Start with a cage containing five monkeys. In the cage, hang a banana on a string and put a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the monkeys with cold water.
After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result - all the monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when any monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.
Now, turn off the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.
Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm.
Again, replace a third original monkey with a new one. The new one makes it to the stairs and is attacked as well. Two of the four monkeys that beat him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs, or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.
After replacing the fourth and fifth original monkeys, all the monkeys which have been sprayed with cold water have been replaced. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs.
Why not? Because that's the way it's always been around here. And that's how company policy begins.
Saturday, September 18, 2004
A Simple Lesson In Policy
A colleague included this little allegory in a recent presentation. It struck a chord deep within me, and I suspect it will with many of you as well. Anyone who, in the course of managing his/her career, has encountered seemingly illogical and downright stupid corporate policy that defies all intelligent explanation will relate to this. And if you don't, then please go back to your corner office and think about why the people you lead think you're such a dink.
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2 comments:
That is great. I have seen it before but the timing on it here is perfect. On my staff meeting agendas, I usually include a quote at the bottom. I believe I will use this instead, for my next meeting.
Thank you.
Anytime! I seem to have come across lots of these in recent weeks. I'll add them to my blog in the coming days and weeks. They're great perspective-setters both at work and at home.
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