| What is Monkey Management |
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A concept developed by Bill
Oncken, author of "Managing Management Time", a 'monkey' is basically the next move in dealing with a problem, assignment or project.
The 'monkey' becomes yours when you take on someone else's problem when they are quite capable of dealing with it themselves. If a staff member approaches you with a problem and you respond with "Let me think it over and I'll let you know", before you can say banana, you have just taken on responsibility for that monkey and you now have the next move. |
| Symptoms of Monkey Mismanagement |
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 Desks piled high with paperwork, overflowing email inboxes, voicemail messages on overload, frustrated colleagues, nervous bosses and poorly developed staff with a lack of initiative and responsibility are all symptoms of monkey mismanagement! Once this starts to happen, you become overwhelmed with other people's monkeys and spend most of your time being reactive rather than proactive.
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| Becoming Monkey Savvy |
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How many of the monkeys currently on your back should you never have picked up? The more monkeys you pick up, the more you'll get because people think you want them. Some people may be very skillful at moving the monkey over to you - and may have been doing this for longer than you would like to admit or even realise. In their eyes you have become a monkey magnet.
The key now is to return each monkey to its rightful owner e.g transferring the initiative from yourself, back to the relevant staff member who should be taking responsibility for it. They may need a few suggestions or some coaching in how to manage their monkey and you can share your knowledge with them. The only way to develop responsibility in people is to ensure that they have it. |
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Oncken's 4 Rules of Monkey Management |
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By following the 4 simple rules developed by Oncken, monkeys can be handed back to their owners.
To ensure success, the dialogue between you and your staff members must not end until the following has been clarified.
Rule 1: Descriptions
The next moves must always be clearly specified.
Rule 2: Owners
Every monkey needs someone to own it and someone to supervise it. The monkey must be assigned to a specific person. Monkeys must be handled at the lowest organisation level consistent with their welfare.
Rule 3: Insurance Policies
Every monkey leaving your care must be covered by one of two insurance policies:
1. Recommend, then act - For situations where you feel there is a reasonable risk that one of your people might make an unaffordable mistake if left to his or her own devices.
2. Act, then advise - For situations where you are sure your people can handle the monkey successfully on their own.
These policies may be revised at any time by mutual consent.
Rule 4: Monkey Check ups
Since monkeys sometimes develop unexpected problems, check-ups are crucial. If the check-up reveals a problem, treatment can be devised. |
| Finally ... |
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If you're like many leaders and managers, a compulsive monkey picker upper, then stop looking on your people as problems and learn to see them as your solution. Take control and help others to take control for themselves.
Remember .. whenever you hear "We have a problem .." you should immediately smell the monkey!
It's trying to head your way - fast! |
