Getting people to do things at work...

[bananafanana]

Posted this in the Relationships Forum but haven't had a single response! Thought I might have a bit more luck here. Here goes...

On the whole, most of my relationships with work colleagues are very good. I pretty much get on with everyone and am pretty good at getting people to do things/am quite persuasive!

However...

There are about three individuals in my organisation who consistently hold me up. Invariably, they do not come back to me on questions until I have chased them four or five times over periods of up to 10 days. I always make requests ahead of time (i.e. not a 'last minute larry') and always get back on queries very quickly or push them along to the next stage where I can. Now I work in a project environment so I am very used to prodding people repeatedly to get things done. Most of the team need a few prods but these three pretty much take the biscuit! Much as I would like to let rip I am always calm and collected - probably too much! Other people complain about them too but nothing is ever done. All three have been around since dinosaurs roamed...

So, other than stick a rocket up their backside, does anyone have any advice on how to deal with these muppets?! I am very tempted to dish out the same treatment in return to see if they like a taste of their own medicine, however, I am very customer focused so am not actually sure I can sink to their level!

All advice gratefully received...

Can you tell them "I need an answer by x date?" when you make the first request? Some people need to have a deadline!

Sorry, posted too soon. Was going to say, if that doesn't work, I'd favour the transparent approach. Ask for a meeting and explain in a very non-confrontational way the impact that not getting the info is having on your work, and ask if there is anything you could do differently when you need the info (or whatever) from them, to enable them to get it to you on time. And if that doesn't work, talk to your boss - or theirs.

I am assuming that these people are your peers, rather than your managers or people who you line manage, as either of these scenarios would obviously call for a slightly different approach.

maybe promise some sort of reward for getting it done by the date you want? Like a fancy coffee? Something work appropriate? it works for my very lazy dog...

Yep, tried that...

I state what I want from them by when. Falls on deaf ears... Normally chase the day after deadline. No response. Chase again a day or so later... Nothing. Chase again... and again... and again... and again... Generally no response... Nothing... Nada... Zilch... Get my drift?! I don't lose my rag. I just chase over and over and over again.

Was chasing for something the other day on behalf of someone else. Item finally got actioned. Didn't get an update. Only found out because I checked back with the someone else who confirmed it had finally been actioned. How do some people get away with it? Even the MD complains about them. I would be kicking their backsides if I was in his shoes...

I probably sound like an irritating bitch but I've been assured that I'm incredibly good at getting most people to do things.

Given the choice I would avoid them completely but all three play a part in me getting things signed off/done and I can't go above or around them.

Just checking the method of your chasin, and apologies if you're doing this already.

Do you go up to their desks/ call? Harder to ignore in that situation. Easy to ignore an e mail.

Anyway, watching with interest, I find this tricky as well. In my previous job it was a nightmare as their bosses were not 'engaged', i.e they didn't understand/care. Maybe you need to speak to their bosses, not about the people as such, but about the importance of the particular project/ issue.

Essentially this is a management problem - if their job is to supply XYZ information and they aren't doing that then it's a disciplinary issue. Go to your boss, point out that it's affecting your workload and deadlines, ask bosses what they intend to do about it - is the project important enough that they get disciplined or is it more important that these guys cruise along as they have done for years? It's really your boss' decision to make, but they have to realise that their management of these people affects your ability to do your job.

What would happen if you skipped them entirely? In other words - is their input essential or could you leave them out of your project altogether, either outsourcing the work to an outside agency or asking their juniors directly? (Obviously this might not be feasible!)

Secondly, you mentioned that before you've constantly reminded them and given them deadlines and then chased them repeatedly after the deadline. Could it be that they just think all your deadlines are mickey mouse deadlines and not that important? Have a chat with them and explain what consequences there will be if they don't get the work to you on the deadline.