Work Place - How to.........

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by red-beard

1. Incompetent people

"Up and Out" - The worst thing you can you is give someone a bad appraisal. You need to build them up so that they will apply for another position and leave.

................snip, blah, blah...........................

Are you serious? That's too much freakin' work. I have never understood the "workplace." I guess that's why I worked for myself for most of my life.

No, the pay sucks most of the time. However, some manage to invest as they go and end up just fine.

No way would I take the initiative to do all those things to *help* fellow employees. I'd just stick 'em in the elevator and turn off the power. By the time they got out, all issues would have been resolved.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by juan ruiz

I'd like to know how you guys deal with the following issues at the work place, I was in field service for 23 years, but 2 years ago I took a position as one of the managers in the office to spend more time with the family, however I'm having a very difficult time dealing with the following;

1. Incompetent people
2. Favoritism
3. Unqualified people
4. Lack of support
5. Lack of motivation
6. Lack of trust
7. Never been recognize for your achievements
8. People ignoring company rules and guidelines
9. Managers looking the other way instead of resolving issues

I fully understand that theres no perfect place to work BUT C'mon is this stuff going on in all companies? Please share your story I'd like to see what else I have to look forward too

As someone who ran their own business for a LONG time:

1. Incompetent people - most employees overestimate their own worth, their own influence, and their own IQ, while going the other way with other employees.

2. Favoritism - See 1. above, as a manager your primary job is to succeed, that requires putting the best people in place. I always showed favortism to the best people.

3. Unqualified people - They come and they go. See 2. above. And maybe 1. also.

4. Lack of support - It's a cruel world out there, hard to make a buck.

5. Lack of motivation - It's your job to motivate yourself to earn money. Got better opportunities? Go for it.

6. Lack of trust - I shared all necessary info with my employees. Your co-workers are your problem, give them reason to trust you.

7. Never been recognize for your achievements - Agreed.

8. People ignoring company rules and guidelines - Poor management allows that to happen. Speak up, explain how it hurts the company.

9. Managers looking the other way instead of resolving issues - Human nature, and poor management. But certain petty issues aren't worth fighting over.

Or I could just be a right wing b@stard....

[M.D. Holloway]

Many folks think that todays labor system is no different than slavery and maybe there are some points that can be made in that respect. Some companies actually run more like gangs or cults - now thats actually more like it. Those are the ones that show up on the Forbes top 100 to work for. Check this chart out - very interesting from a guy that wrote a book on gangs in America:

[Danny_Ocean]

Two words: Self employment.

[madmmac]

Warn..Document...Warn..Document-fire-hire. There are a lot more people out there who would love to have a job.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by juan ruiz

I'd like to know how you guys deal with the following issues at the work place, I was in field service for 23 years, but 2 years ago I took a position as one of the managers in the office to spend more time with the family, however I'm having a very difficult time dealing with the following;

1. Incompetent people

Yes, Get use to it

2. Favoritism

Si, Get used to it...

3. Unqualified people

Oui, Get used to it...

4. Lack of support

Ja, Get used to it...

5. Lack of motivation

Ken, Get used to it...

6. Lack of trust

Hai, Get used to it...

7. Never been recognize for your achievements

a-yo, Get used to it...

8. People ignoring company rules and guidelines

Áno, Get used to it...

9. Managers looking the other way instead of resolving issues

Avunu, Get used to it...
I fully understand that theres no perfect place to work BUT C'mon is this stuff going on in all companies? Please share your story I'd like to see what else I have to look forward too

The above sums it up and... oopss here come the bo

[Evans, Marv]

All of those horrible things exist in a magnified form in a school district. I was always truthful, hard working, called a spade a spade, and led by example - and was a thorn in the side of most of those above me for those reasons. When describing me they would say I "marched to a different drummer." My retort was, "Sorry if I'm not a personal friend or don't wear a dress." I know it hurt my chances for advancement, but I just couldn't bring myself to suck up. The most irritating thing was that those who were the most incompetent but with the most political savvy went upward. By the time I was in a position to actually see the landscape, I already had too much time invested. Just one more reason things are going down the drain. Self employment is good advice as long as you don't create an organization large enough to get infected.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by juan ruiz

1. Incompetent people
2. Favoritism
3. Unqualified people
4. Lack of support
5. Lack of motivation
6. Lack of trust
7. Never been recognize for your achievements
8. People ignoring company rules and guidelines
9. Managers looking the other way instead of resolving issues

Those are all signs of poor management. Seriously. You need to turn it around and you won't be able to do it by giving up on them.

One of the departments I run had the same issues a couple years ago. They fired the old manager and threw me to the wolves, but it turned out the wolves weren't as bad as everone thought. They were actually pretty cool once they figured out that their success was important to me.

Tell yourself this:
It is your purpose in life to help these people be successful. Whether that means an atta boy, a kick in the pants, or a helping hand, it's up to you.

Maxwell said something along the lines of "every time I've failed in business, I was only looking out for myself. Every time I've succeeded, I was looking out for others".

