Of Manuals, Instructions and Such
I just finished putting on a 4-1/2 day conference for about 125 people. I was the volunteer chair of the committee that made all the arrangements and staffed the event. About a year ago we were handled a hard copy of the manual that was supposed to guide us as we created the event.
The manual was close to useless. It hadn’t been updated in years and major changes to the way the conference selects sights, handles money, etc. have happened since the last edit.
Now we did have access to past conference planners but as registration began it became obvious that the instructions and advice were, to put it politely, less than adequate. As a result me and my volunteers worked way harder than necessary and we made mistakes that could have been avoided had the proper information been passed along.
As I look at the manual I realize once again that, in some ways, our ability to generate documents that look like they have it together, often does a real disservice. The manual looks good. The Table of Contents seems complete and accurately points to the proper page number. The headings and subheadings in each chapter add to the illusion that the document is complete and accurate.
Clear, concise and accurate instructions make such a difference. Whether it’s the manual that comes with software, installing a new dishwasher, or guiding volunteers through a project, those in charge should insist on it.
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POSTED IN: The Kitchen Sink
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