Following DUH-rections.

For Christmas, my wife gave me a new navigation system for my car.  Since the Ford Escape I chose was rather basic, it was missing many of the creature comforts I had enjoyed in my last vehicle, one of which was a compass.  Mind you, I'm not directionally impaired, but I do enjoy being able to see where I'm headed.

Now I'm stuck with the perky lady's voice giving me directions like "Turn Left Here" and "1.5 miles until right turn."  The fun part of having a bossy navigation system is that I'm still in the driver's seat.  And I'm a contrarian, so I ignore the directions a lot of the time and make the device recalculate the route based on my decisions rather than on its instructions.

While everyone from a school teacher to a hiring manager will tell you how important it is to follow directions, I'm here to challenge conventional wisdom on that front.  Here are a few times when I would say it is OK to ignore the directions and follow your own route:

1. If the directions don't make sense - a lot of people have blindly followed others because they were just programmed to do so.  But the orders they were following made no sense whatsoever and were not what the direction giver intended.  Put your "follower" side in neutral and engage your logical side.  If the request doesn't make sense, then ask questions.
2. If the direction-giver has no credibility - my first rule of following:  make sure the leader isn't an idiot.  If they have given consistently bad directions in the past, then there is a good chance that their managerial abilities have not improved.  Think about what is being asked of you, and who is asking it.
3. If the directions are not realistic given the environment - directions we've been given in the past some times do not make sense given new information.  One of the SWAT team instructors I know made a very astute observation last month when he told his team, "There's textbook, and then there's tactical."  He knew that there are times to throw out what you've been told and follow your gut if the rules of engagement have changed dramatically.

These are just a few of my guidelines for following (or ignoring) directions.  What are some of yours?

Comments

[Ms Admin]

Point 1 -- Certainly can't accuse me of that error in judgement; but I've witnessed it entirely too often. Being mature in years I shake my head and wonder about the nitwits.
Point 2 -- Did you see Dilbert today?
Point 3 -- Using common sense, which is the most uncommon substance known to modern man, and our gut instinct will save us from ourselves, if we allow it.
Knowing WHEN to follow and WHEN to lead is absolute key. I believe too many have become complacent allowing those with poor leadership skills to "succeed." Usually the poor leaders are rewarded w/a golden parachute (perhaps I'm jealous!)
Now may we discuss thinking inside/outside the proverbial box?

[Craig Brown]

That sounds like a call to challenge corporate project challenges.

Authority weighs in here as well as confidence nad judgement.

How do you manage stupid directions when you are the grunt who is told how to do your job?

[Craig Brown]

ah, my fast typos are getting more common.

"...challenge corporate project processes..."

[Timothy Johnson]

Ms. Admin - loved the Dilbert cartoon. Really hit it home

Craig - you're right about not just fighting blindly against corporate directives. The best technique I've used has been just asking questions. Well worded questions can bring some very bad decisions to light. There are times I lose the battle, and stupidity reigns, but it's not for lack of trying.

[Janet Green]

>>>What are some of yours?<<<

1. I do not follow driving instructions given to me by someone sitting in the passenger seat. If they knew the route better than me, they would be driving.

2. I do not "read the directions" upon acquiring a new device. I remove the device from its packing and start playing with the knobs and buttons.

3. The only automated navigational system I ever used in my car seemed to panic when I did not follow its instructions, even though those instructions would have led me directly into a construction zone. So, I don't use automated navigational systems.

4. I *hate* to be told what to do! LOL I have a hard time following directions. Please just give me a task and let me do it my way.

Hey, you *asked*. :)
~ Janet

[Ms Admin]

Janet,
Thank you ---- wish I'd said it all --- just your way!!

[Timothy Johnson]

Wow, Janet... well said! NOTE TO SELF: Ask Janet open-ended questions more often.