The same checklist

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Differences that change the conversation

Structure and autonomy

Anna gives Tomasz and Olek the same detailed checklist. It helps one of them move forward while taking ownership away from the other.

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Anna gives Tomasz a detailed checklist, which he welcomes.

Tomasz works calmly with the checklist and knows exactly when the task will be complete.

Anna gives the same checklist to Olek, seated in his wheelchair, who reacts uncertainly.

Olek tensely follows the checklist and loses his sense of autonomy.

Anna sees that the same checklist gave Tomasz structure but took away Olek's room to act.

Tomasz experiences a detailed checklist as support and clarity, while Olek experiences it as a restriction on his judgment. As a result, the same management style makes one person more confident and signals distrust to the other. Do not give everyone identical structure. Agree on the needed level of support and the room for independent choice.