Thursday's Thoughts
Thursday’s Thoughts: TRUST What You Know—Question What You Assume
“Nothing is so firmly believed as what we least know.”
-Michel de Montaigne
Good Morning,
What are you assuming—and what do you actually know?
Pause here for a moment and free yourself from distractions.
-Take a deep breath in… exhale slowly…
-Deep breath in… exhale slowly…
-One more time… breathe in…
-exhale slowly…
Calm your mind. Be present.
We make assumptions every day—about ourselves, other people, our teams, our relationships, and even our future.
Sometimes those assumptions help us move forward. Other times, they quietly become stories we accept as facts without ever examining the evidence.
As we move deeper into September’s theme of TRUST and toward the fourth quarter, perhaps the challenge isn’t simply to think more positively.
Perhaps it is to become more curious.
From a coaching perspective, awareness invites us to notice the story we’re telling ourselves before automatically reacting to it.
Consider:
What assumption are you currently treating as fact?
What might become possible if you replaced that assumption with curiosity?
Where could greater trust—in yourself, another person, or your team—change the conversation?
For leaders, take it one step further:
Ask your team:
What are we assuming that we haven’t actually asked, tested, or discussed?
Then listen—not to defend, correct, or solve—but to understand.
Trust grows when people experience curiosity instead of judgment, clarity instead of speculation, and consistency between what leaders say and what they do.
As we approach the final quarter of the year, don’t allow an untested assumption to determine what is possible.
Affirmation:
I trust myself enough to question my assumptions, remain curious, and choose my next step intentionally.
What are you willing to question?
What are you willing to trust?
Don’t miss your opportunity. Be intentional... Stay curious... Take action...
You don’t have to know how the story ends to TRUST yourself enough to write the next chapter.
You got this!
Coach Tavia PCC, MEd, MAT
References
International Coaching Federation — 2025 ICF Core Competencies ICF Core Competencies
Harvard Business Review — When Setting the Standard for Your Team, Avoid This Common Mistake Harvard Business Review
Harvard Business Review — What People Get Wrong About Psychological Safety Harvard Business Review: Psychological Safety
Gallup — Leadership & Management: Trust in Leadership Gallup Leadership & Management Research
#ThursdayThoughts #Trust #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #SelfAwareness #PsychologicalSafety #GrowthMindset #IntentionalLeadership #ICFCoaching #CoachTavia
Tavia Robinson
EMPOWER COACHING & CONSULTING, LLC
732.743.5012
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