I work with a person that went presented with a problem, works through it and arrives at the wrong solution. When I have them show me the steps they took, it seems like they interpret things incorrectly. This isn’t a language barrier, and it’s not like they aren’t reading what someone wrote.

For example, they are working on a product, and needed to wait until the intended recipients of the product were notified by an email that they were going to get it. the person that sent the email to the recipients then forwarded that notification email to this person and said “go ahead and send this to them.”

Most people would understand that they are being asked to send the product out. It’s a regular process for them.

So he resent the email. He also sent the product, but I’m having a hard time understanding why he thought he was supposed to re-send the email.

I’ve tried breaking tasks down into smaller steps, writing out the tasks, post-mortem discussion when something doesn’t go as planned. What other training or management tasks can I take? Or have I arrived at the “herding kittens” meme?

  • BaroqueInMind@lemmy.one
    472·
    6 months ago

    @OP, simply reading your post reveals to me you suck at communicating. What was the part about emails? That shit makes no sense how you wrote that.

    • dingus@lemmy.worldEnglish
      211·
      6 months ago

      Ok I’m glad I’m not the only one who is confused. Idk if I’m just stupid, but I read the OP three times and cannot for the life of me understand what was supposed to happen with the emails and products. Can someone explain it to me?

      Edit: Ok, I get it now after taking a few minutes, but the instructions are still vague. “This” is not a specific indication. Sounds like the employee sent both the product and the email just to be safe because the instruction was ambiguous. It sounds like the employee was uncertain what was meant, but for whatever reason didn’t ask for clarification.

      So why didn’t they ask? Does this employee get pushback for asking for clarification? Were they being lazy? Are they an anxious person? There are many possibilities here.

      • BaroqueInMind@lemmy.one
        92·
        6 months ago

        Summary is that OP sucks at communicating and blames other people for their incompetence. Now they are in this forum seeking affirmation that they are not incompetent.

    • Brkdncr@lemmy.worldOP
      92·
      6 months ago

      Agreed. I didn’t proof what I wrote very well.

      This example didn’t involve me though, so my poorly written post and writing style shouldn’t have impacted this situation.

      • Grimy@lemmy.world
        39·
        6 months ago

        They are being difficult, it’s quite clear what happened.

        Anyways, no matter how vague you are, it isn’t normal to think the email is the thing that needs sending when the email chain itself is about sending out a product.

        Sounds like he has some form of dyslexia. Best thing to do is be as clear as you can with him and expect him to take things very literally. Its a tough line to walk though since it’s easy to come off as patronizing and have him feel insulted.

              • Grimy@lemmy.world
                21·
                6 months ago

                What part needs translating? What is it that you find hard to understand?

                • thermal_shock@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  22·
                  6 months ago

                  every single bit. if you’re not going to translate it to someone a normal person can understand, then fuck off and stop replying to me

                  • Grimy@lemmy.world
                    21·
                    6 months ago

                    I’m only replying because you were asking me to translate it and talking about variables. You aren’t making much sense yourself and I was asking you to specify specifically because I’m not going to rewrite his whole post lol.