always believe people are intending their best

I was having a conversation tonight with someone when the concept of "I wish I had been told this when I started my career" came up, and this was a major point. The concept that when have a discussion with someone, and especially when we have opposing views or confusion about the tone or intent, that we default to the principle of charity and assume a cogent, rational meaning with the best intention is what is being expressed by the other party.