The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey [Paperback]

Kenneth H. Blanchard (Author), William Oncken (Author), Hal Burrows (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1991

When a person goes to the boss with a problem and the boss agrees to do something about it, the monkey is off his back and onto the boss's. How can managers avoid these leaping monkeys? Here is priceless advice from three famous experts: how managers can meet their own priorities, give back other people's monkeys, and let them solve their own problems.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this latest in the One Minute Manager series, the authors chastise executives who never have time for family or their own job enhancement because they accept too many responsibilities--"monkeys" clinging to their backs--that properly belong to their staffs. Based on seminars conducted by the late Oncken, the book explains in simple-minded if abstract terms how to achieve a balance between supervision and delegation for reduced tension and improved productivity. "There is a high correlation between self-reliance and morale," stress the authors. With humor and logic they describe the delicate business of assigning monkeys to the right masters and keeping them healthy, i.e., fed and cared for: " . . . if monkeys are managed properly, you don't have to manage people so much." Unequivocal assignments, proper coaching and interim check-ups, according to this program, can lead to effective delegation and, with it, a better life at home and office. BOMC selection.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Helpful, insightful...fits the one-minute theme perfectly." -- --Booklist

"Outstanding! Delightful reading and first-rate advice." -- --Forrest Patton, Author of Psychology of Closing Sales; President, Patton Communications Houston, Texas

"The 'Monkey Story' humorously illustrates invaluable principles for managers at all levels, principles that can be put to use immediately." -- --Phil Pellegrino, Vice President of Sales, Oscar Mayer Food Corporation, Madison, Wisconsin

"Unbeliebable! Three of today's literary business giants have temaed up to write an all-time best seller for business people everywhere." -- --Charles "Red" Scott, President and CEO Intermark Inc. and The Trident Group Ltd.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Quill; First Paperback Edition edition (January 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688103804
• ISBN-13: 978-0688103804
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Management Science
  • #18 in Books > Business & Investing > Skills > Time Management

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stopping the Source of the Bureaucratic Stall, May 20, 2000

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The One Minute Manager Meets The Monkey (Hardcover)

Many people in an organization focus on managing the boss rather than doing their own job. What better way to manage the boss than to constantly seek her/his guidance on everything? Then, the boss can be flattered that you want his/her help, and will also take the blame if anything goes wrong. Insecure bosses like to be involved, so that fewer "errors" occur.

This wonderful book points out that no one can learn without making errors. Also, if you and your subordinate are doing the same job, one of you is superfluous. A common source of stalled thinking in this area is focusing on the fact that you, as manager, can do the job better and faster than you can teach the task or job to someone. What managers fail to realize is that someone closer to the source of the problem should be able to come up with a better solution. Also, the time taken to teach someone else to do the task is usually much less over a year or two than the time taken to help someone learn the task.

The key problem is that we all like to fall back on doing what we are comfortable with and are good at rather than new challenges where we are not so competent. Banish that feeling!

This book gives you lots of practical ideas for how to respond to efforts by your subordinates and colleagues to delegate their work and responsibility to you. You will learn how to see them coming and to keep the monkey where it belongs: with them.

If you find that you are pressed for time, this book is an important source of ideas to free up your life to have less stress while you and your organization both accomplish more.

Good luck with taking care of your monkey business! It's an important step toward developing an irresistible growth enterprise.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A new way to work less and be more efficient, April 5, 2000

By 

Sami Fgaier (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey (Paperback)

The one minute manager's symbol, a one-minute readout from the face of a modern digital watch, is intended to remind each of us to take a minute out of our day to look into the faces of the people we manage. The monkey manger's symbol a stressed manager overwhelmed by a desk full of problems, is intended to remind us to constantly discipline ourselves to invest our time on the most vital aspects of management rather than dilute our effectiveness by "doing more efficiently those things that shouldn't be done in the first place." What follows, is a story of a manger who worked long hours and never seemed to get caught up with all the work he had to do. He learned about monkey management and how not to take initiative away from his people so they can care for and feed their own monkeys. In the process, he learned to be more effective in dealing with his own manager and the demands of his organization. The performance of his department drastically improved, as did the prospects for his career. The authors hope is that you will use what you learn in this book to make a difference in your life and the lives of the people you interact with at work and at home.

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Opening Up Initiative Throughout the Organization!, February 9, 2001

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey (Paperback)

This book does a great job of helping people focus on their own work.

Many people in an organization focus on managing the boss rather than doing their own job. What better way to manage the boss than to constantly seek her/his guidance on everything? Then, the boss can be flattered that you want his/her help, and will also take the blame if anything goes wrong. Insecure bosses like to be involved, so that fewer "errors" occur.

This wonderful book points out that no one can learn without making errors. Also, if you and your subordinate are doing the same job, one of you is superfluous. A common source of stalled thinking in this area is focusing on the fact that you, as manager, can do the job better and faster than you can teach the task or job to someone. What managers fail to realize is that someone closer to the source of the problem should be able to come up with a better solution. Also, the time taken to teach someone else to do the task is usually much less over a year or two than the time taken to help someone learn the task.

The key problem is that we all like to fall back on doing what we are comfortable with and are good at rather than new challenges where we are not so competent. Banish that feeling!

This book gives you lots of practical ideas for how to respond to efforts by your subordinates and colleagues to delegate their work and responsibility to you. You will learn how to see them coming and to keep the monkey where it belongs: with them.

If you find that you are pressed for time, this book is an important source of ideas to free up your life to have less stress while you and your organization both accomplish more.

Good luck with taking care of your monkey business! It's an important step toward developing an irresistible growth enterprise.