Motivating people

[NotAllThere]

The reason you have problem with your staff is that they are recruitment consultants and by definition a bunch of workshy, leeching, dishonest, lazy scumbags.

Even if you hired someone really motivated and skilled, they'd still be working in recruitment and within a few days, they'd be workshy, leeching, dishonest and lazy. Or they'd nick your database and set up on their own.

It's a lose lose situation. The only solution is to pack it all in and get an honest job. Or get some very low level technical skills and become a contractor.

[psychocandy]

Of course the responsibility lies with me and yes I need to manage properly but I am just tired of employing people who lack drive and ambition.

You mentioned pittance of basic salary. maybe thats why?

[lukemg]

'Why are so few people so poorly self motivated.'
Don't see the problem as this means the vast majority are very motivated ??

Reality is that most people are lazy, they don't want it enough.
Also the nature of the work can be depressing, in some companies people only work in complaints dept for a certain time because it grinds them down hearing bad news all day. Bashing the phones is likely to have the same effect, hit rate is so low, must be so hard to stay interested.
You are clearly motivated and setup on your own etc but like Roy Keane you are disappointed to see the level of commitment from others.
Can't remember who, but one big co used to sack worst performing 10% each year, kept the rest on their toes to make sure they weren’t in this list. I would consider something like this, bounce people in on a trial basis, you will know who can hack it after 6 months, cut your losses at that point, not just on revenue terms but honest assessment of potential, hunger etc.
Consider hiring people with responsibilities, average yoof only needs enough coin to finance pills and ale, family man needs much more cash to keep roof over head of family etc….

[Scoobos]

Even if you hired someone really motivated and skilled, they'd still be working in recruitment and within a few days, they'd be workshy, leeching, dishonest and lazy. Or they'd nick your database and set up on their own.

You missed a step in Dodgy's guide to rise to fame, you need to bankrupt the company with lazy work and then steal the database - it doesn't count if the company goes bust.

[speling bee]

Why are so few people so poorly self motivated.

Surely that is a good thing if so few people are so poorly self motivated. If your management focus is to change that, the outlook for your business is poor. Alternatively, if despite there being being so few people, you manage to pick them, then the outlook for your business is poor. Alternatively, if you are an illiterate cretin, then the outlook for your business is poor.

Time to sell up and retire, my friend.

[NotAllThere]

...
Can't remember who, but one big co used to sack worst performing 10% each year, kept the rest on their toes to make sure they weren’t in this list.

That was Enron. So a perfect role-model for a recruitment agency.

[DodgyAgent]

I can't be bothered to read all this. It strikes me that the Recruitment Industry is a telesales McJob type industry that people only do until they can get into a proper career. There's only so many times you can cold call someone and get told to "**** off" before you lose your motivation surely?

And the world is still flat

I'll take a Macjob any day before becoming one of your useless lot:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/poli...Mandarins.html

[DodgyAgent]

You missed a step in Dodgy's guide to rise to fame, you need to bankrupt the company with lazy work and then steal the database - it doesn't count if the company goes bust.

You presume that I am capable of printing documents off a computer. I am flattered

[OwlHoot]

Of course the responsibility lies with me and yes I need to manage properly but I am just tired of employing people who lack drive and ambition.

Maybe they're after your manager role, and you're holding them back by just occupying it.

OH in "Where will I be in five years time? Doing your job" mode

[SupremeSpod]

You have a point. I am frustrated because I want to work on top of the business and not in it. My interest is in developing new markets. Right now I am working "in the business" and at least the business is doing really well. I am concerned that I am going to have to keep managing as it will fall back again if I do not.

You need a "MiniMe". Let him/her beat the slaves while you sort out what you really want to do.

A sort of "Gary Goldsmith" to your "Michael Dauncey"...