Question or instruction?

Exercise: how does a sentence land with someone who listens literally?

A question from a line manager quickly sounds like an instruction. Even more so for someone who listens literally, or who really wants to get it right. In ten minutes you will feel the difference.

When to use it

A conversation about work causes tension
My question is taken as an instruction, or the other way round

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Part of the NeurodiverseHelp toolkit, with 44 tools for line managers and HR. Try it free for 14 days with up to three colleagues. No payment details needed.

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Intention-Strength

The curious seeker of meaning, motivation and congruence

Why do you do what you do, and does it match what you find important? Behind behaviour that looks odd from the outside there is almost always an understandable need. At work it also means: say what you mean. A question from a line manager quickly sounds like an instruction.

More about Intention-Strength

Also for tasks and daily work

Task cardWhat is in, what is out, the time budget and when it is good enough.
Sentence checkPaste a message and see which words land as unclear or unsettling.
What first?An order of work when everything seems to need doing at once.
Task splitterA big task broken into steps, with check-ins along the way.
Handover during absenceWho takes over what, and what is put on hold.