Hi
My team is composed of 4 full timers - 2 of which are high performers, one is getting better (the drumbeat meetings are working), and my 4th is looking at retiring in 14 months. I inherited him 2 years ago and before he came to me he was basically left alone for 27 years - he came and went as he pleased. He uses up a lot of my energy and time - I have not given up - as he needs to be productive for the next 14 months but it is trying on my patience sometimes ...His work is mediocre at best - I feel he is just "riding the wave" - since he is retiring in 14 months.
Any advice to help me motivate this gentleman?
thank you
Polly
Feedback
Ignore the fact that he's retiring in 14 months.
Just give him feedback as if he were not retiring. Past performance (good or bad) is no reason to allow present and future performance to lag. Especially listen to the shot-across-the-bow model for feedback. Let him know what is expected of him. If he fails to perform in the face of repeated attempts to turn him around, then fire him.
No one should be allowed to continue not doing his job. The rest of the team is being forced to do extra work that he should be doing or else the work is not getting done at all. Neither of these situations speak well of your performance as a manager.
I hate to sound cruel, but this is meant to be direct: You can make him do his job by you doing your job. It sounds like your predecessor was also allowed to just coast for 27 years. It's your job to stop that trend.
Same boat
Hi Polly,
I just took over a larger team and have a 69 year old employee. At the beginning I felt the same but since I didn't know any better I just followed all the MT guidance, like always, and surprisingly he has responded well and seems to have been rejuvinated. I am happy for him as he is enjoying his job more and I wonder if his retirement plans might be delayed which I would appreciate as he is an excellent employee. This will be a discussion in our next O3.
Work the program. I call it MT fairy dust but it truth I know it to be hard and disciplined work.
Dawne
What they said.
Show him the respect that he is enough of a professional that he wouldn't want someone to treat him like a child. Hold him accountable. The pay's the same, the work should be commensurate. There is no ramp down into retirement. Manage him as a professional. How he responds is his issue. Be nice, be kind, and expect him to perform.
Mark
MT fairy dust
Dawne,
I just want to say I let my imagination go and laughed at your MT fairy dust comment. I love it! Yes it is hard and discipline work. Hidden to the outer world. What shows up are the results. Just like the fairy dust. Hard work to get those fairy dust, but all people see is the magic!
Nara