The article title sounds like a fun hook, but it is something that happens more frequently than you realise. The idea of “Monkey Management” has been around since 1974.
So, what is Monkey Management, you ask? Put simply ‘Monkeys’ are additional tasks that jump onto your back, that you feel like you must deal with, but are not really part of your job. ‘Monkey Management’ is the process of managing these creatures.
Something that often comes up with my clients in management, is their sense of feeling overwhelmed and overworked. When I scratch the surface on this – I find that during a typical work week these managers often take on other people’s ‘monkeys’ and before they know it, they are carrying around lots of these pesky creatures on their back.
Are You A Monkey Magnet?
Being aware of how these monkeys arrive is the first step. Here are some examples of typical monkey magnet scenarios – things that are very easy to say, and which seem kind and helpful in the moment but in fact are adding to your overall work stress and workload.
- “Leave it with me for a bit…”
- “Let me think about this and I’ll get back to you…”
- “It will be quicker for me to action this…”
Try these Monkey Management Techniques:
Instead of saying “Leave it with me…”
Try saying “Let me show you how I find/research/complete xxxx, and then you can follow my process, and just bring me the finished product.”
Instead of saying “Let me think about this and I’ll get back to you…”
Try asking a series of critical questions back to the person:
- “What do you think is the best thing to do?”
- “How would this show what is possible?”
- “Knowing quality is important for us, and price is important to them, what do you think is the next best step to take?”
Instead of saying “It will be quicker for me to action this…”
Try saying “I’m happy to wait a bit longer for you to do a bit more research and learn exactly how this should be put together.”
The key here is being consciously prepared to respond to these questions as they arise. It will feel awkward at first, but it does get easier with time!
My Top Three Monkey Management Tips
- Successful delegation never involves taking a task/monkey back. If you have delegated the task right it stays with that person – you can help, guide, and check in with the person but you should never take the task back.
- Be prepared and have careful conversation tactics ready to send monkeys back home. Giving these responses initially will feel awkward but you need to stand firm, otherwise you will let the monkeys jump back onto your back.
- Clear role definition substantially reduces monkeys. If you are clear from the outset who is doing what, their authority level and boundary conditions, this will hugely reduce monkeys.
I promise that by incorporating these tips into your leadership style you will alleviate having to put on your Zookeeper hat on each morning!
To find out more about how Glenda helps her clients, book a discovery call: https://calendly.com/glendalewis/30min or visit https://www.theleadershipacademy-glendalewis.com/
