Advice please: Telling someone they need to show more initiative

[Blossom]

I havn't read through the entire thread so forgive me if this has already been said.
I too am the chatty type and work with mostly young guys 14yr through 30yrs. Most of them are terribly intimidated by me so I get where your coming from.
Having said that, it's been my experience that its almost impossible to 'teach' someone to take the inititive. At best you might get them to see the problem but solving it is a whole other skill.
When the need arises and I need to 'talk' to one of the guys about their perfomance I tend to just be myself. I am blunt and some say harsh but at least I am not misunderstood. Clean and clear and all that.
Bottom line is yes I may upset them but I have not caused them harm. There is a job to be done and unfortunately a lot of younger people do have an attitude of "why should I if someone else can do it" and the ever popular "whats the benefit in it for me". Admittedly I do tend to nip that last one in the bud on day one. Shy or not, either he is into his job or he is not.
Hope it works out.

quietly realises shes being bossy again and sneaks out of the thread.

[MotoGirl]

When the need arises and I need to 'talk' to one of the guys about their perfomance I tend to just be myself. I am blunt and some say harsh but at least I am not misunderstood. Clean and clear and all that.
Bottom line is yes I may upset them but I have not caused them harm. There is a job to be done and unfortunately a lot of younger people do have an attitude of "why should I if someone else can do it" and the ever popular "whats the benefit in it for me".

Yes, I don't want to be perceived as a bitch or someone who's just bossy. At the end of the day, though, we are a small company and we all need to watch out for its best interests. For example, the senior staff doing dishes is less cost effective than having the junior do the same job. Unfortunately, Mr I-can-get-away-with-it believes he doesn't have to pull his weight so we wind up carrying him, which effectively costs the company more money.

[skidMark]

Nobody uses thier initiative anymore because nobody asked them to