Insights on Managing Innovation: Tackle the Monkey First!

Astro Teller , the head of X (Google’s moonshot division), provides a valuable approach for entrepreneurs and innovators called the Monkey and the Pedestal. The concept is simple yet compelling: if you're trying to train a monkey to recite Shakespeare while standing on a pedestal, you face two tasks—training the monkey and building the pedestal. Which do you tackle first? Clearly, training the monkey is the more daunting and time-consuming challenge, yet there’s a natural temptation to start with the easier task of crafting a beautiful pedestal. However, if the monkey can't recite Shakespeare, all the time and effort spent on the pedestal are wasted.??

Recently, I attended the excellent #FutureTravelExperience, where I had the privilege of engaging in some insightful conversations with airline and airport leaders. Amongst the exchange of ideas and experiences, one recurring theme stood out: the challenge of effectively managing innovation in the aviation industry. This frequent topic of discussion reminded me of Teller’s principle. His metaphor of the "Monkey and the Pedestal" offers a profound perspective on the intricacies of leading innovation, and it has resonated deeply with me ever since.?

Of course, training the monkey is the harder and more essential task. Yet, there's a natural inclination to focus on building the impressive pedestal first. However, without a trained monkey, the pedestal serves no purpose.?

Similarly, in the realm of innovation, there's often pressure to demonstrate tangible progress quickly. This can lead teams to prioritize low-hanging fruit—the easier tasks that show immediate results. Meanwhile, the arduous work of 'training the monkey', such as refining complex AI solutions or pioneering new technologies, receives less attention, despite being crucial for long-term success.?

At IntellAct, we allocate 95% of our creative resources—such as R&D and product management—towards 'training the monkey'. This includes enhancing our AI solutions to deliver precise and cost-effective detection of turnaround events timestamps. Conversely, only 5% of our efforts are dedicated to 'building the pedestal'—less critical tasks that are comparatively easier to accomplish.?

Successful innovation leaders recognize the distinction between 'training monkeys' and 'building pedestals'. They understand the importance of investing in foundational efforts, even when progress may be slow or less immediately visible.?

Navigating innovation requires a strategic balance between short-term wins and long-term investments. Embracing the 'monkeys and pedestals' metaphor allows us to cultivate a culture that values deep, meaningful innovation over superficial accomplishments, paving the way for sustained success in today’s ever-evolving landscape.?

Thank you for reading! Please reach out to me with your thoughts as I am very happy to continue these discussions and delve deeper into innovation management.?