Administrator. Scenario 6 of 13. Asking for clarity

Tidy up the client list

On Monday your manager stops at your desk on her way to a meeting. "Can you tidy up the client list before Friday? Thanks." Then she is gone.

The list has 2,000 rows. "Tidy up" could mean removing duplicates, fixing the formatting, checking every contact is still current, or all three. Those are very different amounts of work.

What is the best call?

Do all three to be safe, even if it takes most of the week.

Could be better

Nobody could say you did too little. But you may spend four days on something she wanted to take an hour, and your other work will slip. Being thorough is only a strength when it is aimed at the right thing.

Pick the meaning that seems most likely and get started.

Not the best call

A guess might be right. If it is wrong, you find out on Friday with no time left. One question now costs a minute, and guessing could cost the week.

Send her a short message today. "For the client list, do you want duplicates removed, formatting fixed, contacts checked, or all three? And roughly how long should I spend on it?"

Good call

Offering options makes it quick for her to answer, and asking how long tells you how deep to go. Asking a clear question about an unclear instruction is a sign of competence, not a weakness.

Ask a colleague what they think she meant.

Could be better

A colleague may know how she usually works, which is useful. But it is still a guess, now made by two people. The only person who knows what she meant is your manager.

The principle

An unclear instruction is not a test you are meant to pass by guessing. Ask a specific question, with options, before you start.