Step back and look at the parameters of the situation, and the
course of action is pretty straightforward.
First, the title of the thread already shows that you have closed
off options. Why should it be what's right or what's accepted? Are the
two mutually exclusive? I would suggest that an adjustment of both
would result in a meeting point in which it can be both right and
accepted.
Let's look at your bottom line. You want the marks. Simple as that.
Who you get the marks with and how it gets done are independent
considerations, so treat them independently when you're working out
your plan.
Next, the strongest point you have on your side is that you are
basing your conclusions on what these two guys have DONE, while the
girls are basing their approach on what they have SAID. Obviously
the stronger evidence is in your favour, so squeeze the girls on
that one. You already have proof that these two slackers are dead
weight - if they want to bring the guys back in the team, they have
to CONVINCE you that things will work out this time. There's no
need to get emotional when discussing this point with them. Be
cool, calm and logical, and use every bit of your experience with
these guys to rebut whatever the girls say, and place the emphasis
on ACTIONS, not words.
Ideally, by now you should have the girls in a corner. Point out
that you've given them every opportunity to make their case, but
there's nothing that they've done that guarantees protection of the
bottom line - the marks. Make sure you bring it back to the marks
because you need to keep this business-like.
At this point, you have two options. Either shut the whole
discussion down or give the girls a way out. The former option is
ill-advised, since it could well result in damage to the group's
morale. What about a way out for them, then?
Reiterate the point that this is business, not personal. At the end
of the day each of you will take marks away from this, and that's
the only thing that counts here.
In light of that, the first issue to be addressed is where the team
is at currently, and what needs to be done. Remind the girls that
what the two slackers do is much more important than what they say,
so if they want back in, they're going to have to perform some
actions that demonstrate their intentions. Set aside a few tasks
that they will need to do to earn probationary status in the team.
For example, if the bikinis haven't already been packed, give them
a clearly set time to finish the job. If they don't do it, they
can't convince you that they're a good bet and that's the end of
the issue. The objective of this is to shift the responsibility of
the outcome from yourself (in making the decision) to them (in
proving their good intent). If they fail, the blame falls squarely
on them.
If they do pass and get back in the team, you're going to have to
lay it out for them. They've obviously got work practice problems
that you will have to talk to them about, and you're going to have
to put measures in to address these problems. Also, if they do
complete the task, get back in and screw it up again, at the very
least you'll have cut your losses by getting soem work out of
them.
From the sounds of it, your team isn't doing much project
management. From what you've described, it sounds like tasks are
assigned to each team member on a lassiez faire basis, and no
strict timelines are being defined. You need to build it into your
team processes that everybody knows exactly what they're supposed
to be doing and by exactly when, and these assignments have to be
done in the presence pof the whole team so that it doesn't become
an individual argument. Make it clear to these guys that if they
fail to meet their deadlines, they're out because their failure
will be at everybody's expense.
In summary, get the bums to earn their place back in the team by
SHOWING that they're serious instead of just saying it, and
institute measures to keep them under control. If they fail, it
give you clear grounds to chuck them out again without further need
for debate.
The girls seem to be thinking with God-knows-what, so you're going
to have to be the one to set things on the right path. Make sure
that everything you do is logical and ties in to the bottom line
and that they know it - it's business, not personal. Besides, if
you cannot make a clear connection between your actions and the
bottom line, you're wasting your time and energy. On the basis of
past history, the two guys are on very thin ice, and if they want
back in they're going to have to agree on the stipulated conditions
WHICH ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT THE JOB GETS DONE
AND THAT THE WHOLE TEAM ACHIEVES THE BOTTOM LINE. I also suggest
that if the girls want the guys back in the team so badly, they
have to put their money where their mouth is and act as guarantors
to ensure that the guys meet their commitments - they're the ones
who want the bums back, so it's their job, not yours.
