Supervisor Foundations · Lesson 2.8
AVOID CONFLICTING INSTRUCTIONS
Employees may receive directions from:
- supervisor
- manager
- business owner
- department head
- client
- senior colleague
When instructions conflict, employees can be placed in an impossible situation.
A good supervisor should help clarify:
- whose instruction takes priority
- whether circumstances have changed
- who should be informed
- whether one instruction replaces another
Poor
Supervisor A:
“Do this first.”
Supervisor B:
“Forget that. Do my task.”
Employee:
“What should I do?”
Supervisor B:
“You should know.”
Better
“I understand you were already assigned another priority. Let me confirm with your supervisor before changing it.”
WORKPLACE EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE 1 — OFFICE
An employee is told by one manager to finish a report while another manager requests an urgent client presentation.
BETTER RESPONSE
EXAMPLE 2 — RESTAURANT
Kitchen supervisor and floor manager give different instructions about an order.
BETTER RESPONSE
EXAMPLE 3 — SCHOOL
A staff member receives one instruction from the head teacher and another from an administrator.
BETTER RESPONSE
EXAMPLE 4 — SMALL BUSINESS
The owner gives an employee a new priority but does not tell the supervisor.
BETTER RESPONSE
Remember
Employees should not be punished for following a legitimate instruction they were reasonably expected to obey.
Workplace action
If your workplace has multiple authority levels, make sure employees know what to do when instructions conflict.
Quick Check
An employee receives two conflicting instructions from authorized managers. What is the best response?