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Monkey Management

“Monkey Management” is a short 30-minute practice from Zayenha Practice in the Leadership domain. Each time a report brings a problem, the monkey jumps on your back. Your job: keep it on theirs. You can read its goal and first step for free; the full practice with every step and the interactive part comes with Plus.

Each time a report brings a problem, the monkey jumps on your back. Your job: keep it on theirs.

30 min Intermediate

Goal

End "reports dump problems on me" via simple rule: "You carry the monkey, I help you".

Steps

1

Understand: when report says "we have a problem", be alert to "we" — they're transferring it.

5 more steps locked

Expected Outcome

Immediate

Week 1, you discover you carry 5-10 monkeys daily that aren't yours.

Evidence base

School: Harvard Business Review Classics

Founders: William Oncken · Donald Wass (1974)

Coined by William Oncken & Donald Wass in "Management Time: Who's Got the Monkey?" — HBR (1974). Republished 10+ times. Best-selling HBR article.

Frequently asked questions

How long does "Monkey Management" take?

This exercise takes about 30 minutes, practiced solo in a Behavioral format.

When will I notice the effect of "Monkey Management"?

Week 1, you discover you carry 5-10 monkeys daily that aren't yours. In the short term: Within a month, reports carry their monkeys. You free up 2-3 hrs/day.

Is "Monkey Management" evidence-based?

Yes — it draws on Harvard Business Review Classics (William Oncken, Donald Wass (1974)). Coined by William Oncken & Donald Wass in "Management Time: Who's Got the Monkey?" — HBR (1974). Republished 10+ times. Best-selling HBR article.

Is "Monkey Management" suitable for beginners?

Its difficulty level is: Intermediate. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the platform.

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