How To Be Moderately Successful. EP40 A 'call out the assumptions' culture.
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Sep 25, 2025 Dive into the art of challenging assumptions in business! Discover how questioning norms can boost decision-making and cultivate a resilient culture. Hear about a costly mistake revealing hidden assumptions, and learn the power of implementing assumption checklists in proposals. Mike highlights the need for teams to review their assumptions and encourages leaders to model this critical habit, enhancing psychological safety. Embrace the discomfort that comes with questioning, and transform your processes for a more effective organization!
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Proposal With Assumptions Page
- Mike Adam Scott saw a proposal that ended with a full page listing the assumptions the consultant made.
- He found that practice brilliant and memorable because it called assumptions out front and centre.
Costly Mistake Revealed Wrong Assumptions
- A founder's mistake cost their small business about $100,000 and revealed many wrong assumptions.
- Unpacking those assumptions produced concrete lessons to prevent repeat errors.
Add An Assumptions Section To Proposals
- Build into proposal and quoting processes an explicit section that lists all assumptions behind the offer.
- Share and discuss those assumptions with the client early so you discover mismatches sooner.