Advice for attention to detail?

[twostrokeking]

I'm a 19 year old mechanic and I feel like I am pretty good. I have a lot to learn and will always strive to improve. One thing I'd like to work on is attention to detail. How can I get better at that and notice every little thing and get it perfect ? Any Advice is appreciated. I must add I do have adhd and do take meds for it.


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[Leoruiz]

I'm a 19 year old mechanic and I feel like I am pretty good. I have a lot to learn and will always strive to improve. One thing I'd like to work on is attention to detail. How can I get better at that and notice every little thing and get it perfect ? Any Advice is appreciated. I must add I do have adhd and do take meds for it.


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Skip the meds and get to work.A 19 y.o. has no business taking any meds.
Drink a quart of chamomile tea every day.Lose your "doctors" phone number.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

I have a very active mind myself. I don't know if this will work for you, but this is what helps me: Study (at home if you need) everything you can about each system you work on until you know how the whole thing goes together. I don't tend to do very well with knowing what certain jobs need unless I first seek to understand why the parts do what they do in the first place. If you can think about how certain parts and systems work together and visualize what they are doing in use, it's easier to spot the important details related to its function and by extension, its replacement. Does that make sense?

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[code4pay]

Like all things the fact that you realise that trait in yourself is a great start. I was never good at attention to detail myself but I have got a lot better still not perfect but as a computer programmer I had to improve. The technique I use is to pause when a logical step in a process is completed and then pretend I am a quality inspector, inspecting not just the work I just did but the project as a whole. The pause and the looking at the work with critical eyes makes all the difference. Make a habit of doing it all the time and it will start to come more naturally.

 

[william.m.hamilton2]

Clean. Clean everything thing you are working on before you start. Then clean each part as you take it out. Then clean the areas you have now exposed by removing other parts. The simple act of removing dirt and looking to ensure cleanliness will often as not teach you to see the details you might have missed by just swapping parts.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Replace your adhd with OCD. Before you close an area touch and name every part (bracket, terminal, nut, bolt, washer. etc.) in the vicinity. You'll be amazed at how much you start to notice.

 

[elba]

Think about your end goal before starting a job. Use a manual. Take your time and do it right the first time. Keep area clean. Be safe. Ask questions-no dumb questions. Ask an older mechanic-they have burned lots of fires behind them. You Tube is a good reference source. Take pictures with your phone before disassembly . Read !

 

[MillerMav]

Skip the meds and get to work.A 19 y.o. has no business taking any meds.
Drink a quart of chamomile tea every day.Lose your "doctors" phone number.

First off; as a person who wasn't diagnosed with ADD until I was 30 years old and realize how much it would have changed my entire life had I started taking my Adderall 15 years earlier don't listen to this guy. Stay on your meds.

That being said try to standardize as many things as possible in your job (your morning routine, the drawers/tools in your box, when you take lunch, etc.) off standard or abnormal things are a killer to people with ADD/ADHD. I agree with creating a bit of mild OCD into your life it certainly helps with the standardizing that I mentioned above. I am not a mechanic but I know that whenever I have to do something different in the morning before work, or get off schedule or off track at work it takes some time for me to get my brain rolling correctly again. I try to keep everything scheduled and standardized and it makes me infinitely more productive!!

 

[Chaznsc]

First off; as a person who wasn't diagnosed with ADD until I was 30 years old and realize how much it would have changed my entire life had I started taking my Adderall 15 years earlier don't listen to this guy. Stay on your meds.

Amen, thank you for posting this.

 

[rieferman]

Amen, thank you for posting this.

Agreed +100000.

edit: My background on the topic is having worked for the leading manufacturer of the products that treat ADHD for the past 2 years or so. I have read scientific studies, talked with leading doctors, sat behind the glass in countless hours of market research to hear from adult and pediatric patients and parents of pediatric patients.

While ADHD had a stigma around it years ago, even with doctors, education on the topic has come so far in the past 5 years or so. Doctors that are up to date on their knowledge of the topic will tell you that it's not something you "outgrow", it's not something you can take a "medication vacation" from, and it's usually not something that you can just "cope with".

That said, I do know that some doctors still hold to their "medication vacation" (i.e. take a break from meds on weekends or summer break etc.) opinions from years past despite the evidence showing that this does not improve patient outcomes.

