Founder Issues #2: Too Many Monkeys on Your Back

I recently spoke to the CEO of a $3 million service business. Her team was growing, and the work she was doing was incredible. However, as the team expanded, complexity began to overwhelm her. One of the biggest challenges she faced was that everyone came to her for answers.

This situation reminded me of a classic analogy about monkeys on people’s backs. When a team member encounters a problem, they bring it to their manager and ask for help. By accepting the task, the manager essentially allows the “monkey” (the problem) to jump from the team member’s back onto theirs. If the manager has multiple direct reports, they can quickly find themselves burdened by a troop of monkeys. Not only do they have to manage their own responsibilities, but now they also have to handle these additional tasks, follow up with their team, and ensure resolution.

For small business owners, this is a daily struggle. I’ve experienced it myself. For example, one of my staff members was working on a project with clear directions and a video tutorial. Despite this, she kept asking questions that could have been answered had she watched the video or referred to her notes. For her, it was about finding the fastest way to get things done. For me, it broke my workflow. After a few interruptions, I paused and introduced her to two processes designed to help her find answers independently and build confidence in her decision-making.

Process 1: The 1-3-1 Method

This simple framework encourages team members to think critically and propose solutions before seeking help. Here’s how it works:

1. Identify the ONE problem they’re facing.
2. Consider and present THREE possible solutions.
3. Recommend ONE solution they believe is best.

After explaining this method, she began seeking answers herself before approaching me. As a result, I didn’t hear from her again until the project was complete and ready for review. This approach saved time for both of us and empowered her to think more independently.

Process 2: Empower Your Team to Make Decisions

Empowering your team is another effective way to reduce the flow of monkeys. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Grant authority: Allow your team members to make decisions within defined boundaries.
2. Set guidelines: Provide clear parameters for decision-making.
3. Allow for mistakes: Let your team know it’s okay to make minor errors, as long as they learn from them.

In the same project, I gave my staff member the freedom to run through the entire web-based project and assured her that we could fix any issues at the end. While there were some corrections to be made, they were minor and well within an acceptable range. This approach allowed her to work more confidently and efficiently.

Real-Life Example: The $50 Receipt

Another CEO I worked with had a small team embroiled in an email chain about a missing $50 receipt for a project worth tens of thousands of dollars. The email chain, conversations, and staff time had consumed over four hours. When I asked if the effort was worth it, the CEO admitted it wasn’t. I suggested she establish a policy: for issues under $100, the team could resolve them independently and bring them up only during regular check-ins. This simple guideline eliminated unnecessary back-and-forth and freed up her time for more critical matters.

Conclusion

These two processes can significantly reduce the number of monkeys jumping onto your back:

1. Implement the 1-3-1 Method to encourage problem-solving and critical thinking.
2. Empower your team with clear decision-making authority and guidelines.

Do you face similar challenges in your business? Share your experiences and solutions in the comments below. Let’s keep those monkeys off our backs!