“An organization is like a tree full of monkeys, all on different limbs at different levels. Some monkeys are climbing up, some down. The monkeys on top look down and see a tree full of smiling faces. The monkeys on the bottom look up and see nothing but a-holes.” – Unknown
The quote adds new perspective to the analogy of going from the outhouse to the penthouse.
Once you’ve climbed to the top, it’s all too easy to forget the view at the bottom. What more could you achieve if you invested some time to take in the view from the lower branches of your tree?
While sympathy is not listed as a top leadership attribute, empathy is. So it’s not necessary to feel sorry for those on the bottom branches of your organization chart, it is important for executives who reside at the top of the tree to convey an understanding of how they feel. As you seek to influence those on the lower branches…
“First seek to understand, then to be understood.”
– Steven R. Covey
In case you’ve missed it, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a personal effectiveness classic that’s been helping people become more effective for over 25 years.
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