Job Instructions and Communication Skills

1. EA-Sandra and Mr.Deshpande
Job Instructions & Communication Skills
“My boss is never going to change, I guess I either learn to live with it or start trying for a
transfer or give up my job”. Executive Assistant Sandra said to her colleague. “I’ll follow his
orders to the letter if he’ll only be more specific. But it hurts me when he gives me vague orders
and tells me to work out the details myself. Some of the work I do I have never done before.
Then my boss, turns right around and fires me for not using my head or for not doing things
right. And, I’ve been around here for long enough to know how to do, what to do except in
some circumstances.”
Sandra’s manager, Mr. Deshpande is the HOD and is notorious among his subordinates for his
vague instructions and explanations that are equally confusing. It is said that due to his inability
to deliver results to his department his career is stagnant. Mr. Deshpande’s belief was that if
people were to grow they must have the freedom to operate, they learn from their mistakes.
He firmly believes it is the prime responsibility of a manager - to help people to grow.
Sandra continued, ‘The trouble with Mr.Deshpande is that he wants you to use your head so
that he doesn’t have to use his. He is pretty good at criticizing others. I must demand a transfer
quickly or at my age of 35 years seek another job elsewhere”.
Analyse the central problem in this case. How does it affect the whole operational process?
1. How should Mr. Deshpande ideally go about giving instructions to his subordinates?
2. How should Sandra go about getting specifications of job clarified from his boss?
3. Identify the Strengths of Mr.Deshpande & Sandra.
4. What are the areas where Mr.Deshpande & Sandra need to improve on?