My neighbor is following this advice with their own kid. During the school year, on meds, he was well behaved, bright, courteous, fun kid. Most importantly, he was happy and confident. During the summer, they've taken him off meds. He's volatile, moody, forgetful, can't follow instructions. He's worse at sports than before - won't listen to coaching or advice, forgets plays etc. Refuses to read books now (used to gobble them up). And, he's pulling back and is shyer than before and just isn't as happy and personable as before. Plain as day, he's doing worse off meds than he was on meds. Shrug.

I do know that some ADHD patients enjoy the "manic" feeling of being off meds. Feel like their personality is more fun and exciting when they're a bit "wilder". I guess it depends on the patient's goals, but in most cases, being able to focus on work, school, social interactions, etc. seems pretty important comparatively.

-----

Anyways, regarding attention to detail, I always strive to just slow down and be deliberate.

I like to think through a task and write down a list of steps that I'm going to follow. You'd be surprised how many times you write an initial list of steps and then adjust it as you think through it. It's much easier to erase and rewrite than it is it physically change tasks in reality, so I find this step is worth the couple of minutes it takes.

I also like to prepare to work - meaning getting the right tools ready, the right work area, the right lighting and ventilation etc. Depends on the task, but you get the idea.

If you are well prepared to work, you can stay on task without having to constantly break train of thought to get something etc. And if you have the right list of steps, you can work through them systematically.

 

[LXCam]

Be careful what you wish for. My adhd turned into ocd for anything I build. On one hand it's an admirable trait to turn over a product that's as perfect as it can be. On the other hand it can negatively impact time constraints and a employers view of your productivity.

 

[zhaddock]

Skip the meds and get to work.A 19 y.o. has no business taking any meds.
Drink a quart of chamomile tea every day.Lose your "doctors" phone number.

Total *** Hat statement.

 

[LumpyMusic]

Skip the meds and get to work.A 19 y.o. has no business taking any meds.
Drink a quart of chamomile tea every day.Lose your "doctors" phone number.

I agree with Leo.

That "doctor" spent a minute and a half with you, billed your insurance for several hundred dollars, then prescribed drugs to you that the drug company told him would "work" (translated, you can prescribe this for the life of the patient).

Spend that kind of money and energy on developing your focus instead of being addicted to the doctor's BMW and condo in Aspen.

If more people viewed doctors like they do any other contractor (plumbers, painters, auto mechanics) we'd have a lot less people addicted to drugs. Smart consumers don't just take an auto mechanic's word for it when he says "We'll need to replace your dewobulator valve, it'll cost you $1300". But those same consumers will take whatever drugs the doc pushes on them with no reservation "Well my doctor said I needed it".


Sgt Lumpy

 

[buddyboy]

anyone that has gone thru military basic training will tell you that a good drill Sargent can cure most people of their lack of attention to detail.

of course that is not going to help the op

cleaning and keeping your work area clean is a great tip.

keeping things in the same place helps too, everything has a place and there is a place for everything.

have a system for cleaning and do it the same way everytime, amazing how some people don't know how to clean. I see people sweep the floor, then dust off work benches then re-sweep the floor, then dust the top cabinets then re-dust the benches then re-sweep the floor... then complain they don't have time to clean because it takes too long and is a waste of time.

your doctors office is clean and tidy (i hope) not just for germs but because the doctor has to concentrate on the patient, not looking for **** to do his job.

oh btw I heard the doctors journal forum is talking about how mechanics routinely rip them off by looking at their car for 2 seconds and selling them $1000 worth of rubber tires

 

[Falcon67]

If it's a complicated job with a lot of steps and parts, think "checklist". Frees your mind a bit to concentrate on the "do" and less on the "what did I forget".

 

[astroracer]

Attention to detail is fine as long as it is on the work ticket. If it's not, then you are costing your employer, whether it's yourself or someone you work for, time and money. If the owner of the vehicle doesn't okay the work they don't have to pay for it. Parts or labor. if you are not getting paid to clean everything and count all of the nuts and bolts you shouldn't do it. Taking three hours to do a 1 hour ticket will get you fired.
Having done a lot of home shop wrenching I can tell you it doesn't pay to "fix" something that is not written down and acknowledged by both the estimator AND the owner of the vehicle.
If it is worth reporting, do that and get an okay from the owner, but just fixing something because it's a "detail" is not the correct approach.
Mark

 

[rieferman]

