Toughest job: RE: motivation
Message
I've
been pretty lucky in that most of the people I've worked with over the years are
self-motivators and care about their jobs. But you do occasionally run into the
person for whom ANY job is "just a job." They could be flipping burgers and it's
all the same to them.
In
general the people in the lab need to know that what they do matters. The lab
can be impersonal because they never see a patient. You have to find a way
of making it personal. One way is to have the pathologists do case reviews in
which they take a case and present it to the histology staff, and make sure they
show how the histology work made a difference in the outcome. A few of
those should show people that their work is important.
The
lab staff must have a say in how things are done. their opinion has to
count (and not just for show - it really does have to count). So, make sure you
have meetings where things are really discussed and problems are solved - not
just all talk and complaining. That is the baseline for getting people to think
about it being just a job. Your lab director has to be fully behind you on
this.
The longest
journey begins with a single step. I suggest working on the
ones (hopefully more than one!) who are interested in the work and show promise.
Focus on them as a start. Get them involved in the workings of the lab and give
them the prime assignments. But don't load them up simply because they will do
the work - that will backfire.
Criticisim is fine if it is specific and timely. You
must hold out for high standards because the results of poor work affect real
people. Don't ever apologize for that. An old saying goes "Praise in public,
criticize in private."
Rewards can work if they are more than just paper on
the wall. Money certainly isn't "childish." Extra time off, being able to go to
a meeting, going to training, letting someone interact with other
departments on projects are all forms of rewards. BTW, if money is a problem,
see if the pathologists will kick in for something. I was very lucky to work for
a pathologist who paid out of his own pocket to send some of us to meetings
because he believed so strongly that they were important for us and the lab.
Once
you turn a couple of them into caring people it will be easier to bring
the others in. It will take awhile, but if you persevere you will end up with a
good group of people.
I need help!!!
I have been a
Supervisor here for a year and a half. The problem is lack of
responsibility and motivation. I have tried everything that I can think
of to try yo get the employees to understand that we are a team here for the
benefit of the patients that are waitng for the results of thier
biopsies. Before I came here they hadn't had a supervisor for almost 3
years.
The things that I have tried have caused the following responses
from the employees:
"That is childish" - in response to a reward
system
"She is too direct" - in response to my expectations
"She is
condinscending" - in response to my staff meetings when errors are pointed
out
Any advice would be greatly appreciated-- I am ready to give up and
I don't like to give up.
I would prefer to remain anonymous on the list
server, but if anyone would like to delve deeper, I would be happy to chat
outside the list server.
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