Am I failing my team?

[bouncer_the_dog]

They're doing as much as they're paid for and no more. Good for them. Why the hell should they care about putting in extra effort for free to an employer that's making money out of their labour?

This sounds to me like a pretty self defeating attitude, that usually results in getting fired.

 

[poster342002]

In any event, they get a chance tommorow to explain themselves to management, after todays subpar performance.

He-Man! Da da da da da da da, He-Man!!

 

[DarthSydodyas]

In any event, they get a chance tommorow to explain themselves to management, after todays subpar performance.

He-Man! Da da da da da da da, He-Man!!

fyi, this talk corresponds with some huge quality fuck ups which has cost the company in excess for £100k, and seriously damages its reputation. Like you give a fuck.

 

[DarthSydodyas]

Just a thought, but you say you bend over backwards to help them. While I am all for being proactive sometimes you have to step back. If they are fucking up you can't always go in and sort it out, otherwise they will come to rely on that. Ultimately they want a job, and they are being paid to do something. It may be hard but inspiring some pride in everyone's work may be another way forward. Doesn't sound like you are the problem, you may just need to try dome different tactics.

Job ownership is what I think is missing from this team. I'll have to take a look at our process sheets tommorow and what I need to do is ensure they are in synch with what we and the other shift are doing. Once I'm happy with that, I'll have someone considered the primary to sign off that sheet, to say they are happy with it. That then suggests they are responsible for that job, whilst job rotations and cover is still available (people cross train, and most already know all the jobs).

Whether or not I am the problem, management will look down on my inability to control things, or at least improve them.

 

[davgraham]

For a long time I have had to endure insufferable academic types berating me about my old fahsioned 'Fordist' view of the world.

I have had to swallow bullshit about 'team working' and others trendy ideas from 'behaviourist' schools of management. I shall now be able to use this thread as contemporary evidence that the ideas of F W Taylor and the practice of Fordist assembly line management are not relics of an industrial past nor are they only for societies at the early stage of industrial developmenbt as in China, but are truly alive and well in our post modernist present.

You should be aware that such managerial techniques actively promoted the very attitudes and performance that the OP complains of and that he will have to study how Henry Ford and other users of assembly line techmology attempted to avoid these consequences. Since this very much involved the use of Keynesian demand management techniques and other macro economic policies now wholly out of favour with 'the powers that be' I think the OP is going to have his work cut out.

. . . but you've made an old commie very happy

Taeverso

Gra

 

[DarthSydodyas]

You should be aware that such managerial techniques actively promoted the very attitudes and performance that the OP complains of and that he will have to study how Henry Ford and other users of assembly line techmology attempted to avoid these consequences.

Are there any particular sources that you know of that would help with this? I feel obliged to read up.

Thanks.

 

[bouncer_the_dog]

Sounds interesting, more info plz, could you do it in bullets dav, or maybe post a power point..

 

[DarthSydodyas]

Sounds interesting, more info plz, could you do it in bullets dav, or maybe post a power point..

Don't! it's usually accompanied by some cheap midi music.

 

[quimcunx]

Please do not use the word team, or 110%. If the workers give 110% do the management pay them 110%?

You could ask to be sent on a management course.
And ask them what they want, what would motivate them or improve performance.

But if the job is getting done in a reasonable time then it might be all the management speak bluesky thinking bollox that is actually the problem.

 

[DarthSydodyas]

Please do not use the word team, or 110%. If the workers give 110% do the management pay them 110%?

You could ask to be sent on a management course.
And ask them what they want, what would motivate them or improve performance.

But if the job is getting done in a reasonable time then it might be all the management speak bluesky thinking bollox that is actually the problem.

No, job timing is the issue, and I would not ask any of them for 110%.

Just an update, I stood down as team leader and went back to my original post. It was an interesting experience and I'm thankful to all concerned (here and at work) for the advice and oppurtunity.