maybe that job or that project has more flexibility than you thought, or maybe if you asked, this time someone would actually agree to help you with your problem, or maybe with a dash of creative thinking you could find a way to achieve your goal within your budget.
One of my fave stories about assumptions follows (and yes, I have also seen it as an England /Ireland or Australia/New Zealand story, but the point is the same):
Some years ago, radar operators aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier steaming off the coast of Newfoundland signaled the bridge that their ship seemed to be getting dangerously close to an approaching Canadian vessel. The captain promptly got on the radio, and the following exchange ensued.
U.S. Captain: Please divert your course five degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
Canadian Radio Operator: Recommend you divert your course fifteen degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
U.S. Captain: This is the captain of a U.S. Navy ship. I say again, divert your course.
Canadian Radio Operator: No. I say again, you divert your course!
U.S. Captain: This is the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea. We are a large warship of the U.S. Navy. Divert your course now!!!
Canadian Radio Operator: This is a lighthouse. Your call.
So, what are you assuming right now? Are there any other possibilities?
Tags: creative, thinking, tips, assumptions
Hello..
Nice to meet u.
I'd like your post.
But, i still not understand how to test my assumptions.
Does it true ? Or false ?
Thanks. I'm sorry for my bad english.
Thanks for your post!
Sometimes, it's enough to ask yourself the question: 'Is there any evidence that this 'fact' has ever been untrue? Any time that it didn't happen this way?'
Sometimes you may need to conduct experiments - one that I often use (within the limits of physical safety of course) is to behave as if your assumption is not true for say 30 minutes, or half a day and see what happens. For example, you might have an assumption that 'I am not creative', but if you behave as if you were creative for a day (by taking a risk, trying a creative impulse, following a whim or acting on a random idea) you might find your assumption harder to buy into next time...
The other tool that is excellent for assumption - busting is SCAMPER which you'll find with my September posts in the index.
Hope this helps, good luck!
Joanna