5 Ways to Handle Being Lost and Confused at Work - The Muse

5 Ways to Handle Being Lost and Confused at Work - The Muse5 Ways to Handle Being Lost and Confused at WorkIf youve ever watched an episode of Charlie Brown, you probably remember his interactions with his teacher in class. No matter what shes saying, it always sounded like a distorted megaphone to Charlie. Sometimes, the arbeitszimmer can feel just like those Charlie Brown scenes. Your anfhrer or co-worker is giving you instructions or explaining an important project, and all you hear is, Womp womp womp womp womp.If youre having a moment where you have absolutely no idea whats happening at work, dont just give up. Instead, check out these five strategies to get yourself out of the metaphorical hole.1. Fake it Til You Make ItThe good old fake it til you make it strategy is one of the oldest in the book, and pretending you know whats happening can definitely come in handy, especially if youre in front of important people and dont want to sound like you dont have a grasp on whats going on.The technique can be particularly useful if youre in a situation where youre being given a great deal of information and know youll need time afterward to digest everything thats being thrown at you. In this case, its better to smile, nod, write down the information (including anything you dont understand), say Im going to process this, and Ill let you know if I have any questions, and catch up with your boss later.2. Just Say I Dont KnowThat said, you should never be afraid of simply saying, I dont know if youre truly confused, especially if youre expected to understand everything happening in the moment. Just make aya youre specific about what you need clarification on. For example, instead of blurting out, This PowerPoint makes no sense, ask, I was with you until the second part of this slide- could you repeat what you said about our analytics? This approach makes it easier for the person explaining to figure out where you got lost and how to get you up to speed.A pro tip In my experience, many things can be worked out in your head if you sit on them for a minute or two. Taking a little time to process and troubleshoot usually allows you to figure things out before you call in the reserves. (You dont want to be the person always raising his or her hand to have something explained.)3. Find a BuddyNever underestimate the power of finding someone in the office to lean on when you need something explained to you. As long as youre not poking that person all day long, asking for help, he or she will generally be happy to give you a hand.A few rules of thumb here Limit yourself to asking about two things you dont understand per day. Also, this seems obvious (but so many people do it anyway) Avoid approaching people when theyre busy. Instead, send over an email with your questions. Or, at the very least, wait until he or shes hung up the phone or finished chewing before going over.4. Prioritize Questions That Need AnsweringTheres nothing more overwhelming than feeling like you have not one, but a million, questions you want answered. Where do you even start?The easiest trick is to adopt the Eisenhower Method, which involves asking yourself two important questions Is this urgent, and is this important? Obviously, youll want to ask questions about things that are urgent and important before anything else.For example, if youve just started a new job and have a plethora of questions, its better to ask about things pertaining to your first project deadlines than it is to inquire about the best way to collaborate with other teams.5. Schedule Regular Check-in TimesIf youve noticed that your confusion is due to communication issues with co-workers or your manager, and not necessarily your work itself, it may be a good idea to schedule regular check-ins to make sure everyones on the same page. Yes, despite the incredible range of team management tools out there, its not uncommon for co-workers to get out of sync.Not sure how to bring this up with your boss or co-workers? Find several specific examples of where there was a break in communication, and illustrate how it could easily be fixed with a quick five-minute check-in once a day or longer weekly catch-up. (Heres a great read on how this can work.)Everyone struggles to figure out whats going on from time to time, so thats never something you should feel ashamed to admit. Armed with the right strategy, youll be walking the walk and talking the talk in no time.Photo of stressed woman courtesy of Shutterstock.