It’s September, so it’s back-to-school time, which inspired this month’s HR lesson.

A teacher friend shared with me a story about a classroom situation that applies to the workplace too:
- Student: “Ms. T, we only had to do some of this assignment, right?”
- Teacher: “No, you should do it all. Why?”
- Student: “Well, it says, ‘do one sixth’.’
- Teacher: “No, it says ‘DUE 1/6’… that’s today, January 6th.”
Let’s be honest, there’s always one person who can make a simple directive more complicated, even in the workplace. A manager tells an employee that something needs to be done, and the employee confuses the instructions (intentionally or not) and things just don’t happen.
As managers, we need to set clear guidelines, hold people accountable, make sure our instructions are understood, and follow up. Of course, in this case, the teacher let the student know that she wasn’t falling for it.
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About The HR Team, a Ravix Group company: Founded in 1996, The HR Team is a Maryland-based human resources outsourcing firm committed to developing strategic, customized solutions that respond to the unique needs and cultures of organizations of all types and sizes. Available as a one-source alternative to an in-house HR department or on an à la carte project basis, the company’s flexible service models address the full spectrum of HR needs that many organizations struggle to address. The HR Team helps clients achieve their highest level of success by providing value-driven human resources services that leave them time to focus on what they do best: directing business growth and profitability. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, the firm serves all of Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia. To learn more about The HR Team, call 410.381.9700 or visit https://www.thehrteam.com/.