Do you have difficulty delegating work to others? Do you find that your subordinates are giving you assignments instead of the other way around? Does this make it difficult for you to spend your time effectively managing your team? Our first book in our Book Club series, “The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey,” provides thoughtful and easy-to-read advice about how managers can manage more effectively and efficiently by ensuring they don’t take on other colleagues’ “monkeys” or responsibilities to the detriment of their own.
As you read this book, contemplate the following:
- Do you assume ownership over responsibilities (“monkeys”) owned by other managers or your team members?
- If so, why do you think you do this?
- What “monkeys” are on your back that should be owned by your subordinates? By other members of your management team?
- What “monkeys” on your back are taking unnecessary attention but are really not important for anyone to own?
- Do you agree with Kenneth Blanchard that owning others’ monkeys can actually hurt their productivity and morale?
- Do you think the book provides helpful recommendations that will make you a more effective and efficient manager?
- What tips will you take away from this book to make you a more effective manager?
