Er.

[burntcopper]

temp boy (who is... let's just say annoying and frustrating and thin skinned and so geek he's actually nerd) has pointed out something today. I asked him on monday if he could do the chase letters. which involve, like request author checks, searching in the inbox for author's name, seeing if there's any notes like 'ask them for a better resolution figure' or 'they'll be out of office, please email this person instead', and then hitting the button that brings up the form email with our instructions of what to do and the link to their article in its current state. Which you can adjust for the instructions, like with request author checks. I just said 'if you've got a minute, can you do the chase letters? (he'd done request author checks previously). Expecting him to look at the page with author checks that have three buttons next to each manuscript, same basic set up - author check, no corrections, chase letter 1 (with chase letter 2 appearing if you've hit chase 1 and author has still not replied), with an instruction of what date you can go up to. and then went back to work. he only told me today that it had taken him half an hour to figure out what he was supposed to be doing. And he still wanted some instructions, because I hadn't actually told him anything further. I said '...but they're exactly the same as request author checks! I told you!' 'Three buttons! Confusing!' (request author check is a separate screen with one button but same basic layout) me: 'but it took me about two seconds to figure it out and that's all I was told!' 'Your brain doesn't work the same as everyone else's!' Me: '...point?'

has me thinking. I was left to figure out a lot of stuff by myself after I was given the basics and then asked a lot of questions on case-by-case basis. Gradually Gemma was put on her own work and I ran post accept. And wrote up instructions for anyone who needed to do stuff when I wasn't there, which most people are able to follow. (aside from me poking people occasionally and asking them if they've read the instructions) My attitude (and experiences - see anyone who's ever worked small-shop retail) has always been sink or swim, of being chucked in and expected to survive with minimum support once I've been taught the basics - which obviously makes for a defensive, prickly steamroller attitude. With little patience for people who don't seem to understand the lessons first off, or can't pick things up as quickly as I did. I have no problems providing tech support (often with added 'and did we read the manual?' poking) and case-by-case niggles, since I've always stated constantly that it takes a very quick period to teach people all the basics of my job, it's the experience that takes up the majority of the learning period. Not for nothing do I adopt the teaching method of 'right, these are the basics, we'll do a couple, now I'm going to sit here and silently judge you and then point out what you missed'. (That's nearly a verbatim quote.)

I'm just wondering if it's my ridiculously high expectations or I'm clearly not cut out to teach people of a different mindset. Because I know my brain takes shortcuts a lot of the time and makes connections very quickly between what might seem unrelated subjects. And I expect people to be able to keep up - most of my workmates do. Occasionally they scream 'help!', which is expected. Is it just me imposing my brain processes on others?

Comments

[derryderrydown.livejournal.com]

I'm exactly the same. I had to teach a new boy how to configure a DSLAM and it took a week until he was able to do it on his own. (Bearing in mind that we have a step-by-step document designed for complete idiots, complete with the precise commands requred. It's essentially an exercise in cut-and-paste.) When he was doing his first one on his own, it took him an entire day. I can generally two in an hour.

And I get so frustrated and, depending on my level of tiredness, become either snappy and rude or painfully patronising.

[grondfic.livejournal.com]

I think if the guy's a temp, you should cut him some slack. Especially if he's willing to try, and isn't taking the piss.

[burntcopper.livejournal.com]

it's more wondering about whether brain type is incompatible (ie, things I take for granted being able to process immediately and most other people (temps and full-timers) I've taught being able to get it straight away and he's one of the few who doesn't). Personality is just annoying, he is a hard worker.