Assumptions
These days, life is moving so fast that people began to work on assumptions. Bus drivers assuming that they have the right to turn out of the bus lane on a very busy road the moment they signal. Taxi drivers assuming that they have the right to simply step on the brakes once a potential customer wave his hand. Passengers assuming that there will be no hiccups with the MRT.
Today, a business associate that I have not even met face to face before, assume that I understand what normal practices he has with his clients. Now, how on earth will I know that? When I asked about how would he like me to return the sign documents, he replied with "...arrange for courier of the documents and payment to my office." I, guilty of assumption, understand the statement as arranging for courier on my own and bill the payment to [his] office. I wonder if this has to do with English and Singlish. If the statement has been any different like " ...and the cheques to my office (as there are more than one)" or "...and the payments to my office" or "...together with the payments to my office", it would have been very different.
Anyway, it doesn't help telling me that "my normal practice with my client is...". Come on, what normal practice? We have not met. This is the first time we deal with couriering documents to one another. It is just not professional to assume your client has a mutual understanding of what is normal practice. Assumption comes with a price and if you wish not to pay a high price for it, it's important to establish your relationship, especially trust, with your client first. If not, the price may just be "no future dealings".
Today, a business associate that I have not even met face to face before, assume that I understand what normal practices he has with his clients. Now, how on earth will I know that? When I asked about how would he like me to return the sign documents, he replied with "...arrange for courier of the documents and payment to my office." I, guilty of assumption, understand the statement as arranging for courier on my own and bill the payment to [his] office. I wonder if this has to do with English and Singlish. If the statement has been any different like " ...and the cheques to my office (as there are more than one)" or "...and the payments to my office" or "...together with the payments to my office", it would have been very different.
Anyway, it doesn't help telling me that "my normal practice with my client is...". Come on, what normal practice? We have not met. This is the first time we deal with couriering documents to one another. It is just not professional to assume your client has a mutual understanding of what is normal practice. Assumption comes with a price and if you wish not to pay a high price for it, it's important to establish your relationship, especially trust, with your client first. If not, the price may just be "no future dealings".