When Instructions Aren't Working, Change the Instructions

An employee has been shown how to complete a task several times, but something still isn't clicking.

It's easy to assume they aren't paying attention or aren't capable of doing the work.

But there's another question worth asking:

What if the problem isn't the employee? What if it's the way the information is being delivered?

People don't all learn the same way.

One employee may understand a task immediately after hearing verbal instructions. Someone else might need to watch it being done first. Another person may do better with a written checklist, pictures, repetition, or a larger task broken into smaller steps.

None of those approaches is inherently better than another.

They're simply different ways of learning.

For employers, recognizing this can make training much more effective. Instead of repeating the exact same instructions louder or more often, try changing the format.

Show the task instead of explaining it. Write down the steps. Create a simple checklist. Demonstrate one portion at a time. Ask the employee to show you the process afterward so you can see where the disconnect is happening.

Sometimes a very small adjustment is all it takes.

This approach isn't only useful when working with employees with disabilities. Clearer instructions benefit new employees, visual learners, people learning English, employees taking on unfamiliar responsibilities, and really anyone trying to absorb a lot of new information at once.

Good training isn't about finding one perfect way to teach everyone.

It's about paying attention to whether the person in front of you is actually receiving the information you're trying to give them.

If they aren't, don't immediately assume they can't learn it.

Try teaching it differently.