which has greater impact on you: orders, directions, suggestions, or hints??

Question

which of the four is most likely to get you moving? which is least likely? why?

my answer:
if i'm ordered to do something, i'll bow to the urgency and do it.
if i'm directed to do something, i'll follow the directions, grudgingly.
if it's suggested that i comply, i'll generally take exception.
if it's hinted at that i ought to do something, it's most likely i'll do it and happily comply.

Answer 1

Suggestions work quite well with me but, if you give me an order it may never get done. That's the main reason I didn't like the Air Force.

Answer 2

If someone orders me to do something, most of the time they get horns.
Suggest and there is a much greater posibility that I'll do whatever it is.

Answer 3

it always depends on who is doing the ordering, directing, suggesting or hinting.......it is easier for me to comply if it is someone i respect. irritating, annoying or ignorant people are just hard to take seriously.
so, if i respect someone:
ordered: i will do it without question
directed: i will follow and try to learn as much as possible
suggestion: i will question the reasoning, listen to the answer and do what i feel is best for the project at hand.
hint: i will realize that this person respects me enough to hint without directly imposing his or her opinions on me. i will do it, be happy that that person thought enough of me to give me the hint and then thank them later.

an annoying person asking the same:
ordered: i'd most likely do it
directed: i'd listen to the directions, think of a way to do it differently, do it a new way to make it MY way.
suggested: i'd say, "thanks, but i'd rather not"
hint: i'd pretend not to get the hint. even if it was something i should do, i wouldn't because i'd think of that person while doing that particular thing.

good question, it had me thinking for quite a while.

Answer 4

It really depends on the situation. In general, I would rather take hints and suggestions into consideration; orders and directions ruffle my feathers a bit.

Answer 5

Ordering me to do something is an excellent way of ensuring that I will never do it.

Directing me to do something will get me to do it, happily or unhappily, depending on my mood.

Suggesting that I do something can be tricky, although will generally work.

Hinting at something is okay, although wouldn't it be easier just to ask me?

Answer 6

there was a guy who hinted on weapons of mass destruction...
no wait he ordered, no he directed, or was it; he suggested there might be some? What is your point?

Answer 7

None of the above I like to make up my own mind.

Answer 8

hints

Answer 9

This is an excellent question.

I can't bear anyone telling me what to do - orders - who are you to order me about? Also, I hate authority and by nature, I am rebellious.

Directions - sometimes, I need direction, help, this could be acceptable to me.

Suggestions - also can be considered and reflected upon and maybe even acted upon.

Hints - why should you hint? Just come out and say what you mean - I like people to say exactly what they mean - of course, but in a kind way, not to be harsh and brutal about it because I don't want to have to break my head trying to figure out what you mean.

I suppose I like directions and suggestions best because I feel the person is giving me advice, choices, options and it is still up to me to decide - I will always make the decision - I am the boss of my life.

Answer 10

Depends on who they are, or what the need is.

Orders? Hmm that's a toughy, I don't like orders, I don't have a commanding officer to answer to. I like being asked, and having the choice, to do otherwise would make me a drone to whoever is ordering. (I am nobody's drone or slave!)

I even took the word "Obey" out of my wedding vows for Heavens sake. If I'm not going to be ordered by my hubby, then all others should follow suit with the consideration factor.

Directed - yeah, a softer obey, but if it's a necessary deed that I know I can be an asset at, I'll consider it. Of course I am always helpful when I see the good of the deed, unless it's something that is completely for the good of an ego, then I'll fight that tooth and nail.

(Like the boss that said in a demeaning and dismissive manner, "Oh and bring so and so and I a cup of coffee, Thanks". Sure they got coffee, but the bosses cup had tobasco in the bottom of it.

He underestimated my factor of being an equal person and not his little go-fer that didn't have my own values firmly intact He wanted to impress another person with his 'power to have others do when he snapped his fingers in front of them', but he was an okay person when no one he wanted to impress was around.

Later, he apologized, not I.

Suggestions, I like those, but only in open scenerios when everyones ideas count or if it comes from a respected person, but I like it best when I ask for the suggestion!

Hints.. I usually clue in pretty well, and get the drift, and if it's something I would do on my own anyways without the hints.. I'm all for it.

So I'd have to say hints first..because it's a heads up in case I am wanting to know or do something about it, but not a choice already decided for me to choose. And second would be suggestions (like I described above).

I just don't like being TOLD what to do. I have a reasonable mind, and I will know if it's something I want to be involved in or not, but I sure as heck don't want someone else to choose that for me.