Bonus Episode 56: Protect Your Time - Don't Let the "Task Monkey" Jump on You

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Be careful not to take back the "task monkey" who is wanting and waiting to jump on someone else. You may even have a team member who does this often to you so be watching and careful so you stop taking on their tasks. Be a leader and a coach and watch your own discretionary time.

Source: Harvard Business Review (1999), "Management Time: Who's Got The Monkey"

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Episode Transcript

Stephen McLain (00:00):
Hi, this is Steven McLain of the finance
leader podcast. This is bonusepisode number 56. Has this
happened to you as a leader of ateam, your team members working
on a project and they come toyou for help. And then you
somehow take on the project or abig piece of it, because you
want it to help now whathappened? The project you

(00:23):
assigned out now has become yourproject. And your team member is
asking you for updates. Thattask monkey jumped on your back
has this happened to you? I wasvery recently reminded of this
exact issue. Thank you, Chelsea,of what happens when you're not
careful. And you want to beoverly helpful with a direct

(00:43):
report that you lead. You givethem a project, but that project
comes back to you. Because youare trying to be helpful. There
are responsibilities that wehave as leaders to make it
possible. For our team membersto be successful. They need to
be properly resourced andproperly trained. We need to
help prioritize and protect themfrom distractions, and others

(01:06):
taking their time. We need toissue clear guidance, but we
aren't supposed to complete theproject for them. So don't let
that task monkey jump back onyour back. Now this comes from a
1999 Harvard Business Schoolarticle called management time
who's got the monkey. Thearticle says there are three

(01:26):
types of management time, bossimposed time system impose time
and self imposed time. As aleader, you have to manage your
time well, anything your bossgives you to complete, you have
to prioritize and get it done.
system imposed time is when youare accommodating your peers.
Both boss imposed and systemimposed time require you to

(01:47):
prioritize those tasks higher asthe article states penalties
will occur. Now the last type oftime is self imposed time, which
is what you control. Some ofthis time is taken up by
subordinates because that's whatleadership is. You have to spend
time with your team. But yourdiscretionary time is all you
what you choose to take on ornot. So be careful not to let

(02:10):
your direct report to give youback a task even by mistake. So
be watchful, guard your time.
And don't take on any more taskmonkeys, especially ones that
are not yours. Now here is anexample you ask your team member
to conduct an analysis anddevelop a recommended solution.

(02:31):
You issue guidance, a timeline,the problem parameters and a
deadline. A day later, your teammember comes back to say there
is a problem, and they can'tcome up with a solution. Don't
take back that task. You can doa quick coaching session and
send them right back to work.
Don't say I'll take a look at itlater. Because now you have
taken on the subordinate role.

(02:54):
And you now owe an answer tothem. So be careful not to take
back the task monkey who iswanting and waiting to jump on
someone else. You may even havea team member who does this
often to you so be watching andcareful. So you stop taking on
their tasks. Be a leader and acoach and watch your own
discretionary time. Now again,that article is from Harvard

(03:17):
Business School. It waspublished in 1999. And it was
called management time who's gotthe monkey. Now when you get a
chance, please check out financeleader Academy I offer a course
called advance your career. Iadded a link in the show notes
so you can preview this course.
Season 14 will debut on April18. Thank you