Hanlon's Razor
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by incompetence.
What It Is
Hanlon's Razor is a principle that suggests you should not assume bad intentions when mistakes or incompetence are sufficient explanations. Most negative outcomes result from ignorance, error, or neglect rather than deliberate malice. This doesn't mean malice never exists, but it's rarer than we tend to assume.
Why It Matters
This principle reduces unnecessary conflict and stress by preventing you from assuming the worst about others. It leads to more productive problem-solving because addressing incompetence or misunderstanding requires different solutions than addressing malice. It also makes you more empathetic and less paranoid in your interactions.
How to Apply It
- 1
When something goes wrong, first consider non-malicious explanations
- 2
Ask: Could this be explained by mistake, ignorance, or different priorities?
- 3
Assume good faith until you have clear evidence otherwise
- 4
Focus on fixing the problem rather than assigning blame
- 5
Remember that you also make mistakes that others might misinterpret
Example
Your colleague didn't respond to your important email. Instead of assuming they're ignoring you or being disrespectful, consider: maybe it went to spam, they're overwhelmed with emails, they meant to respond but forgot, or they didn't realize it was urgent. Most likely, it's not personal.