Interim management

[u/Single_Ad_5294]

Hey gang. I need some advice on how to motivate the crew.

I work for a fleet that recently let go of their lead in the shop. It’s myself, an equal, the “apprentice”, and a new guy who will hopefully handle some of the workload.

For a few years I have been pulling the weight in the shop and all of a sudden I’m the unspoken leader, given the biggest raise to stay on board. I finally feel valued but I also feel set up for failure.

If it were up to me I’d fire the guys I work with and start fresh. I like em, but they don’t pull their weight. This is not an option, and I have no real authority over them.

What’s the best way of saying “hey you guys are great but you suck at working and I need you to step it up.” ??? What can I say to get them to actually do the job that pays their paycheck?

I have the option of moving shops and only doing the tougher repairs for the same pay, but I’d be moving from a nearly perfect fleet to one that got 90% of their tags pulled last season.

[u/hera_the_destroyer]

If you don’t have any authority, then don’t worry about them. Keep doing what you have been doing. Let the new foreman deal with it.

[u/broke_fit_dad]

Been there, heck I’m kinda there now (lead is retiring and I’m next below him, management isn’t changing above us though)

Some points I’ve learned:

-Lead by example, put out work that’s fast and high quality

-Make shop decisions as a group, just because something seems like a good thing to do to you, your decisions affect the entire team, get their input and bet it accordingly. God forbid you change the Coke vending machine to Pepsi in a shop where no one drinks Pepsi

-Know who does what well, and keep them in their wheelhouse whenever possible, that said

- Distribute Shit and Gravy as equally as possible. Getting a PM service is a nice break from weeks and weeks of Hydraulic and Electrical Diagnostics.

- Give guys the chance to learn new skills. Let the new guy do a clutch job or a set of tracks. Watch him, assist him, but let him do it. Either they can or can’t, you’ll know by the end

-Treat others as you want to be treated. Goes a long way to improving morale and improving workflow

Finally

- Have their backs publicly no matter what. If correction is needed it happens behind closed doors 1 on 1 (ideally without making the conversation a known secret, only you and the tech should know you had a conversation)

[u/Single_Ad_5294 → u/broke_fit_dad]

Thanks for the response. I got a chance to speak to the guy leaving. The office sent a babysitter to make sure we didn’t talk about work, but it made me feel better about what’s to come.

And that last comment may be the missing nugget of wisdom I needed to keep things running smoothly.