The Leadership Academy – November 2025
The title might sound playful, but “Monkey Management” is a genuine and very common leadership challenge. The concept dates back to the 1970s, yet it remains just as relevant today.
So, what exactly is Monkey Management?
A “monkey” is any task, problem, or responsibility that suddenly becomes yours — even though it didn’t start out that way. Leaders accumulate these monkeys more often than they realise, and before long, they’re carrying a whole troop on their back, draining time, focus, and energy.
How Monkeys Jump onto Your Back
When coaching leaders, one theme I hear often is the feeling of being overwhelmed. Once we unpack a typical week, we find they’ve unintentionally taken on work that belongs to others.
Monkeys usually arrive in moments where we think we’re being supportive or efficient. Common examples include:
- “I’ll sort this out for you…”
- “Leave it with me – I’ll think about it…”
- “It’ll be quicker if I do it…”
These comments seem harmless but are the exact moments when monkeys leap from someone else’s shoulders onto yours.
Keeping Monkeys with Their Rightful Owners
The first step is becoming aware of how these moments happen. Once you see them coming, you can redirect the monkey – without being dismissive or unhelpful – and strengthen capability in the process.
Here are some more constructive responses:
Instead of: “Leave it with me.”
Try: “Let me show you how I would approach this, and then you can bring me the final version.”
Instead of: “I’ll think about it and get back to you.”
Try asking:
- “What option do you think will work best?”
- “What outcome are you aiming for?”
- “Considering our quality expectations, what’s your next step?”
Instead of: “I’ll do this — it’ll be quicker.”
Try: “Take the time to work through this properly. I’d like you to learn the process so you can handle it confidently next time.”
These responses might feel a little awkward at first, but they quickly become second nature – and your workload will noticeably lighten.
Three Top Tier Monkey-Management Tips
- Delegation means the monkey stays with the other person.
Good delegation doesn’t involve taking tasks back. Support the person, yes — but keep ownership where it belongs. - Prepare your responses.
Having a few set phrases ready helps you avoid slipping back into “I’ll just do it.” - Define roles clearly.
Clear expectations and boundaries dramatically reduce the number of stray monkeys that end up on your back.
Building “Monkey Management” into your leadership style will reduce overwhelm, strengthen your team, and stop you from feeling like you’re putting on a zookeeper uniform every morning.