Attention to detail is fine as long as it is on the work ticket. If it's not, then you are costing your employer, whether it's yourself or someone you work for, time and money. If the owner of the vehicle doesn't okay the work they don't have to pay for it. Parts or labor. if you are not getting paid to clean everything and count all of the nuts and bolts you shouldn't do it. Taking three hours to do a 1 hour ticket will get you fired.
Having done a lot of home shop wrenching I can tell you it doesn't pay to "fix" something that is not written down and acknowledged by both the estimator AND the owner of the vehicle.
If it is worth reporting, do that and get an okay from the owner, but just fixing something because it's a "detail" is not the correct approach.Mark

Bolded part # 1 (my emphasis)... Sure, if someone is needlessly wasting time (e.g. "Taking three hours to do a 1 hour ticket") that's one thing. If someone is being thorough and detail oriented and is able to do that 1 hour ticket perfectly each time, or notice other issues in a timely fashion, or do a better job diagnosing an issue by listening to the customer or observing the situation more carefully, etc. Well, that's another thing. I doubt there's a shop owner / boss / supervisor on the planet that wouldn't love to have employees that act in this detail oriented fashion. And as a customer, I know that I give my loyalty and business to companies and individuals that can see "around the corner" and help me avoid additional issues.

Bolded part # 2 (my emphasis)... I file this in the "no kidding" column... I didn't take anyone's comments above as telling the OP to do work that isn't agreed upon by customers.

 

[ScottsGT]

I grew up not realizing I had ADD until about 20 years ago. I was at work monitoring our video production of a conference on ADD and ADHD. As I sat watching scopes and camera feeds, I was listening in to the conversation. All of a sudden, things in my life were making sense with my lack of attention to some things. I realized they were talking about me.
It hit me like a ton of bricks that I had made it to age 32 without prescribed drugs. Never saw a doc about it though. I do remember when I was back in high school, I had always struggled with classes. With today's higher education standards, I probably would have not made it out of high school. But I do remember the 11 grade well. I was leaving campus to go to a class at a remote school. My buddies I rode with were 18 and we would stop and grab a beer or two before we went back to class (1980, an 18 yo could do that!)
That year I went to English class just about every day with a 1 or 2 beer buzz and passed with straight A's.
At work now, I am known as the "detail guy" whether it be a physical project I'm working on or discussions in a meeting of an upcoming project. I'm the guy that always brings up the small items that can bite us in the *** if we forget. Like asbestos surveys to drill a hole in a wall, or a power outlet dedicated for our gear or clearance above the ceiling tiles.
I'm 52 now and have no plans to pursue meds. I've learned to make it work for me, but it was tough. My youngest boy is now 19 and it took him 2.5 years longer to graduate High School since he really falls back on his ADHD as an excuse. There's ADHD, and there is just plain lazy! He would have rather cut classes and gone back to bed than get a diploma. He finally got it last week and I'm constantly stressing to him that the meds are a great help, but put your mind before the meds and do your best on focusing on a project and pay attention and don't make excuses. With the meds help, you can do it if you overcome the lazys.
Best advise I can give you is situational awareness. If you start out paying attention to what and who is around you at all times you will find it a great exercise in awareness.
Play the "what if" game like Air Force pilots are trained to do. "If I do this, what will happen..." "What if I forget to put stands under the car? Hmmm...It can fall on me and kill me!"
You need to exercise your brain to think a certain way and then things will come to you naturally over time. And I mean OVER TIME! Don't expect an overnight sensation to hit you. The older I get, the more **** I get with details. Sometimes we get in a rush to get things done, but at a certain point you have to slow down to focus and think.

 

[ScottsGT]

Attention to detail is fine as long as it is on the work ticket. If it's not, then you are costing your employer, whether it's yourself or someone you work for, time and money. If the owner of the vehicle doesn't okay the work they don't have to pay for it. Parts or labor. if you are not getting paid to clean everything and count all of the nuts and bolts you shouldn't do it. Taking three hours to do a 1 hour ticket will get you fired.
Having done a lot of home shop wrenching I can tell you it doesn't pay to "fix" something that is not written down and acknowledged by both the estimator AND the owner of the vehicle.
If it is worth reporting, do that and get an okay from the owner, but just fixing something because it's a "detail" is not the correct approach.
Mark

A good example is when I worked in a shop years ago. Like 30 years ago.... We had a guy that was constantly forgetting to tighten down all the spark plugs during a tune up. Ding Dong got into the habit of putting all the plugs in heads then going back and tightening them up.
In the meantime, he's talking with co-workers, taking breaks, going to lunch, etc... and forgets to tighten one down all the way.
Next thing you know, he's in the wrecker going to pick a customers car up to replace the plug that blew out.

