Musings from the CU Suite

Written by Anthony Demangone, Powered by NAFCU

When I speak at NAFCU's MLI conference, I always talk about monkeys. And it is always one of the most spirited discussions.

Yes. Monkeys.

Please read this management article (Harvard Business Review).  It may be the most valuable five minutes you spend this week if you manage people.

Every organization has problems. It could be a thorny decision. Or how to properly launch a new product or service.  In the article, the authors describe problems or projects as "monkeys." Most organizations have quite a few monkeys, it would seem.  NAFCU surely does.  

Too many managers, the article argues, allow monkeys that belong to subordinates, to leap onto their desks.  The subordinate's problem is now their problem. 

You're racing down the hall. An employee stops you and says, "We've got a problem." You assume you should get involved but can't make an on-the-spot decision. You say, "Let me think about it."

You've just allowed a "monkey" to leap from your subordinate's back to yours. You're now working for your subordinate. Take on enough monkeys, and you won't have time to handle your real job: fulfilling your own boss's mandates and helping peers generate business results.

How do you return the monkeys to their rightful owners?  The magazine article shows you how.

It is a simple concept, but very powerful. 

Now, not all monkeys are bad. Here are two of my favorites.

***

If you liked that HBR article, I think you'll like our Management and Leadership Institute. Often, we don't get much of a chance to think about what type of leader we want to be. We don't get the space and time to improve ourselves and how we work with others. This week is a deep dive into all of that. Leadership. Teambuilding. I have seen attendees in tears at the end of this conference. (Good tears, mind you.) There is something powerful when you see the switch flip in attendees. They realize their own power. They are recharged and energized to get back to their credit union and make things better. 

I love this conference!

And if you manage people, this is a great way to develop them. They will come back pumped, and ready to tackle and solve problems. We have a number of credit unions that use this conference as part of their formal staff development process.

Hopefully, I'll see you or someone from your credit union there in San Diego.