What if we're wrong? Assumptions kill learning
Learning doesn’t stall because we lack information, it stalls because we don’t question what we think we already know.
Most organizations don’t set out to ignore learning. But many do it accidentally, not by avoiding new information, but by clinging too tightly to what they already believe.
Because behind every decision, every process, every habit… there’s a set of assumptions. Some explicit. Most invisible.
We assume we know what customers want. We assume what will work based on what worked before. We assume how long things should take, who should be involved, and what “good” looks like.
These assumptions help us move fast. But they also stop us from seeing clearly.
How assumptions block learning
Assumptions are shortcuts. Helpful at times. But when we don’t notice them, they quietly block curiosity and limit reflection.
Here’s how:
We stop questioning. Assumptions replace inquiry. If we think we already know the answer, we stop asking.
We filter new data. Even when we see something new, we interpret it through our old lens, bending it to fit.
We get stuck in loops. Same actions. Same outcomes. Same confusion. But we don’t ask: What are we assuming that might be wrong?
And just like that, learning stalls. Not because people aren't smart or willing, but because the beliefs beneath the surface are never challenged.
Learning starts when we examine the frame, not just the picture
You can’t build a learning organization on top of fixed thinking. That’s why the best companies don’t just ask “what happened?”, they ask:
What were we assuming?
Where did that belief come from?
Is it still serving us?
What might someone outside our team see differently?
What would we do if we assumed the opposite?
These aren’t fluffy questions. They’re the foundation of learning.
Because the moment we can say, “maybe we’re wrong,” we open the door to new insight.
Learning doesn’t require throwing everything out. Just the courage to revisit what we’ve taken for granted.
Start with one assumption. Name it. Question it. See where it takes you.
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