You cannot expect "common sense"

💌 229 words ⌛ 1 minute

Don't expect your teammates to think as you do - there is no such thing as common sense. Be as explicit as possible and don't make assumptions. Even if you tell yourself "That's something everyone knows".

Why it matters: Missing details lead to tension in every organization. Deadlines aren't met. Mistakes happen. Quality suffers. Make sure everybody has the same understanding of what you are trying to achieve.

Dig deeper:

• Encourage them to ask questions and create feedback processes. Depending on your company size that can be simple Google Forms, to tools like Peakon.

• Our upbringing, the people we have around us, to the companies we worked for - shape our worldview. Consider that when you want to get something done in a particular way

  • Consider what's the default in one culture can be disrespectful in another. Make sure everybody understands what behavior is acceptable and what is not.

• Don't use internal abbreviations and expect everybody to know them. When there is something related to your business or niche make sure to have a glossary people can use - and update it often!

• And of course, we need to talk about expectations: It’s the first thing you should clarify when you enter a new relationship - personal or professional. Here’s a template to get you started.

When was the last time you cursed because of common sense? 😎 

— Daniel