Assumptions and Beliefs

It’s been pretty clear to me for some time (years) now that people don’t see the connection between assumptions and beliefs, and the frustrations they encounter ever day. And between assumptions and beliefs, and organisational productivity and success. 

We have many words for much the same thing:

• Assumptions and beliefs
• Mental models (Peter Senge, John Seddon)
• Mindsets (Psychology, psychiatry and psychotherapy)
• Memeplexes (Richard Dawkins)
• Paradigms (Donella Meadows)

No matter what we call it, what we believe colours how we see the world, and constrains our actions. More so that anything else, in fact. 

Shared Assumptions and Beliefs

Similarly, it’s clear to me that the notion of shared assumptions and beliefs also passes people by. Despite its crucial role in all aspects of organisational, group and community behaviour and achievement. Again, we have many words for much the same thing:

• Collective assumptions and beliefs
• Shared mental models (Peter Senge, John Seddon)
• Collective mindsets (Psychology, psychiatry and psychotherapy)
• Shared memeplexes (Richard Dawkins)
• Paradigms (Donella Meadows)

Blindness

Does this blindness bother me? Not so much. Like any good therapist, what my clients believe is their own business (sic). And like any good therapist, it’s not my place to dwell on the mechanism of their pain. Just to help them through they pain and out the other side.

Does this blindness bother my clients? Only insofar as they find themselves continually frustrated in what they’re trying to achieve (whatever that may be).

Does this blindness bother you? It’s all very well fobbing off the responsibility onto others, but how blind are you? Does progress lie in your hands (or mind)? What frustrations do you have that are a product of your assumptions and beliefs?

– Bob