When it comes to explaining to someone else a complicated procedure that you do, it’s a pretty safe bet that, first time around, you will not be able to tell them exactly what you do so they can carry out the procedure themselves.  It’s almost certain that you will leave some fine detail out of your description and this will not be realised until someone tries to carry out your instructions.

There can be a few reasons for this.  The most common reason for not giving every detail needed is because we do not realise what every detail is.  We do the job so often, or so well, we don’t realise the self programmed bits that make the difference.  In other words we don’t know what we know.

Do you think you could write down every single movement required to enable a non-driver to drive down a street, turn the vehicle around and come back again?

My guess is that you have already made an assumption that you can before you’ve even started to think about how to do that task.  You are assuming that when I said ”vehicle” I meant a car.  What if I meant a horse drawn stagecoach, or an articulated truck, perhaps a tracked vehicle like a Sno-Cat?

I didn’t give you all the instructions did I?

These assumptions are where the problems start and are then compounded by internal self-programmed short-cuts.

The reason I’ve brought this subject up is because I recently wanted to know how to do a certain routine on my computer.  This is a very common routine for nearly all marketers on the Internet.  Therefore, I thought it would be easy to just go to YouTube and find the relevant video showing me how to do it.

Simple you would have thought.  Well, yes, and no.  Plenty of info telling my how to do this routine but not one of them told me how to integrate the routine into my blog or website.  Is it assumed I should know where it goes?  How it all fits in with what I’m trying to do. Usually all that is said is “This is the code that you need.”

I didn’t have a clue as to whether it went on my sales page, separate file or split between the two.  If some bits of code have to go into a separate file where is that file then placed?  Does it go into an existing folder or do I make a new one.  Do I need to index it anywhere?  All fine detail that is left out because the person doing the telling is assuming we know everything else except the bit they are telling us.

Those giving the instructions know how to do it without thinking about it. They don’t know that this may be vital information that needs to be passed on.

So if you are thinking of doing a “How to” video, or instruction sheet, on ANY subject, would you please get someone, who does not know about what you are trying to tell them, to attempt to carry out your instructions. Watch them while they do it if possible. If you have to say or do anything to help them carry out your instructions please add it to the instruction set. And if it is part of a larger routine, like my coding example above, then please make sure the whole routine works, not just the bit you’ve given instructions for.

We amateurs may then stand a chance of actually learning something from you properly.

Anybody got any instructions for mending a soap box?  I’ve just fell off mine and broken it.