[azasadny]

Juan,
Hire me, I'll fix everything!

[GH85Carrera]

Wow all of that makes me so happy to work at a small place. We have a relaxed athmosphere, and know that the other guys will do their job right and promptly.

[Hard-Deck]

We send them packing to the civilian side of life since they cannot operate in the real world

[Icemaster]

Have you considered returning to the field...?

All of those to a T are reasons I left a senior managment position and returned to a contract individual contributor role. Even in a position of authority, there's always a game to be played and moral conundrums to be faced daily.

How much do you value looking into the eyes of the guy staring back at you in the mirror?

[A930Rocket]

Learn to put up with it, go back to the field or move on. If you move up, there's no guarantee that you'll have support from above to do any good. Incompetence runs deep and politics is another issue. And if you did move up, don't spend your time on the bad apples, spend your time on those who produce. Those who produce don't like to see mgt spending time and energy on those who don't. BTDT.

It's amazing what constitutes good work and employees now a days.

[juan ruiz]

Have you considered returning to the field...?

Every single minute! thats an instant 60K Raise it took me a year to make my decision, in the field I felt like a Rat without no way to go, a rich rat by the way, in the field food is bad, accommodations are bad, help is worst that some of the useless people in the office, never mind the noise, heat and all other things...................

Then I look at my 9 year old boy ( the primary reason I left the field) and seen him every day is priceless, no money can buy me that; don't get me wrong I'm not looking for a happy workplace but it sure be nice to be able to grow in a professional way and be proud of what you do without any holds bar

Honestly sometimes I think that theres something wrong with me, maybe I think that I'm better than others? but then again my 50% efficiency is far better that 110% of some people even if no one recognize that...

[Brando]

Seriously, which branch/department of the government do you work for?

Originally Posted by juan ruiz

[...]
1. Incompetent people
2. Favoritism
3. Unqualified people
4. Lack of support
5. Lack of motivation
6. Lack of trust
7. Never been recognize for your achievements
8. People ignoring company rules and guidelines
9. Managers looking the other way instead of resolving issues

[Icemaster]

There's not a damn thing wrong with you - you have standards and priorities and merely by askign teh question you've indicated that you've got your head on straighter than most folks.

Your standards and priorities are what drives your decisions. I don't blame you at all, being gone 60-70% of the time was a factor in my decision to move back into management again, but the kids were also a factor in my decision to move jobs out of management - I wasn't a very nice person and half the father I should have been when dealign with the 10 items that you listed as a ranking member of the chair force. I didn't like the stress of deciding which face I was going to wear today, and what game I was going to walk into each morning.

It probably wont get any better, honestly. I sincerely hope that it does for you. It's not all doom and gloom, there are good places and lots of very good people out there, it just a matter of finding them. My advice would be to define boundaries and your limits for the BS. You take only what you are willing to take and no more. Once that set point is crossed, you need to resolve yourself to taking action sometimes drastic sometimes not - but that's the only way that you will remain master of your own destiny. You control your future, and the best way to do that is to question everything, never doubt your instincts, and have teh guts to act when needed. Try putting the tagline "Non illegitmi carborundum" in your email tag line to remind yourself. It helps me.

Continue to be the man that your kid looks up to every day.

[juan ruiz]

Icemaster

Thank you for the words of wisdom, Greatly apprecciated Last year I had to fired 12 people and it was not easy but it had to be done, this entire new chapter has been a good experience but is really getting to me

I wonder who invented that saying "The Grass is not always Green in the other side"

[rnln]

This must be a big organization.

Originally Posted by juan ruiz

I'd like to know how you guys deal with the following issues at the work place, I was in field service for 23 years, but 2 years ago I took a position as one of the managers in the office to spend more time with the family, however I'm having a very difficult time dealing with the following;

1. Incompetent people
2. Favoritism
3. Unqualified people
4. Lack of support
5. Lack of motivation
6. Lack of trust
7. Never been recognize for your achievements
8. People ignoring company rules and guidelines
9. Managers looking the other way instead of resolving issues

I fully understand that theres no perfect place to work BUT C'mon is this stuff going on in all companies? Please share your story I'd like to see what else I have to look forward too

[slakjaw]

If I give work to the competent people why is it Favoritism?

[juan ruiz]

Favoritism, Under that topic I consider the following;

1. People who are not qualified but get promoted.

2. People who get the "Gravy Jobs" when they don't deserve them.

3. People who get 8 hours signed when they only are at the office for 3 hours.

4. People who are allowed to work from home while some of us have to be at the office for 8 hours putting out fires.

5. People who get raise just because of the Favoritism as a 'Friend"

6. People who get training in the latest products, even if they will never be used what they learn neither will understand about it.

7. People that move up the ladder without paying their duties.

And the list is endless that's when Favoritism goes bad.

If you have earned your stripes, and you deserve some type of Favoritism. I'm all for that, YOU EARNED!

But of course I could be wrong with my line of thinking. That's why I posted this topic to see other "Outsiders Opinions"

If you are a supertars Im all for!