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Need advice guys. I'm just overall having a bad day, but I'm really pissed off about something. I'm working on several projects for work - one of them, someone else is directing. and I am being responsible in terms of my part - if i say i'll get it done, i'll get it done. and i'll go out of my way to finish something, and even learn something that's technically not my "job". this project takes relief off of my shoulders because all i have to do is do what i was assigned instead of having to micro-manage everyone.
And then I am directing another project. So this person.... I allowed her into the group because she seemed to have work experience on her resume that aligned with the responsibilities. during the interview for the research fellowship, we specifically went over the time commitment. And i was very specific about how much commitment was needed for her role for every week. During the first half of the project, we specifically discussed that she needed to commit 8-10 hours a week , and during the second half, we only needed 4-5 hours since her role is primarily in the first half of the project.
She hasn't been doing ANYTHING. she puts in the bare minimum of about 1 - 2 hours a week. the research fellowship is extremely individual, and is done on everyone's own time, but literally, since august, she's done one week's worth of stuff. And it's really simple stuff, too. I have the format all set out, and all she has to do is fill in the research documents with research on the sources I already collected. My sibling in high school can do this stuff! It's just a matter of putting time into it. Last week, I sat down to have a talk with my group, to go over our roles, our time commitments, and what we thought our responsibilities were. I thought this would be a democratic way of allowing everyone to kind of focus on their specific roles and responsibilities. She was clear.
Today, I get an email from her saying she cant do this assignment because she's "cramming for a paper due this week." and then she asked me if I could just do it. First of all, most of us in our work office are also students - post bac. students or grad. students. We all schedule our calendars around school, work and research. Second of all, if she was doing all of her work since August, and then she bailed out on this assignment, I'd go easy on her. BUT, she's done like one week's work of basic stuff. Maybe a few pages or so. Third, she's too busy to do something that takes 15 minutes? But she's not busy to go on her facebook and comment on all of her friend's pictures, post on her wall, upload pictures, etc. Are you SERIOUS? WOW. I usually have the mentality of "if you want to get something done right, do it yourself." But I realize that if we want to get anything done, we need her to get her stuff together and GET ON IT.
I am "the boss" on this project so there is no "manager" or even professor to go to - this is a project the committee asked me to direct, so I do have the ability to let her go if need be. There is a faculty advisor that I communicate with, but I have all control over the resources, etc, and the advisor is just in terms of giving me feedback on the content of the project, but the management is up to me. However, if i choose to let her go, it will most likely stir up drama, and yadayadayada, a lot of unnecessary drama. Knowing this person, I know she'd be the type to take this up to as far as she could go and complain to everyone. Niss once told me about working with people -- thinking of them as brooms. It was an analogy - the handle can be broken - you can fix the handle, replace the handle, etc. In this case, I want to fix the handle first so I could still use it for my needs.
Here is the thing, I plan on having a talk with her about her commitments. First of all, I understand that most of us are students and we have school responsibilities. But, i also want to make it clear that there are time commitments and responsibilities for this project. If she can't balance both and want to focus on her schoolwork, I understand. But she will need to be straightforward about what she can do and what she can't do. Does this seem reasonable? I mentioned this to my faculty advisor, and I got the impression she thought this was being too cold-hearted. I feel so authoritarian right now, but really, the work.needs.to.get.DONE. and if she can't do it, i need to hire someone who CAN do it and deserves the paycheck and funding. Okay, so... i am really angry right now. Plus, a lack of sleep, so I can't think logically or calmly right now. Can you guys help me figure out a calm, logical, but firm/strict way of relaying this? without me just being a ruthless, heartless dictator? because that's what i feel like right now. My mom often tells me i have ice in my veins when I get pushed against my values or across my lines. askdja;d
And then I am directing another project. So this person.... I allowed her into the group because she seemed to have work experience on her resume that aligned with the responsibilities. during the interview for the research fellowship, we specifically went over the time commitment. And i was very specific about how much commitment was needed for her role for every week. During the first half of the project, we specifically discussed that she needed to commit 8-10 hours a week , and during the second half, we only needed 4-5 hours since her role is primarily in the first half of the project.
She hasn't been doing ANYTHING. she puts in the bare minimum of about 1 - 2 hours a week. the research fellowship is extremely individual, and is done on everyone's own time, but literally, since august, she's done one week's worth of stuff. And it's really simple stuff, too. I have the format all set out, and all she has to do is fill in the research documents with research on the sources I already collected. My sibling in high school can do this stuff! It's just a matter of putting time into it. Last week, I sat down to have a talk with my group, to go over our roles, our time commitments, and what we thought our responsibilities were. I thought this would be a democratic way of allowing everyone to kind of focus on their specific roles and responsibilities. She was clear.
Today, I get an email from her saying she cant do this assignment because she's "cramming for a paper due this week." and then she asked me if I could just do it. First of all, most of us in our work office are also students - post bac. students or grad. students. We all schedule our calendars around school, work and research. Second of all, if she was doing all of her work since August, and then she bailed out on this assignment, I'd go easy on her. BUT, she's done like one week's work of basic stuff. Maybe a few pages or so. Third, she's too busy to do something that takes 15 minutes? But she's not busy to go on her facebook and comment on all of her friend's pictures, post on her wall, upload pictures, etc. Are you SERIOUS? WOW. I usually have the mentality of "if you want to get something done right, do it yourself." But I realize that if we want to get anything done, we need her to get her stuff together and GET ON IT.
I am "the boss" on this project so there is no "manager" or even professor to go to - this is a project the committee asked me to direct, so I do have the ability to let her go if need be. There is a faculty advisor that I communicate with, but I have all control over the resources, etc, and the advisor is just in terms of giving me feedback on the content of the project, but the management is up to me. However, if i choose to let her go, it will most likely stir up drama, and yadayadayada, a lot of unnecessary drama. Knowing this person, I know she'd be the type to take this up to as far as she could go and complain to everyone. Niss once told me about working with people -- thinking of them as brooms. It was an analogy - the handle can be broken - you can fix the handle, replace the handle, etc. In this case, I want to fix the handle first so I could still use it for my needs.
Here is the thing, I plan on having a talk with her about her commitments. First of all, I understand that most of us are students and we have school responsibilities. But, i also want to make it clear that there are time commitments and responsibilities for this project. If she can't balance both and want to focus on her schoolwork, I understand. But she will need to be straightforward about what she can do and what she can't do. Does this seem reasonable? I mentioned this to my faculty advisor, and I got the impression she thought this was being too cold-hearted. I feel so authoritarian right now, but really, the work.needs.to.get.DONE. and if she can't do it, i need to hire someone who CAN do it and deserves the paycheck and funding. Okay, so... i am really angry right now. Plus, a lack of sleep, so I can't think logically or calmly right now. Can you guys help me figure out a calm, logical, but firm/strict way of relaying this? without me just being a ruthless, heartless dictator? because that's what i feel like right now. My mom often tells me i have ice in my veins when I get pushed against my values or across my lines. askdja;d
:laughing:
