Tuesday 29 April 2008

MONKEY IN THE PLANE


Once in Brazil a plane crashed, only a monkey who was travelling in the plane left alive. Fortunately the monkey was intelligent enough to understand our language and reply in actions.

The officials went to see the monkey in the hospital and had a talk with the monkey.

Officer: "When the plane took off what were the travelers doing?"
Monkey: "Tying their belts."
Officer: "What were the air hostesses doing?"
Monkey: "Saying Hello! Good morning!"
Officer: "What were the pilots doing?"
Monkey: "Checking the system."
Officer: "What were you doing?"
Monkey: "Looking for my people."

Office:"After 10 minutes what were the travellers doing?"
Monkey: "Having beverages and snacks."
Officer: "What were the air hostesses doing?"
Monkey: "Serving the travellers."
Officer: "What were the Pilots doing?"
Monkey: "Handling the steering."
Officer: "What were you doing?"
Monkey: "Eating & throwing."

Officer: "After 30 minutes what were the travellers doing?
Monkey: "Some were sleeping and some were reading."
Officer: "What were the air hostesses doing?"
Monkey: "Make up."
Officer: "What were the pilots doing?"
Monkey: "Handling the steering."
Officer: "What were you doing?"
Monkey: "Nothing."
Officer: "Just before plane crash what were the travellers doing?"
Monkey: "All were sleeping."
Officer: "What were the pilots doing?"
Monkey: "Handling the air hostess."
Officer: "What were you doing?"
Monkey: "Handling the steering!"

Something to share…..

From the management aspect, the problem usually starts when you are not in control and divert your attention to other issues (Not doing the things you are supposed to do but doing things that you are not supposed to do). You are asking for big trouble when you let go your job function to someone who plays “monkey” and has no knowledge of doing your job. A “plane crash” means you are finished, i.e. loosing your job since you are solely responsible and accountable.

A Plantation Manager is entrusted to manage the whole plantation, thus he must be disciplined, determined and dedicated to his job responsibility as he is overall in-charge of all operations, as well as the management, administration and accounting of the plantation. Delegation must be followed up and at times followed through. Do not delegate to the wrong hands! Do not expect a Trainee Assistant who is still on the job training or a Junior Assistant who is still lack of experience to in-charge of a division and able to deliver. They are still in need of much guidance and coaching. Normally the Senior Assistant is the 2nd man whom the Manager relies on to organize and carry out most operations in the plantation. However, if he just let go without follow up and closely monitoring, he may end up in big trouble.

When come to decision making, the manager must insist that he is to be consulted for making the final decision.

The principle is basic and simple.

The Manager must be in TOTAL CONTROL.