Delegation: 4 Pitfalls and lessons from a monkey.

Do You Ever Feel…

• There’s not enough time in the day.

• Your staff are waiting for you—constantly.

• You’re too busy to manage by walking around.

• Projects are stalled—for no lack of effort.

Imagine This Scene…

Every time someone walks into your office, imagine they have a monkey on their back. That monkey can be a task, problem, decision, or anything that needs to get done.

When they ask you a question about their monkey and you respond with:
“Let me think about that and get back to you.”

What just happened?

That monkey climbed off their back, down their arm, and onto your desk.

The Book That Changed My Leadership Life

When I experienced this, a wise mentor gave me The One Minute Manager and the Monkey by William Oncken Jr. and Ken Blanchard. (I know—strange title.) It changed my leadership life.

Here’s what I learned:

Every Monkey (Delegated Task) Needs 4 Things to Be Healthy

1. A Very Clear Next Step

• Many times things don’t get done because we’re not sure what to do next.

• Make sure the next step is clear, practical, and time-bound.

2. A Very Clear Owner

• Unclear ownership creates confusion and stalls progress.

• Tip: It’s a very rare exception the owner will be you.

3. Insurance

• Make sure staff are empowered to act or know clearly where the boundaries are.

• There are only two kinds of insurance:

  • You do and tell me what you did.

  • Tell me what you’re going to do before you do it.

4. A Checkup on the Calendar

• When does the monkey need to see the doctor?

• This is the done date or check-in date.

• I verbally say and visibly write down (or type) the date in my calendar before we’re done. That physical reinforcement is a game-changer for accountability.

If this sounds familiar, I highly recommend The One Minute Manager and the Monkey. It’s a quick read. I pray you tame the monkeys. Everyone will be happier—and you may enjoy your work more than you have in a long time.