Buzz
Whether you're guiding a guest to your home or assisting a tourist in finding a local art gallery, it's crucial to know how to give precise and helpful directions. Offering directions goes beyond merely telling someone how to reach a location. To do it effectively, you must present the information in a manner that aligns with how the other person understands it best. For example, some individuals grasp specific distances in miles better, while others are more comfortable with estimated travel times. Additionally, it's important to communicate clearly and choose the most efficient route to ensure they stay on track and reach their destination smoothly.
Effective Directions
Provide the person with key landmarks near their destination. Then, mention which side of the street the destination is on or indicate where they need to make a turn. It's also helpful to include an estimate of how long the trip will take and how far they are from their final stop.
Guidelines
Guiding with Landmarks and Travel Times
Imagine traveling the route alongside them. People tend to follow directions better when they are presented in ‘route perspective,’ which highlights key landmarks and the travel times between them. If you were in the car or walking with the person, consider how you’d describe the journey (“Turn right at the big church up ahead, then continue straight for about five minutes…”). This approach will help you frame the directions accordingly.
- Rather than giving a step-by-step from start to finish, think of the journey as a series of landmarks.
Point out significant, easily identifiable landmarks. Landmarks not only inform the person about their progress, but they also help confirm that they are following the correct path. By identifying these markers, you can highlight key sections of the journey.
- For instance: “Walk straight for a few minutes until you spot the old post office with a large metal dome on your left; then turn left and continue for about five minutes until you reach a McDonald’s and Wendy’s across from each other…”
- Examples of landmarks include: historic buildings, signs, monuments; places of worship like churches or synagogues; large retail stores or car dealerships; natural features like rivers or hills; road features such as bridges or forks in the road.
Clarify whether the landmark or turn is to the left or right. Don’t assume the person knows which side of the street a particular landmark or turn will be on. To avoid confusion, always specify whether they should turn or look for something on the left or right side of the road.
- For example: “Look on your left for the gas station with a tiger statue above the sign,” rather than just saying, “Turn when you get to the gas station with the tiger statue.”
Give an estimate of travel times for the entire journey and its segments. Let the person know how long the entire trip will take, as well as how much time they should expect for specific parts of the route. This allows them to anticipate when they need to prepare for a turn or change roads.
- Let them know that if they maintain the speed limit, they should be able to reach the destination in a certain amount of time.
- If multiple turns are involved, explain how long they’ll travel on each road before making a turn.
- For example: “The total journey takes around 10 minutes. Turn left here and go for about 3 minutes until you…”
Understanding Distances and Compass Directions
Visualize the route in your mind and describe it. Some individuals have a natural talent for reading maps, and they often perform better when given directions that mirror what they’d see on a map—this is known as 'survey perspective.' These are the people who can intuitively determine north without a compass and easily estimate distances like driving two miles.
- For these individuals, your directions might sound like: “Head north on Hamilton for just over 3 miles (4.8 km), then turn east onto Church Street…”
Indicate distances between key points. Always specify the distance between locations in your directions. For example, state how far in miles or kilometers the person should travel before making a turn or reaching their destination.
- If using a topographic map, the contour interval can provide helpful distance estimates, especially considering elevation changes that may impact travel time or effort.
- Using city blocks or highway exits is also an effective method for indicating distance, even if the exact measure varies: “Go two blocks north, then take the freeway west to the fourth exit…”
- Providing a rough distance estimate is always more useful than leaving the person uncertain of the journey ahead.
Incorporate cardinal directions. While specifying whether something is to the left or right is important, using cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) is also crucial when describing a route in survey perspective. Even people who prefer landmark-based directions often use tools like vehicles or smartphones with digital compasses. Many road signs, particularly U.S. interstate markers, also indicate cardinal directions. To improve your directions, it can be helpful to account for magnetic declination when using a compass, aligning your directions to true north on the map.
- For example: “Turn right at the light onto 5th Street, head south for half a mile, then merge onto Route 35 South…”
Sketch a map. If explaining the directions verbally is challenging for someone who better understands visual routes, simply draw a map for them. A hand-drawn map will help them visualize the route and provide a tangible reference. You can include landmarks, distances, and key turning points on the map, giving them something to hold onto to remember the directions.
- The map doesn’t need to be perfectly to scale, but you should mark general distances and orient it with north at the top.
Choosing the Right Route to Communicate
Tailor the directions to the person’s starting point. Before you begin explaining the route, ask where the person is starting from. This detail is crucial because the way you describe the route will depend on their point of origin.
- This might not be a concern when helping a stranger, but it becomes important when you’re giving directions to someone like your mother-in-law, who could be leaving from her house or her office in a different town.
Opt for the simplest route. Although it might be tempting to suggest your favorite shortcut, this could complicate things and lead to confusion. Instead, stick to the simplest and most straightforward directions that minimize the chance of someone getting lost. When determining the easiest route:
- Choose paths with fewer turns, even if it takes a little longer.
- Look for routes where the traveler can stay on one road for an extended period.
- Avoid recommending routes with complicated intersections, roundabouts, or bypasses.
Prioritize the safest route. If there are multiple routes to choose from and some are hazardous, suggest the safest one. The person you’re guiding is unfamiliar with the area and may not be aware of potential dangers, such as rough terrain, narrow roads, or unsafe neighborhoods. Always factor in their safety when advising them.
- The scenic but winding back road may save a few minutes compared to the highway, but while you know every curve, the person you're directing does not.
Don’t recommend unfamiliar routes. Only give directions for routes you know well. Suggesting unfamiliar paths can result in incorrect directions that could lead the person astray. Stick to routes you're most familiar with, rather than attempting to guide someone using a shortcut or a road you haven't traveled much.
- Instead of saying, “Well, my friend goes this way...,” stick to, “I’ve used this route many times, even if it takes a few extra minutes…”
Alert the person to tricky parts of the route. If the route has any particularly confusing sections, make sure to give the person a heads-up. Let them know exactly when (by time or distance) to expect these challenging parts. Some potential trouble spots might include:
- Roads that merge unexpectedly
- Very slight turns that are easy to miss
- Roundabouts
Effective Communication
Speak at a slow, clear pace. When providing directions, avoid rushing. Pronounce each word clearly and take your time to explain any crucial details like potential obstacles or detours. Speaking too quickly or unclearly can confuse the person or cause them to miss vital information.
Stick to universally recognized names and terms. Use road names exactly as they appear on street signs and maps. Avoid local nicknames or terms that only residents might recognize. Also, don't refer to homes as landmarks unless they are widely known. Ensure your examples are familiar to outsiders.
- Even if locals call a road the “Parkway East,” refer to it by its official name, “I-376 East,” as shown on road signs.
Assume the person knows nothing about the area. Even if you think the person might be somewhat familiar with the area, treat them as if they don’t know any local landmarks or streets. Provide all the necessary details to ensure they can find their way. If you’re giving more information than needed, they can always let you know.
- Instead of saying, “Remember where Joe’s old house was? Turn right after that,” try, “Turn right at the stoplight onto 11th Street, which is about half a block past where Joe’s house used to be.”
Check if they have any questions. Ask directly, “Do you have any questions about the directions?” This allows the person to clarify any part of the route they might not have fully understood. It also gives them a chance to ask about other places they might want to visit along the way.
Ask them to repeat the directions. Encourage the person to summarize the directions you’ve just given. This will help you verify if they understood everything correctly. If they misunderstood any part or missed something, you can make corrections.
- If they’re having trouble following the directions in ‘route perspective,’ try switching to ‘survey perspective,’ where you use mileages and cardinal directions like north, south, etc., instead of landmarks.
