Motivating the unmotivated first officer
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Here and there
Motivating the unmotivated first officer
I was wondering what strategies you use to motivate the unmotivated and lazy first officer without ruining the CRM for the rest of the flight?
It is easy just to sit and pick up everything they have neglected to do, but a crew is meant to be a team and the above strategy may alienate the subject so they actually do less. My problem is that when I was an FO I tried to think of everything the captain may have wanted and did my best to assist him. I certainly haven't come across somebody at the opposite end of the scale before.
I remember the old adage about copilots just being ballast and captains flying single pilot, but I thought that we had moved on from there.
It is easy just to sit and pick up everything they have neglected to do, but a crew is meant to be a team and the above strategy may alienate the subject so they actually do less. My problem is that when I was an FO I tried to think of everything the captain may have wanted and did my best to assist him. I certainly haven't come across somebody at the opposite end of the scale before.
I remember the old adage about copilots just being ballast and captains flying single pilot, but I thought that we had moved on from there.
Joined: May 2000
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From: Seattle
A simple reminder should be ready at the beginning: "I'm ready for the clearance whenever you are..."
If it persists, a specific but pointed CRM review at the beginning of the Takeoff Briefing may work: "I will try to comply with the FCOM for all evolutions during the flight, and expect the same from you, unless exceptions are previously briefed. Challenge me if I miss something; I will do the same for you."
If it persists after that, and you are flying multiple legs, it may have to go as far as, "I'm not comfortable with your demonstrated knowledge of procedures as FO and Pilot Monitoring. I'll take all the legs until you can show me you know how to do your job correctly."
After that, it's time for the Professional Standards Committee if you have one, or the Chief Pilot if you don't.
If it persists, a specific but pointed CRM review at the beginning of the Takeoff Briefing may work: "I will try to comply with the FCOM for all evolutions during the flight, and expect the same from you, unless exceptions are previously briefed. Challenge me if I miss something; I will do the same for you."
If it persists after that, and you are flying multiple legs, it may have to go as far as, "I'm not comfortable with your demonstrated knowledge of procedures as FO and Pilot Monitoring. I'll take all the legs until you can show me you know how to do your job correctly."
After that, it's time for the Professional Standards Committee if you have one, or the Chief Pilot if you don't.
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: England
Tubby, unmotivated is a symptom, a personal feature which you observe and interpret. Before treating the outward signs it may be worth seeking out why, what is the underlying cause, is this view held by others not just you.
Presumably there was motivation in order to achieve the current position, if so why has this changed?
Presumably there was motivation in order to achieve the current position, if so why has this changed?
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Here and there
Tubby, can you give some examples of this kind of behaviour? I've flown with what I considered slack and unmotivated FOs but they've always done at least the minimum required. I'm wondering what kind of things your unmotivated types neglect to do?
de minimus non curat lex
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: sunny troon
What age is the FO, and how long has he been in post as a FO?
A number of possible reasons could account for his MO............
From mental health, love life, family illness to name but a few
TO
Financial, passed over for promotion.........
You need to find out why, and soon. In the event of an incident/accident then it will all come out, and questions will be asked why a more proactive account was not taken to mitigate the issues..
Always easy to be wise after the event
A number of possible reasons could account for his MO............
From mental health, love life, family illness to name but a few
TO
Financial, passed over for promotion.........
You need to find out why, and soon. In the event of an incident/accident then it will all come out, and questions will be asked why a more proactive account was not taken to mitigate the issues..
Always easy to be wise after the event
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 613
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From: London
"I'm not comfortable with your demonstrated knowledge of procedures as FO and Pilot Monitoring. I'll take all the legs until you can show me you know how to do your job correctly."
I've found that a gentle enquiry along the lines of "are you feeling alright today?" or a "a bit under the weather?" can often stimulate greater enthusiasm; if I was being challenged in such a way, suggesting that my colleague had noticed something unusual behaviourally, I'd certainly pick up my game. If, on the other hand the response is belligerent or defensive, that may well reveal an underlying problem. You've got to accept as well that some of the youngsters today just don't seem interested in anything unless their face is welded to a phone or other electronic transmitting device.
Joined: May 2000
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From: Seattle
Indeed, that is a last resort, to illustrate the opposite end of the range of options.
While the touchy-feely inquiries may have the desired effect, sometimes they just do not. If an FO is having so bad a day that he can't do his job, though, maybe the better suggestion would be to tell him to call in sick.
While the touchy-feely inquiries may have the desired effect, sometimes they just do not. If an FO is having so bad a day that he can't do his job, though, maybe the better suggestion would be to tell him to call in sick.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Here and there
The behavour was the inability to be proactive and engage in the operation- the FO as ballast in the seat. Even when the subject was flying they required direction for the simplest of tasks and when asked to make a decision or show some command they didn't, even when they had been told within a training environment to show some.
I now think that it is not a lack of motivation but somebody who believes that there current level is adequate for the job and is personally happy with what they give and can produce.
I now think that it is not a lack of motivation but somebody who believes that there current level is adequate for the job and is personally happy with what they give and can produce.
Joined: May 2011
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From: uk
What used to bother me as an FO were the handful of Captains I encountered who fit this description. That's a far harder nut to crack.
Either way its not the colleague's job or place to soft-soap the miscreant and find out what's bothering him. He is at work as a professional, or is supposed to be and either shapes up or (someone) ships out.
Either way its not the colleague's job or place to soft-soap the miscreant and find out what's bothering him. He is at work as a professional, or is supposed to be and either shapes up or (someone) ships out.
