You encounter these when putting together a model, cooking a recipe or assembling a piece of equipment. You are dealing with printed, previously organized directions that are intended to lead you from start to finish. Allow time to read directions all the way through. Reading just a step or two, then reading the rest during the process can lead to skipped steps or other confusion. The directions will include the parts, ingredients and equipment you need to complete the project. Make sure you have all of those before beginning. You may have to count the screws packed with your project, locate the vanilla extract or buy something not included in the packing list. Doing this ahead of time and laying out parts in an orderly fashion will help prepare you to follow previously organized directions. Once you have parts and equipment organized, read the directions again. They will make a lot more sense.
These can be either verbal or written, often leaving you to fill in some steps. You may be told how to assemble the brackets to hold one shelf in a bookcase, but need to repeat that action on your own for other shelves. Recipes passed from one cook to another are notorious for these omissions; you don't find out that eggs should have been previously beaten until you are told to incorporate the sugar. Again, take the time to read directions completely before you begin (if directions were verbal, write them down and review). Identify missing steps and either ask questions, if possible, or fill the steps in logically (assemble all brackets the same way; beat the eggs before incorporating the sugar). Write out the sequence of steps so that it makes sense, then follow your revised directions.
Verbal directions can often be troublesome. They may assume you know more about the project than you do: Just use a gathering stitch, then sew on the Velcro; use a liquid wrench if it sticks; flambe before serving; turn left at the interchange and follow the rotary to pick up Second Avenue--there's a sign somewhere. The first strategy to use is to write down everything you are told. At that point, you may have questions. Make certain you have all the information given before you ask questions. First, it's a courtesy to the direction-giver; secondly, later directions may answer earlier questions. Most important for you as a listener: Focusing on questions as they emerge may cause you to skip or misunderstand subsequent steps in the directions. No matter how burning the question, maintain your attention and wait until all directions are given before asking.
If given verbal directions, you can greatly improve your understanding by asking for time to review what you have been told. You can read back what you have been told and get immediate corrections. Research may help you develop specific questions that clarify directions. Check driving directions on a printed map or on an online service such as MapQuest (online services usually let you enlarge portions of the map that you may find confusing). If business directions involve working with others ("we need the report printed by Monday"), you can make cooperation most effective by involving others promptly. A printer notified on Tuesday should have plenty of time to produce results; a printer notified on Friday does not. Do your research before asking further questions: "At the rotary, Bend Avenue seems to connect with Second Avenue, so tell me if I should take Bend to Second"; "the printer can get our report done, but needs to use different cover stock to be done by Monday--please approve."
Occasionally, directions are flawed. Before contacting customer service or going back to a friend or boss, identify as clearly as possible the step or strategy in the directions that seems at fault. Ask a specific clarifying question rather than just saying generally that directions don't work. Allow for your possible misunderstanding, as a matter of clarification or simply tact: "I realized that I wasn't as skilled at gathering as I had thought"; "flambeing is new to me." Place the focus on getting the directions right, rather than your feelings about their going wrong. Both you and your direction giver will feel more successful if the focus is on completing the directions correctly.