CARE AND FEEDING OF MONKEYS

Aditya Lathe

RULES FOR FEEDING MONKEYS

Rule 1: Monkeys should be fed or shot Rule 2: The monkey population should be kept

under control Rule 3: Monkeys should be fed by appointment

only Rule 4: Monkeys should be fed face to face or by

telephone, but never by mail Rule 5: Every monkey should have an assigned

feeding time

BACKGROUND

Article authored by William Oncken Jr. and Donald L Wass

Appeared in Nov-Dec 1974 issue of Harvard Business Review

Among HBRs two bestselling reprints ever Talks about principles of efficient time management

at the workplace

KNOW YOUR TIME

Boss-imposed time: Choose to neglect at your own risk

System-imposed time: Can be neglected, but there will be consequences

Self-imposed time: Your free time! However, Self-imposed time taken up by

peers/subordinates => “Peer / Subordinate-imposed time.”

Remaining free time => “Discretionary time.”

MANAGE YOUR TIME

DO NOT TAMPER WITH BOSS TIME OR SYSTEM TIME!!!

Self-imposed time can be managed effectively Strive to increase discretionary-time and reduce

peer/subordinate time

Where does the monkey fit in???

A peer/subordinate approaches you with a problem You know enough to get involved, but not enough to

resolve the problem on the spot. “Let me think about it and I’ll let you know”

Your peer’s/subordinate’s monkey jumps on your back. Congratulations! You have adopted a new pet!

ADOPTING A MONKEY

Screaming monkeys on your back require constant care and feeding.

Responsibility of feeding/care diverts attention from boss-time and system-time

Accumulating monkeys eats away self-imposed time Creates bottlenecks for other employees who await your decision/help

MONKEYS AS PETS

Transfer the initiative Identify the owner Help him feed his monkey

Fun Fact: Monkeys can sleep peacefully on their owner’s back

RESTORE THE MONKEY TO ITS RIGHTFUL OWNER

IF YOU DO DECIDE TO ADOPT A MONKEY……

RULE #1

Monkeys should be fed or shot.

Otherwise, they will starve to death and the manager will waste valuable time on post-mortems or attempted resurrections.

The monkey population should be kept under control

It should always be below the maximum number for which you have time to feed

RULE #2

Monkeys should be fed by appointment only

The manager should not have to be hunt down starving monkeys and feed them on a catch-as-catch can basis.

RULE #3

RULE #4

Monkeys should be fed face to face or by telephone, but never by mail.

Documentation may add to the feeding process, but it cannot take the place of feeding.

RULE #5

Every monkey should have an assigned feeding time

These may be revised at any time by mutual consent, but never allowed to become vague or indefinite. Otherwise, the monkey will either starve to death or wind up on your back.

If you liked the presentation, please read the Original Article.If you didn’t like the presentation, please read the Original Article. It’s much better!!