the art of explaining

[theyoungaccountant5757]

 
  So I'm new to my profession but the people telling me what to do just raddle off what I need to do and then when I ask them to slow down they give general directions but not specific like use this worksheet and fill it in from this work sheet. The worksheet I needed had 180 pages and I got confused because the page I needed was 151. I wished they would say get the worksheet from here and then get the other paper you will need from here and the page you need is this one and then say what it is I'm doing.  They tell me the worksheets I need so I can go to my desk and find them. It is hard. It is wrong to ask for more specific directions. It took me 20 mins to find all the papers and then figure out  that it was page 151 that I needed to use. I'm starting to think that maybe it is me that I can't follow directions well.

[former player]

Keep asking, and try to do it at a time when the person you are asking is not in a rush - as you become accustomed to the rhythms of the office who and when to ask will become clearer.  Make sure that you know what your immediate supervisor wants from you and that they know you are getting yourself up to speed - I'm sure they will be aware that like all new hires you are on a learning curve.

If you can find the papers you need and get to page 151 of a spreadsheet in 20 minutes when starting out in your profession in an unfamiliar office I can safely predict that you will do just fine.