How to work with someone that regularly arrives as the wrong answer? (lemmy.world)

submitted 5 months ago by Brkdncr@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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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?

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[-] mutilated_sphincter@lemmy.world 21 points 5 months ago

Might be a high functioning autist? If he got sent the notification email, he could interpret "go and send this" as what he is supposed to send, and thus the logic of shipping the product afterwards kicks in and he also sends that. Just my two cents as a fellow high functioning autist...

[-] Flummoxed@lemmy.world 6 points 5 months ago

But then why did he also send the product?

[-] mutilated_sphincter@lemmy.world 15 points 5 months ago

Because the product was supposed to wait until the email was sent. Email sent -> no problem, send the product next.

[-] Flummoxed@lemmy.world 24 points 5 months ago

Ah, so he was just following his set of the instructions. This situation is exactly why I teach students to always put some kind of noun after a "this," so that it is clear what "this" refers to.

[-] andrewta@lemmy.world 8 points 5 months ago

Thank you for pushing your students to do that.

[-] Flummoxed@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

It is awesome when they get there. My favorite thing is to see light bulbs go off in their heads. I thank you for the feedback: wish I could use these comments to prove to students why to listen to me.

[-] PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works 4 points 5 months ago

This is simple, practical advice that I can use when instructing coworkers. Thank you!

[-] Flummoxed@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

Thank you for validating my method! I am so grateful for my own English teachers that I've over a decade spreading their knowledge.

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this post was submitted on 15 May 2024

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