Advice Required Re Staff Motivation

bristol_pilot

I would not even consider placing a school leaver in his first job in a position where he is expected to work remotely and unsupervised. That is too much to expect from a school leaver IMO. Remember, he has come from an environment (school) where kids can behave as they please and there are no consequences. The person who posted ealier about peanuts and monkeys has a point. I also see it as a potential problem that you like this person. I find it much easier to manage people who I do not like particularly, one's professional judgement is then not clouded by personal considerations. I agree that the individual is probably too immature for the job - you can either get rid now or be patient and wait ~2 years for them to grow up. I don't think further training will be sufficient.

bristol_pilot

getmore4less wrote: »

some of this has manifested itself in putting work off as they perceive it to be not important, then forgetting to do it

This is the key

Make it clearer what are the important tasks/priorities, some people think they know better but that often only comes with experience.

I agree totally. However an immature person simply does not have the mindset to recogise that something can be important just because the boss says it is. This is really key to understanding the world of work and I'm afraid its a lesson that a school leaver could take a long time to learn.

maninthestreet

You employed a school-leaver with, presumably, no experience of full-time work, in a job that requires significant training and working at customer sites un-supervised??? Surely you got what you asked for??

Sambucus_Nigra

Have you looked at the Hershey and Blanchard situational leadership - where you change your management style depending on the person's competence and commitment?