The Monkey On The Back: Article Analysis

The article was interesting due to the fact that it described the different types and categories of time. Boss imposed, system imposed, self-imposed, subordinate-imposed and discretionary. If not met, some of the described times were met with a penalty. Having been a manager I understand them all. Unfortunately, it is the discretionary time that causes me to think, why do today what you can put off until tomorrow? In the work place, there are deadlines and schedules that must be met. Time is of the essence.
Managers are charged with ensuring that schedules are kept and deadlines are made. Without supervision, the workplace might be out of control. The metaphor used in the article of the monkey on the back showed how things and responsibilities …show more content…
The analogy of “The monkey” was a great way to describe in whose corner is the ball in? It is a matter of passing the buck off to the next person. Some folks who are control freaks want the monkey or the ball, while others do not. Passing off the monkey onto someone else’s back relieves or maybe even rids a person of the responsibility of taking care of or taking on a task.
When a supervisor is approached by a subordinate about an issue and the manager tells the subordinate the issue will be investigated, each time the subordinate goes in to get an update it would seem the subordinate is in charge. Doing so can cause a rift between the subordinate and the manager. The manager may feel rushed or pushed and then wonder why the subordinate does not have anything to do except harass the manager? Maybe the subordinate may feel since an answer has not been provided that the manager is taking the issue lightly or the manager is lazy? Either way, nothing good may come of