WHAT THIS IS

This simple exercise helps you and your team identify, test, and track assumptions that shape your decisions, plans, and beliefs.

It’s drawn from Be More Strategic (Chapter 5: Challenge Assumptions) where we explore how hidden, untested assumptions often block better thinking and decision-making.

“Assumptions are the invisible threads woven through every decision we make. Strategy starts by making them visible.”

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WHY IT MATTERS

Every decision, plan, or idea rests on a set of assumptions and beliefs we treat as facts. Some are accurate; others are outdated, biased, or simply wrong. Strategic thinkers learn to see these assumptions, test them, and update them as reality changes.

Challenging assumptions helps you:

• Make more objective, evidence-based decisions

• Avoid blind spots and groupthink

• Adapt faster when conditions shift

In short: if your assumptions are wrong, your strategy will be too.

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HOW TO USE THIS TOOL

Use this exercise in team meetings, project planning, or personal reflection sessions.

It works best when written down, ideally in a shared document, notebook or whiteboard so you can (collectively) revisit and update over time.