Introducing the topic & author

Following the General Election, on July 4th 2024, the UK has a new party taking the reins for the first time in fourteen years.

Regardless of individual political beliefs, one point of consensus among business leaders is the critical need for the government to prioritise economic growth. And supporting UK businesses is indispensable for achieving this goal.

Economic growth, however, remains a formidable challenge, no matter which party holds power.

“While government support is crucial for businesses to thrive &, in turn, bolster the economy, business leaders themselves must also take proactive steps to drive growth”

Since 2010, the UK economy has experienced prolonged sluggishness, exacerbated by Brexit, the Coronavirus pandemic, and political instability.

These factors, among others, have underscored the urgency of revitalising our economic landscape.

However, the task of stimulating economic growth is far from straightforward.

Most notably, the persistent economic stagnation highlights the complexity of the challenge.

While government support is crucial for businesses to thrive and, in turn, bolster the economy, business leaders themselves must also take proactive steps to drive growth.

A key issue hindering both business and economic performance is poor productivity. For decades, Britain’s GDP per hour worked, a key measure of labour productivity, has lagged behind the United States, Germany, and France.

It is imperative to recognise that senior business leaders significantly influence their organisations’ productivity, for better or worse.

As a consultant specialising in business transformation, I draw on the extensive experience I’ve gained in senior leadership roles within SMEs and global businesses, to develop and implement strategies that markedly enhance organisational performance.

This article delves into the concept of Monkey Management, and offers valuable leadership insights on how cultural changes can significantly boost your business’s productivity and performance.

Monkey Management

Monkey Management isn’t a new concept. Originally introduced by William Oncken Jr. and Donald L. Wass in their Harvard Business Review article “Management Time: Who’s Got the Monkey?”.

The first publication of this article was in the November–December 1974 issue of HBR. It has since become one of the publication’s best-selling reprints.

Over the decades, the concept of Monkey Management has remained a staple in leadership and management journals, discussions, and frequently cited by business consultants, leadership coaches, and mentors.

Understanding Monkey Management

The term Monkey Management describes a scenario where leaders or managers inadvertently assume too many responsibilities. Specifically, responsibilities that should belong to their team members. Or even outsourced to third parties with specialist expertise.

The “monkey” represents the task or responsibility.

i.e. When an employee brings a problem or task to a senior manager, they are essentially handing over their monkey.

In many organisations, leaders and managers find themselves overwhelmed because employees consistently bring their issues to them, expecting solutions or decisions to be made by their manager on their behalf.

Equally, far to many leaders distract themselves from their core business responsibilities.

Creating sustainable business growth

Read the insights from a Business Consultant & NED, specialising in organisational transformation & growth

In short, these leaders take on tasks that prevent them concentrating their time and efforts on the larger organisational needs.

As a result, this dynamic can lead to a critical issue. Leaders and managers become the bottleneck, stifling team creativity and innovation while hindering employees’ skill development and autonomy.

What’s important to understand is that those leaders who spend thier time on tasks that others could, and should, be doing are not investing thier time in driving their business forward. As a result, they will fail to achieve thier business’s full potential.

Effective Monkey Management strategies

Delegate with clarity: Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each team member. Ensure that tasks and problems are delegated appropriately, with employees understanding their accountability.

Encourage ownership: Foster a culture where team members are encouraged to bring not just problems but also potential solutions. This approach promotes problem-solving skills and reduces the manager’s workload.

Establish boundaries: Managers need to set boundaries regarding their own roles and responsibilities and those of their team members. This helps prevent the unnecessary transfer of monkeys and empowers employees to handle their tasks independently.

Promote initiative: Cultivate an environment that values initiative and innovation. Recognise and reward employees who take ownership and demonstrate problem-solving capabilities.

Support skills development: Invest in training and development programs that enhance employees’ skills, making them more capable of handling responsibilities without constant managerial intervention.

Conclusion

Effective Monkey Management is about more than just offloading tasks. It’s about creating a culture of accountability, initiative, and ownership within the team.

By ensuring that employees take responsibility for their tasks, and bring solutions to the table, senior leaders can focus on the strategic priorities of the business, fostering a more productive and innovative work environment.

This approach not only improves business productivity and performance, but also contributes to the professional growth and autonomy of team members. As a result, driving long-term organisational success.

About me

I’m a Business Consultant, specialising in strategy and organisational transformation. Or to put it differently, I help business owners and senior leaders take their business to the next level.

When you engage an Interim Manager, Business Consultant, or NED, you’re partnering with an energetic, high-impact individual, possessing skills that otherwise may be unaffordable

Our Interim recruitment services are designed to provide you & your business with the expertise & agility it needs to thrive

From reducing costs, to improving performance, through to strategic, sustainable growth.

My clients engage me to help them maximise thier business’s full potential.

With particular expertise in the design and communications, environmental branding, and visual identity industries.

Before becoming a Consultant I worked in a wide variety of senior leadership, board level roles, for companies operating within design and activation, engineering and manufacturing.

From SMEs to Global organisations, in the UK, USA and Middle East.

If you’d like to discover how I could help you and your business to achieve more, then in the first instance please contact Pyramid Resource Solutions.

They’ll put us in touch for an initial, confidential discussion on where your business is currently. Where you want it to go, and how I can help you realise your ambitions.

Learn how to improve your business’s productivity, performance & profits

Our eLearning hub hosts numerous online training courses with certificates, accredited by leading bodies and institutions such CPD, The institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), to name just a couple.

Specifically in line with the topic of this article, the following courses have been created to enhance the skills of existing, and new, leaders and managers, and focus on improving business productivity, performance and profits.

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We’re confident in the quality, and the ejoyable learning experince, our online training courses offer. Why not take a free trial and see for yourself.

You can try as many of our elearning training courses for free. You get to sit the first module of the course, and if you want to complete the full course, and achive your accredited certificate, simply purchase the course and continue it from the second module.

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