I'm a Princess, and you're all going to cover for me.

Twenty seven years old, $60,000 in debt, mommy, daddy and boyfriend lending, giving, paying and generally getting sucked into the Princess' irresponsible, GTL (gym, tan, laundry, - it's a lifestyle) and it's not my fault I don't have a job, behaviour.

Like a traffic accident, you know you should move on and change the channel but you watch anyway. Whether you like the show, Gail Vaz-Oxlade or her "Princess" show is not the point. Focus on the young people she's trying to reconnect back to reality.

All I can think of is that at some time, we all employ people like that. They send us resumes, we waste time on them and if we're lucky, we finally hit that irresponsible part of their character and shunt them into the 'no' pile. The scary part is some of them actually get through the system and get hired. I'm shuddering as I write this.

Mom and dad are standing by with that neutered, guilty, grin, - the same attitude their princess has developed, silently signalling, "Who, me? She may be our daughter but we didn't teach her this spoiled, self centered behaviour. Don't know where that came from. "

It gets better. I watch one mom jump angrily to her slacker daughter's defense. Now both are forever on TV and YouTube showing the world how to make spoiled, irresponsible entitlement a family virtue. Yes, a train wreck. I shouldn't watch. But, TV producers aren't stupid, they know what attracts an audience.

It's obvious to watch for this behaviour at time of hiring. What's not so obvious is not spending time on these entitled characters when they're already on payroll. Coaching and training is wasted on people with no redeeming character qualities. It only works on good people. Do some digging, find out about their life, their values, their family life, their hobbies and pass times. What is their world view? Their values?

There a many variations on this "Princess" theme. They all end up in the same place, - people who don't want to work or take responsibility. People who really don't want to be helped. People you and I are never going to make effective.

Spend your time on good people. Replace the rest. Jim Collins didn't write the book for nothing. Human resources management requires we focus our resources where they have some chance of paying back.

If you ever wonder which half of your workforce is part of your next twenty years, call us. We'll bring the tools and find out for you.

See you for breakfast ,
Wolfgang

Next workshop,
Date: Thurs. June 14th, Deer Lake, Heritage Village, Burnaby. (Discovery Room)
Subject: "How to Hold Effective Meetings."
If you struggle with meetings, have too many ineffective meetings, or suffer meeting fatigue, this seminar will put your meeting process on a productive, (and popular) track. Different reasons to have meetings, (or not) and the tools, and ideas for structuring team and company meetings. (More information, click to brochure.)

Reserve your seats, email or call 604-931-6813. Thank you.