The most messed up group of people you've ever met...?

Question

Are stuck together on the same professional team. Some of them are hard working and sharp. Some are hard working and slow. Some of them are just horrid backstabbers who either do a poor job or spend all their time trying to sabotage someone else's work.

One is a former boss who doesn't want the reposibility anymore but thinks anyone else is doing the job wrong. He's sharp and can get the job done but whines constantly. Another is a guy who wants the boss title but doesn't want to actually do the job. He's slow. A good salesman if marketing provides him with good material. He's just a talking head, he doesn't actually understand what he's saying most of the time. The problem is he wants to move up but he's not competent.

You can't fire anyone or transfer anyone at this time. How do you begin to pull the team together and get the most out of the employees?

bcptm - What are "yellows"?

tidbit - We have montly meetings. Am I venting, yes. I'd also like some ideas about how to move the group forward.

Sabretoo... - I didn't hire the staff, I inherited them. Also, firing someone is harder than you think. I work for a politically correct company and the incompetent guy is black. He's got 21 years with the company. He's goten as far as he has by screaming "RACISM" everytime he didn't get his way.

On a recent project, he had to do the write-up for some customer materials. I was asked to review the materials and give feedback. The materials were horrible - spelling and grammar errors, factual errors, etc. I marked it up and gave him a copy. He threw a fit! He had already sent it to print and gave copies to the customers. He refused to change it becuase he would be embarrassed in front of the customers. The re-write got assigned to another employee.

Answer 1

~With style finesse and not a little panache - and a big club or some yellows might help.


edit: What are Yellows? Oh, momma, the 60's ARE dead. Nobody did crack and ecstasy then. Our trips were in technicolor. The color determined the destination. Hey, I see blue.

Answer 2

Have a meeting have them write down what they would like to accomplish what area's they think that they could tackle without any supervision you will be surprised if given a chance what the janitor could even come up with ...and the backstabbers give them an own office with there name on it backstabbers have them come up with all the backstabbing ideas they want least they wont be doing it behind your back catching you off your guard

Answer 3

Sounds like my team! You must stay focused on work goals. Let your team know the company goals every day. Each player contributes something to your team. The "slow" one - let him research information. The former boss -- delegate something that puts in "in charge" again. The one who wants to be promoted, but doesn't want to work - well, I don't know, but I'm sure you'll find something for him. You get the picture. Best of luck! :)

Answer 4

You can fire people for incopentance as far as I am aware.

You need to learn better skill when interviewing the staff.
There is training out there for this.

Yes, I have known bad staff teams; they are called care staff and work in mental hospitals. They are serially incompitant!

Sabretooth

Answer 5

Some kid that I sit next to on the bus everyday takes deep breaths instead of scattering out his breaths. Its weird, and plus, he never keeps his mouth shut, literally, his teeth and gums are always showing.

Answer 6

Venting are we? Wait until after the holidays and call a meeting.

Answer 7

Tough one.
I thought the question was going to be, who do I think the most messed up group of people are....I'd go with the Christians!

Happy Holidays!