TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Re: Coaching less experienced folks on asking good questions
Subject:Re: Coaching less experienced folks on asking good questions From:Phil <philstokes03 -at- googlemail -dot- com> To:TECHWR-L list <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:24:42 +0700
You prove my point Richard. You assume the questioner is at fault for asking the question ('lazy', 'disrespectful', 'not worth being given an answer'). This is precisely the attitude that companies used to have about consumers who couldn't understand their documentation ('user's fault'). They had to learn otherwise.
Your assumption that they know how to learn is not consistent with the given condition that they are new and inexperienced. If we treat new colleagues with a bit of support, they'll both learn and learn how to learn for themselves. In most cases, they'll appreciate that help and give it back when they are experts in their community of practice to other newcomers enter the field. And so develops a supporting and creative team environment.
Best
Phil
On 24 Feb 2011, at 05:16, Combs, Richard wrote:
>
> Phil thinks "any question is a good question" and suggests providing a "supportive team environment." A question that the asker could have researched and at least learned enough about to ask more intelligently is not a good question. It's a _lazy_ question, and it exhibits a lack of respect for the people being asked.
>
> Richard G. Combs
> Senior Technical Writer
> Polycom, Inc.
> richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom
> 303-223-5111
> ------
> rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom
> 303-903-6372
> ------
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help.
> Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need. Try
> Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days.
>http://www.doctohelp.com
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as philstokes03 -at- googlemail -dot- com -dot-
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/philstokes03%40googlemail.com
>
>
> To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
>http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.
>
> Please move off-topic discussions to the Chat list, at:
>http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/listinfo/techwr-l-chat
>
Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help.
Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need. Try
Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days. http://www.doctohelp.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
