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Why are some leaders carrying too many monkeys?

09 September 2024
monkeys

In the wild, adult monkeys carry their young until they are old enough to fend for themselves. These adults understand their responsibility, and literally carry it on their backs. 

For teams to be effective its essential that everyone is able and willing to take personal responsibility for their performance – this is their monkey. But the reality is that some leaders are carrying more than their share of monkeys, often due to their own actions or habits.

What does it look like when the monkey is being passed? 

In the reality show “Race Across the World”…. a 20-year-old and his dad were taking on the enviable challenge of travelling from London to Singapore on a small budget. They hit a challenge which left them with the prospect of spending a night on the streets. The dad offered several options which may not have been ideal (none of which were a comfortable bed) but they all meant they had shelter. 

The son dismissed all of them as bad ideas.

The dad asked, “What do you want to do?” but the son was unwilling to offer an alternative and was reluctant to decide on the options offered. He was clearly scared, but it seemed his biggest fear was making the decision. He felt comfortable to dismiss ideas and suggestions and to criticise, but he wasn’t willing to answer the question, because that meant he would carry the responsibility of suggesting, of deciding, and that was a monkey he wanted his dad to carry.

In a workspace somewhere ….an experienced member of the team approaches the leader; explains they have finished a job for a customer (one that they have done many times before) and asks the boss if they are happy. 

The boss decides the job is OK and that it can be delivered to the customer. 

The team member walks away happy, knowing that if the customer is dissatisfied it isn’t their responsibility, because the boss made the decision it was good enough. 

Let’s get back to that monkey

Every time a question is asked, or a decision must be made, the responsibility monkey sits waiting. It looks from one person to the next and waits to see who will take responsibility for the answer. 

Experienced and competent team members know what good looks like and understand how to achieve the outcomes the team needs. But when every decision is made by the leader, that one person becomes the blocker to the team effectiveness because every decision, every answer, every idea, relies on one person, effectively reducing overall team performance and empowerment.

Teams and individuals perform at their best when they are empowered to do the things they are competent and capable to do. They experience a greater sense of achievement when they carry their own monkeys. 

What can leaders do? 

  1. Be clear about who’s monkey it is
    When a colleague comes to you with a problem or a question, start by clarifying who’s monkey or who’s responsibility it is. This provides clarity from the outset and establishes the roles that each person will play in finding the solution.
  2. Help, support, coach, but don’t feed the monkey.
    Some people just need time to think and talk through options, others may need reassurance or encouragement, and these can be offered by asking great questions, probing the answers, coaching, mentoring and encouraging. 
  3. Build questioning habits
    Ask your team what they think before giving an answer. Even if their approach differs from yours, if it achieves the desired outcome, it’s the best approach.  

By fostering a culture where team members carry their own monkeys, leaders can enhance team effectiveness and individual growth, leading to a more empowered and capable team.