I'll Admit I have a Low Tolerance Level, But ARGGHH!

**amykhar** · #1 07-26-2005, 12:05 PM

I am training somebody at work again. I don't get paid extra to train, but I generally don't mind doing it. But, once again, I am training somebody without basic computer skills and it's driving me batty.

The software we use at the paper is very basic. It works with Word and just allows us to move stories from one person in the chain of publication to the next. There's nothing more to it than start a new document, give it a name, write the story, save the docoment and drag it and drop it to the next person in line.

Generally, I have to show new people once or twice. Then, they are off and running.

Sometimes, like now though, I have a trainee that just doesn't get it. Every night she asks me the same questions. Every night she doesn't write down the simple steps or even just remember it. It ain't rocket science and it's not like I'm a med school prof saying "watch one. do one. teach one."

I'm getting frustrated because holding her hand is costing me time and it's driving me batty. But, I don't feel comfortable telling her that it's sink or swim time. It's File -> New for heaven's sake. Write it down if you can't remember!

OK. I feel a bit better now after venting. Yes. I'm a computer snob and I admit it freely.

Amy

Redlass · #2 07-26-2005, 01:18 PM

I'm sorry.

Could you perhaps write down the steps and hand her the sheeet of paper? I agree that it should be her responsibility to do it, but would it be quicker for you to do that than to answer her questions every night?

Or maybe she's just feeling insecure that she was successful and needs a follow-up with praise to let her know that she's succeeded in getting the file where it is supposed to be and not lost in the ether?

**amykhar** · #3 07-26-2005, 01:24 PM

I've tried writing out the basic steps for these types of people and giving it to them. They lose the instructions before the next time they come back to the paper.

I realize I have patience issues. I don't mind telling somebody twice. But, after that, my opinion of their i.q. drops about 30 points. I'm a very auditory learner. When I hear something once, it generally sticks. That's probably why people who don't learn like that tend to irritate me.

Amy

**theworm**[$] · #4 07-26-2005, 01:27 PM

I think you need to tell her that SHE should write it down herself as you explain it, and tell her that you are glad to train her and are always available for questions, but that she needs to work on her retention skills.

phoenixx · #5 07-26-2005, 01:41 PM

Gee, Amy, I didn't know you worked in a kindergarten. I always thought you worked at a paper.....

**lynnzop**[$] · #6 07-26-2005, 01:43 PM

Some people are just stupid and should find other jobs.

**amykhar** · #7 07-26-2005, 01:47 PM

Quote:

lynnzop said

Some people are just stupid and should find other jobs.

I find it difficult to say that because she's a grandmother who doesn't use computers for anything more than to read her AOL email.

Just more evidence against AOL in my book, but...

**lynnzop**[$] · #8 07-26-2005, 02:00 PM

Quote:

amykhar said

I find it difficult to say that because she's a grandmother who doesn't use computers for anything

Then she shouldn't be working in a technical environment. I have very little tolerance for people who don't take notes and try to LEARN when they are given something new. They do not last long in my world.

**amykhar** · #9 07-26-2005, 02:03 PM

Quote:

lynnzop said

Then she shouldn't be working in a technical environment. I have very little tolerance for people who don't take notes and try to LEARN when they are given something new. They do not last long in my world.

I feel so much better now

**theworm**[$] · #10 07-26-2005, 02:03 PM

She took a job where she must use a computer. Lots of Grandmas learn how to use computers.
I'm in a Yahoo Group of Charity Crafters - most of them are Grandmas and they can do attachments in their sleep!

**lynnzop**[$] · #11 07-26-2005, 02:05 PM

Quote:

amykhar said

I feel so much better now

I'm glad I could validate your low tolerance level!!!!

Lynn
"Zero-Tolerance"

**thinkerlady**[$] · #12 07-26-2005, 02:51 PM

Quote:

amykhar said

I'm a computer snob and I admit it freely.

Amy

Gee--you have always been so patient with me. I didn't know this side of you!! (giggle giggle!!)

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #13 07-26-2005, 04:04 PM

Definitely have the student do the writing. It engages both auditory and kinetic senses (listening/writing) so even if she loses the piece of paper, it's more likely she'll have remembered part of it, at least - more than if you wrote it and gave it to her.

Maybe she has computer anxiety and just needs to learn a) she won't break anything and the worst that could happen isn't bad at all and b) she won't lose anything (if there's a way to recover a story if she screws up).

eris esoteric · #14 07-27-2005, 12:24 AM

OK, I'm feeling much better about my trainee right now. My coworker is out on medical leave, so I've been trainging an intern from the accounting office to cover for her. She's done very well on learning the audit. The only problem is, except for working the audit with me and the coworker, she's NEVER worked at the front desk. I tried to encourage the front desk manager to train her on front desk before I trained her on audit. His response was that she didn't need training on front desk in order to do the audit.

Because, as we all know, I NEVER ever check guests in or out, or take reservations, or move people from one room to another....

mtbat · #15 07-27-2005, 01:33 AM

AMy does your new workers name start with P? We had an older woman who couldn't understand how to minimize a window. I finally got to the point where I told my boss at the time I just couldn't train her anymore.

**amykhar** · #16 07-27-2005, 10:48 AM

I found out last night that this one isn't just not learning the computer stuff. She's even ignoring the basics that the editor is teaching her. For our smaller stories, which are grouped together under one headline, we have a very basic format that we have to follow. The X did X on X. How difficult is that to remember? Four training runs later, she's still not doing it.

I had her write down the steps to starting a new file last night. We'll see if it sticks.

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #17 07-27-2005, 10:53 AM

Ugh. Well, at least it's not you.

**theworm**[$] · #18 07-27-2005, 10:54 AM

I suspect that she may not be there much longer.

**thinkerlady**[$] · #19 07-27-2005, 03:36 PM

I don't know--I worked with a teacher once who just couldn't get it. Wrote down the steps, basically how to turn the computer on and off, and still couldn't get it. Email was a disaster,and finally gave up on it. Just couldn't get it. Printing was not possible. Even with the "cheat sheets" it didn't work.

I remember being pretty burned up because we had just gotten a new grading program and I spent a whole weekend trying to figure it out, and at best was shaky on it by Monday morning. This teacher came into my room and just started firing questions at me--I said you have to play with it and figure it out, and the teacher just blew me off.

**pippadaisy**[$] · #20 07-27-2005, 10:59 PM

Grrrr. My mom is a grandma, hates computers, and manages to figure it out when they throw new software at her. (Although she did have a cow when she had to switch from DOS-based to Windows-based years back and they gave her a mouse).

I'm with everyone else... sounds like she's too much "why bother... I've gotten this far in life" and won't be there long. Although how they missed that type of attitude in an interview is beyond me.

**amykhar** · #21 07-27-2005, 11:09 PM

Well, it looks like she won't be back. At least the editor said she was going to blow her off until she gets the hint.