How hard is it to follow instructions?

I guess it is all dependent on the introduction to the task, the sender and the receiver of the instruction as it is in any kind of communication. I must say that sometimes it can be frustrating giving an instruction in detail and not getting the results that you so obviously should get.

I guess that when instructions are not followed the fault lies on both sides, more on one side than the other but always both sides. In order to have instructions followed effectively the sender must consider their audience, speak in clear language, try to make the instruction as comprehensible as possible, ask the receiver if he understood the instruction and also try to put it into context.

There are things to be considered by the receiver such as asking questions until you understand the instruction completely, do not try to do it if you think it is “something like that” and to make sure you know what you are doing.

Something that I have learnt and found to be very efficient and effective in one-on-one communication is to ask the receiver to repeat the instruction back to me. It seems to make the instruction stick in the mind of the receiver.

If the above doesn’t work, it could be an attitude problem; the receiver understands but just does not want to do it and this can be for various reasons that are very complex.