 

[jeff lary]

yes stay on your meds you doctor should be the one to advise you not a stranger on the computer.

 

[justanengineer]

Skip the meds and get to work.A 19 y.o. has no business taking any meds.
Lose your "doctors" phone number.

+1 and an observation....14 years ago now, at the beginning of basic training they locked up all of our civilian clothes along with most personal possessions and any/all meds folks were on. They were then re-prescribed by the Army certain meds for allergies, females got birth control, etc. Quite a few had ADD/ADHD/other lesser "mental" meds which were taken away and not replaced. After 9 weeks surprisingly enough none of those folks needed them any longer, a good swift ***-kicking and a ton of work cured all of their issues.

JME, but those with the best attention to detail are that way in every aspect of their life. If you want to be that way, bust your *** but work slowly, carefully, and intentionally overdo everything regarding cleanliness and appearance. Dont wash your car, detail it. Dont just mow the grass, be **** about it. As time goes on you will naturally speed things up to a professional level but will retain the excellent habits.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I have ADHD, a type "A" personality and OCD. To the point where I almost fall asleep in meetings and I'm 50. No meds for me since early grade school. They dulled my "edge". Study study study. If you understand the equipment thoroughly, the detail will follow with time. Understand that for some people, the "knack" for attention to detail just never comes. The fact that you're so concerned about it makes it sound to me like you'll "get it" sooner than most.


Tommy

 

[JC23]

There are good ideas, here and I suggest using lists as well as visualization with reverse engineering. It's all about the organization - with or without meds.

And good luck!

 

[kc10a]

IMHO, I think there are a lot of people on "mind-altering" meds that really don't need them. When I was in school, corporal punishment was allowed. It was amazing how getting your **** paddled helped you settle down. Basic training does the same thing, or at least it did. The mind is an amazing machine, as long as you use it. You can control it if you work at it. For many people, meds are a crutch to use.

 

[Amrjon]

Clean. Clean everything thing you are working on before you start. Then clean each part as you take it out. Then clean the areas you have now exposed by removing other parts. The simple act of removing dirt and looking to ensure cleanliness will often as not teach you to see the details you might have missed by just swapping parts.

This is a great tip.

 

[rieferman]

While I agree that there are some people that are potentially needlessly medicating for very mild forms of various disorders, and there are others that are miraculously able to overcome disorders via mind-over-matter, I would caution folks from taking those instances as the rule that all should follow.

As examples, people with severe depression, schizophrenia, early onset Alzheimers... These are all real and debilitating conditions. The people look like anyone else, but stuff is happening in their heads. And medications can help them.

Moderate to severe ADHD is no different. While your individual mileage may vary, you cannot see into others' heads and apply a blanket "be tough, get over it, be a man" solution to fix it.

Like you wouldn't deprive glasses to someone with poor eyesight, I don't think you should deprive proven medications to those with neurological disorders - only they are inside their own minds and can determine the severity of the issue.

 

[ilovevocs]

Total *** Hat statement.

[emoji481]

 

[LumpyMusic]

Moderate to severe ADHD is no different. While your individual mileage may vary, you cannot see into others' heads...

And neither can the doctors that sell those drugs to you.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[tab2]

I think it starts as a personality trait, but can be something easily learned. I read The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande and it really changed how I go through a process, even if it is for the first time. Once you start making written checklists, you learn them and they become things that you do without even thinking. As an example, before I hit send on an important email, I go though this list:

1. Read the email slowly to myself out loud (quietly) to ensure it makes sense grammatically (to the best of my knowledge)
2. Read the email to make sure I am making my point clearly
3. Confirm everyone on the "To" Line that should be
4. Confirm everyone on the "Cc" Line that should be
5. Read the email slowly to myself out loud (quietly) again
6. Make sure if I mentioned that something is attached, it is attached
7. If I attach something, open the file to make sure it is the right one
8. Hit the Send button

Now I do all of this without even thinking, it becomes a habit. It doesn't exactly relate to your work but think about all the steps that a required for a task, write them down, and keep that list handy until it all becomes second nature.

Good luck, and the first step is always being aware; so you are off to a good start!

 

[37ford4dr]

for detail .... write down what you are doing and make notes of what you need to do and what you saw and then use this as a check list for ensuring you got it right. I believe in DRs and if the meds help you then take them.

for these other guys who dont beleive in DRs you can be sure their opinions change when they either have a stroke or a heart attack and go the ER for help.....you wont see them saying I am better off sticking it out at home.

 

[rieferman]

Two good posts in a row