What is 'Who's Got the Monkey?' about?

'Who's Got the Monkey?' is a classic Harvard Business Review article by William Oncken, Jr. and Donald L. Wass that addresses the problem of managers carrying their subordinates' workload due to improper delegation. It introduces the metaphor of 'the monkey' to represent a task that belongs to a subordinate but ends up on the manager's back.

Who would benefit from reading 'Who's Got the Monkey?'

This article is primarily for managers, team leaders, and executives who struggle with time management, delegation, or finding their subordinates underutilized. It offers insights for anyone looking to improve their leadership skills and team efficiency.

How does 'Who's Got the Monkey?' differ from other delegation advice?

Unlike some delegation models that focus solely on task assignment, 'Who's Got the Monkey?' emphasizes the responsibility shift and proactive management of tasks once delegated. It highlights the manager's role in preventing tasks from reverting back to them, rather than just assigning them initially.

When should managers apply the principles from 'Who's Got the Monkey?'

Managers should apply these principles when they find themselves overwhelmed, frequently taking back delegated tasks, or noticing a disconnect between their busy schedule and their subordinates' available capacity. It's particularly useful for preventing upward delegation.

What is the 'monkey' in the context of this article?

In 'Who's Got the Monkey?', the 'monkey' is a metaphor for a problem or task that needs to be addressed. It's used to illustrate whose responsibility the task is at any given time, particularly when it gets improperly transferred from a subordinate to a manager.

hbr.org · 16 MAY '25

Who's got the monkey

Item: Who's got the monkey
Rating: 5
Author: Simon Frey

This HBR article outlines the common trap where managers inadvertently take on their subordinates' tasks, famously dubbed 'the monkey'. It's a critical lesson in effective delegation and maintaining appropriate managerial workload.

Visit hbr.org →

Questions & Answers

What is 'Who's Got the Monkey?' about?: 'Who's Got the Monkey?' is a classic Harvard Business Review article by William Oncken, Jr. and Donald L. Wass that addresses the problem of managers carrying their subordinates' workload due to improper delegation. It introduces the metaphor of 'the monkey' to represent a task that belongs to a subordinate but ends up on the manager's back.
Who would benefit from reading 'Who's Got the Monkey?': This article is primarily for managers, team leaders, and executives who struggle with time management, delegation, or finding their subordinates underutilized. It offers insights for anyone looking to improve their leadership skills and team efficiency.
How does 'Who's Got the Monkey?' differ from other delegation advice?: Unlike some delegation models that focus solely on task assignment, 'Who's Got the Monkey?' emphasizes the responsibility shift and proactive management of tasks once delegated. It highlights the manager's role in preventing tasks from reverting back to them, rather than just assigning them initially.
When should managers apply the principles from 'Who's Got the Monkey?': Managers should apply these principles when they find themselves overwhelmed, frequently taking back delegated tasks, or noticing a disconnect between their busy schedule and their subordinates' available capacity. It's particularly useful for preventing upward delegation.
What is the 'monkey' in the context of this article?: In 'Who's Got the Monkey?', the 'monkey' is a metaphor for a problem or task that needs to be addressed. It's used to illustrate whose responsibility the task is at any given time, particularly when it gets improperly transferred from a subordinate to a manager.