Advice on getting people to do their jobs?

6 Comments

1. Nicole DupuisMarch 25,2022 at 2:35PM UTC

   I hear you 100%. I would start with first respecting that what is a priority to you is not a priority to everyone else. We often have to keep touching base on things that are important for us because we see the sense of urgency loud and clear but others don’t.

   That being said, perhaps having a conversation (before the busiest time) about what would be the best method of communication as reminders. Outline the deadlines and ask what would be the best way to help them get the material to you on time. That way, it allows them to voice their thoughts but it also puts you in a position of having gotten ahead of the issue.

2. Heather CutlerMarch 25,2022 at 4:00PM UTC

   If the request is budget driven and will result in people losing money because they don't respond, dangle that carrot. "If I don't hear from you by ABC deadline, I'll be using last year's budget numbers."

3. SamanthaMarch 25,2022 at 5:50PM UTC

   I totally understand how frustrating this is.

   I don't know what you've tried to reach out to them, but have you tried setting up a call with them, or a meeting. Maybe set up a follow-up meeting for a week later in case you might still need something from them.

   I also like the other idea another poster says about just using last quarters numbers or last years numbers.

4. AnonymousMarch 28,2022 at 12:26PM UTC

   Thanks for the support, Samantha. With everyone WFH (and many being in different countries) my problem children are the ones who don't show up to meetings or scheduled calls. That's one thing I miss from being in the office - walking over to someone's desk! :-)

5. Barb HansenMarch 25,2022 at 8:17PM UTC

   Getting people to engage (and to do work) when you don't manage them is one of the skill sets in Product Management (which is my background). I feel you, it's so much fun to be responsible for a task or product but not be responsible for the people who you need to be working on the task/product.

   Here is some advice (some of which you are probably already doing)

   1- Set clear expectations on what needs to be done by whom

   2 - If you can, get agreement from the participant's managers on the time line

   3 - Create weekly Project Management emails with what's been done, and who's input is still outstanding. Share that email with everyone on the team (cc'ing their managers)

   4 - In that email, mark outstanding issues in yellow, if they are a week behind and red if they are two weeks behind, (or whatever schedule works for you)

   4 - if a team member has been marked as red for more than two weeks, then the issue gets escalated.

   Facts are facts - the input you need from others is important to the company. You are treating your work as a Project - tasks need to be done by team members before you can do your work - and a time-line with action items, along with transparency on where all those action items stand is your friend.

6. AnonymousMarch 28,2022 at 12:22PM UTC

   Thanks, Barb! I hadn't really viewed this as a project - just a task that needed to be done. But you are absolutely right, and numbers 3 and 4 might be just what is needed.