"Management Time: Who's Got the Monkey?" Oncken and Wass

"Management Time: Who's Got the Monkey?" Oncken and Wass

1. Management Time

   • May result in penaltys
     • Boss-imposed time
       • Used to accomplish those activities that the boss requires.
     • System-imposed time
       • Used to accommodate requests from peers for active support.
   • Won't result in penaltys
     • Self-imposed time
       • Subordinate-imposed time
         • (a) A subordinate's problem that the manager knows enough to get involved
         • (b) A subordinate's problem that the manager knows not enough to make on-the-spot decisions
           • It demands non existent time from the manager
         • Should be minimized
       • Discretionary time
         • Should be increased

2. Where is the Monkey?

   • It jumps from subordinate's backs to yours
     • In accepting responsibility from subordinate
     • In assuming a position subordinate to yours subordinate
     • The manager will feel guilty while the subordinates feel frustrated
       • The reason the manager cannot make any of hese "next moves" is that his time is almost entirely eaten up by meeting his own boss-imposed and system-imposed requirements.

3. Getting Rid of the Monkeys

   • Figure out together how the next move might be the subordinate's
     • You don't take the problem to yourself - you determinate what the next move will be
       • "The instant your problem becomes mine, you no longer have a problem. I cannot help a person who hasn't got a problem".
   • Supervision
     • Discretionary time for the manager
     • Boss-imposed time for the subordinate
   • The monkeys may return: but only by appointment

4. Transferring the Initiative

   • Clearly keep it with the subordinate
   • "The Anatomy of Managerial Initiative"
     • Wait until told (lowest initiative)
     • Ask what to do
     • Recommend, then take resulting action
     • act, but advise at once
     • act on own, then routinely report (highest initiative)
     • Control of time
     • Control of content
     • No control