Re: Can someone learn to be detail-oriented?

Subject: Re: Can someone learn to be detail-oriented?
From: "Higgins, Lisa" <LHiggins -at- CARRIERACCESS -dot- COM>
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 09:01:10 -0600

> An inhouse person will be moving into the vacant TW spot later this week.
>I've heard that she is not detail-oriented either. I'm concerned, because
I >don't see how someone can succeed at tech writing in this environment
unless >they are EXTREMELY detail-oriented.

Hmmph.

Well, I'm definitely not detail-oriented. I do have a copyediting
background, and I read compulsively, so little things tend to jump out at me
from pages; but I'm a big-picture guy, and I do just fine.

I don't require close supervision, I don't put out substandard
documentation, and I don't need remedial training. Hmmph. Hmmph. Hmmph.

Anyway, everyone needs to be able to switch hit. For me, I dread those
little things. I'm so much happier with a good copyeditor or assistant, but
I make do. I make stupid little lists of junk to check, and I plod through
them toward the end of a project (so I don't end up having to do it TWICE).

Sure, I guess it's a weakness, but I can design a user aid or educational
tool from a fresh perspective. I can BE the user. I can see the logic of a
system and the logic of a user and address them synchronously.

> So, can it be learned or is it a personality trait that you
> either have or don't
> have?

It's something you can do with a little discipline.

>I've developed a training plan, set up editing and proofreading checklists,
>developed a peer review process, etc. as preventive measures. Now I'm
curious
>whether others faced with similar situations have succeeded in training
>coworkers to overcome this deficiency. What were the methods? What were
the >results? How long did it take before you could allow the person to
work >without close supervision?

This is just SO adversarial sounding. It probably wasn't meant to be, and
I'll try not to take it that way, but...

unless 'not detail-oriented' is some sort of euphemism for 'lazy' or
something, how about working with her strengths rather than against her
weaknesses? We all have weaknesses. If you have people in your group who are
detail-oriented, have them trade edits. She may well have at least as much
to offer her as they do to offer her. Diversity is good. Everyone could use
a new perspective.

And I don't know where you heard about this woman, but it's absolutely
unfair to judge her based on hearsay. Give her a chance, and don't let
anything else color your judgement.

Lisa.

From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=


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