The third agreement from Don Miguel Ruiz - 'The Four Agreements' is "Don't Make Assumptions".  Now, in a previous incarnation as a trainer, this principle was always drilled into me rather simply......'when you assume, you make an ASS out of U and ME'.  How many times a day do you make assumptions?  You think that you know the way something is, only to find out that you don't.  You might assume that somebody in your office has understood your intentions when they really haven't.  You then only find out when the results that are delivered fall short of your expectations.

In extreme cases you might even convince yourself that the assumption you made is actually the truth.  You could then end up with a misunderstanding and whats more, you then take it personally.  The next pitfall might then be using your words in a derogatory or hurtful manner.  You might end up expending a whole lot of energy that you never needed to.  How pointless is that?

Neighbours and communities like to gossip.  People in the office like to gossip about assumptions.  Be wary of this as they can cause untold suffering, not only to the person or persons that you are gossipping about, but to yourself also as you may end up being careless with your words. 

Learn to ask questions to clarify situations.  If you are not sure it is better to have the courage to ask something rather than to assume and then get it wrong.  Remember that when you have answers to your questions, you will no longer have to assume, you will know the truth.