What Assumptions Are Blocking Your Success? An Energy Leadership View

By Larry Boyer, Career Coach & Personal Branding Strategist

Assumptions are one of the most significant sources of self-defeating blocks to success. Assumptions are essentially ghosts from our past that continue to haunt us later in life without reason.

Assumption: A belief based on past experience that since something "bad" happened before in the same or similar circumstances it will happen again and as a result you hold yourself back from taking action.

Assumptions are essentially ghosts from our past, or perhaps someone else's past experience, that hold us back and prevent us from taking action. An example I often work with is "Because my classmates laughed at me giving a speech in junior high school, people will laugh at me or think I'm stupid when I give my presentation."

The reason assumptions often hold us back is because we have not truly examined our fears and beliefs. In fact, it is often difficult to recognize we have an assumption until we are challenged by someone else, like a coach, to question where these beliefs come from. What can be tricky about an assumption is that it is based on experience. What holds us back is that the experience is either not repeatable or circumstances have changed to make it unrepeatable.

Take for instance the example of public speaking above. It is often the case that our assumptions have been ingrained in us from childhood experiences. And while it very well may have been true that had you given another presentation in junior high school that people would have made fun of you, how likely is that going to be in a professional environment? And, in the unlikely event that happens in a professional environment now that you are an adult, you can respond differently as well as question whether you want to remain in that environment or not.

What makes an assumption an assumption is that you hold yourself back from trying or going in a particular direction because of it. It is entirely possible that your belief is true. However, with an assumption you don't honestly know if your belief is true or not because you fail to take action. Most events and circumstances in life and the business world do not follow a Newtonian causality. In fact, when challenged wide spread beliefs can even change.

When you identify the assumptions that are getting in the way of your success you are well on the way to releasing catabolic energy and increasing your Energy Leadership Index. With greater self awareness of your blocks, you can work to eliminate them, freeing your energy to work at helping you be more successful.

Other examples of assumptions that hold people back:

• You need to have a degree in finance to hold that position
• They don't hire women
• We're not going to hire some with degree in philosophy
• Resumes need to be chronological
• I don't have all of the requirements listed in the job opening

So, what assumptions are holding you back?