Breaking news to someone that they're not as skilled as they think they are?

[flatyre]

Hey folks not on a tree surgery job but need some advice on a situation. As my landscaping business has been growing I decided to throw a few days work at a mate who has some paving experience (first mistake I know but he had mentioned working for me a few times) . He worked for a couple of years for a local paving expert who liked to do things old school freestyle like screeding with a stick and just his eye (twenty years experience and a good eye). Anyway I was asked to lay a 7x13 metre patio so offered him a few days work primarily to drive the dumper while I dug it out and drew stone in. A number of small one day and half day jobs came up which needed my attention so I worked out the levels, set up all the lines, gave him a crash course in using screed rails, and we laid 21 sq metres of 400x400 flags in four hours, next day I re set the screed rails and left him to it. Came back at the end of the day and he had 6 sq metres laid and not as well, screed rails were ditched as soon as I turned my back . Then today I came back at the end of the day and he had binned the lines which had been carefully worked out regarding the necessary falls, and used to set the kerbs for the raised area. Needless to say his levels are all over the place, the flags don't tie in with the kerbs, and it looks like crap. I don't want to offend him but how do I explain that his previous employer had perfected freestyle screeding over twenty years, and that he just isn't that good yet? Hell I reckon I can freestyle screed pretty well but still use lines on every job and screed rails where possible.

[dan blocker]

How good a mate is he, do you value his friendship, does he let you ride his brand new Ducati, enjoy nights out with him cos you fancy his wife!enjoy the banter, have a crack, old buddies from school:confused1: Don't care if its all of these and more - tell him he's crap and say its your way or the highway! thats if your going to give him a 2nd, 3rd or 4th chance by now:001_rolleyes:

[stihlmadasever]

He's an employee so be proffesional and tell him his work is not up to your standards.

Tell him to do it your way and you'll give him one last chance or he's gettin his jotters.

[Cheesy pete]

your job and if it's as bad as you say YOU will lose work based on that standard !

so your choice is lose work ( and maybe not get paid for this job)

or rip it up tell him it's your job and to do it your way

[Billy]

I've never witnessed someone that needs telling this take it well....that's why they need it as they know it all already, of course!

[Ian Leach]

I would rip it up and tell them it's shite, also ask why did they rip up the levels and not use the screening rails. Your job , your rules.

What was it in another thread......man up . Your rep at stake here.

[Watercourse management]

Start polite explain this is why we do it this way if still no understanding find someone else.

[Peasgood]

I would tell him he was useless and use the c word but I'm not really a people person or up to date with current Human Resources protocols.

[Danny Boy]

As mentioned already, the jobs got your name to it not his.

 

The standard of work is his not yours.

 

The two don't match, so get him to redo it with you or leave.

 

If he's taking the piss & jeopardising your livelihood then he's no friend.

 

Sent from my D6603 using Arbtalk mobile app

[Stumpy Grinder]

Explain that the work is not up to the standard you would expect and show him exactly why.

Explain what you believe to be the cause of the substandard work.

Show him exactly how you wish the job to be done and the standard you wish to achieve.

Most of all, remember how good/bad you were at that level of experience. You can't teach experience, you can only gain it. You have failed yourself through a lack of supervision.

If he is a true friend, he will be understand and be receptive.

If he is not, then ditch him and move on, as he is not a true friend.

SG