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Get Those Monkeys Off Your Desk

Four questions to ask when someone brings you a problem

Jack Dunigan
Mon, 09/15/2014 - 12:30
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Leaders, especially superlative ones, are achievers. They get things done. Typically, they are hands-on, roll-up-the-sleeves types who attack life and its opportunities head on.

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It's that sort of attitude, a tenacious, never-say-die pursuit of achievement, that contributes to success. Superlative leaders usually are labeled Type A, but I think Type B personalities can be just as tenacious and relentless. They are just quieter about it.

However, this attitude and inclination can get us into trouble. We tend to pick up too many things, lock in to too many pursuits, and want to fix every issue. If we're not careful, we'll be guilty of meddling, or be compromised in our ability to develop skills and competence in others because we do things they should be doing.

Doubtless, subordinates and associates will bring problems to you. Indeed, the competence to solve problems is imperative for superlative leaders, but I'll write more about that later. Right now I want to address this topic of leaders as a counselors.

 …

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Submitted by Mike-Mercer on Mon, 09/15/2014 - 11:46

Old but still pertinant advice

"Management Time: Who's Got the Monkey?" by William Oncken Jr. and Donald L. Wass, debuted in Harvard Business Review in 1974 and was reprinted in the November-December 1999 issue with new commentary by Stephen R. Covey.

http://www.kingfahdweb.com/library/self-develop/monkey.pdf

There is even a book by Ken Blanchard titled "The one minute manager meets the monkey."  Here is a youtube introduction to it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuK7OgZ43K8

Whenever I see monkeys gathering on a managers back I give them a copy of Bill Onken's 1974 paper.  I attended a live seminar with Bill and he reminded me of a cross between Deming and Juran.

More about Bill at

http://www.onckencorp.com/tribute.htm

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Submitted by umberto mario tunesi on Tue, 09/16/2014 - 23:55

... or off your back ?

It reminds me of Herr Kaeser training, a swiss psycho-technician who developed marketing, sales and leadership courses based on the idea that everyone is driving a motorbike having a monkey on his back that unbalances him. It also reminds me of Huxley's Brave New World, and Alpha's, Beta's and savages classification. There's a fifth question to be added: why don't solve you the problem yourself? You're paid for it.

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