How to motivate my partner?

Question

I Have a small company with as few as 15 employees and 4 partners. However i have 2 partners that works less than my employees. I have tried everything to motivate them. I gave them differen tasks. Let them do what they like. Gave them a raise on the share of the company. We have set goals that they were not able to acomplish and i´m trying to teach them how to lead, however no employee respects them. Lastly i cannot fired them because they are partner.

I´m open to any ideas.
Please let me know if you need more info.

Cannot buy them out. They dont want out

Are they equal partners? Did they all put equal amounts of money in?
No. me and the other partner have 34% each the other 2 have 16% each

What was the agreement when you all got together, and was it in writing? only the percentage of the company was in writting. nothing else was in writting. tasks and other such things was not defined

please let me know if you have any other questions

by the way it a travel agency that we own

Answer 1

Try and buy them out. Bring two people together and they'll try find a way to stick it to someone. People are a great beast.

Answer 2

I cannot improve on the above answer.
Except, HOW you buy them out may have a major impact on how you can continue the business.
The problem with partners is, it is like a damn marriage and when it goes bad, you are f..ried.
Are they equal partners? Did they all put equal amounts of money in?
What was the agreement when you all got together, and was it in writing?
Without knowing a lot of the details I can only come up with very limited options, other than the answerer above. ;-)

Answer 3

Why give them a raise when they aren't pulling their weight? Either buy them out or sell them your piece and get out yourself. If they don't want to buy you out, then take money out of the business and get out (that's basically what they are doing). Whatever you decide, you should DOCUMENT anything and everything related to the them and the business (illegal behavior, the way they treat employees, time they come in and go, etc.). This may help you if it ever goes to a court. This is the reason that I think partnerships are the worst form of business to be involved in.

Answer 4

1. buy them out.
2. never reward someone thinking it will motivate them. reward the other partners and let them ask why they were excluded; then tell them.
3. definitely email [e-mail] and ask for a copy of "The Great Game of Business"

You can read about the great game philosophy by searching INC magazine then for SRC or Jack Stack. Should pull up some articles.

Answer 5

Unfortunately, some people will have different work ethics than your own, and quite frankly be lazy. The only real solution in this case is to buy out the 2 partners. Good luck!

Answer 6

Buy them out and tell them to hit the bricks