Five Monkeys...
Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage hang a banana on a string and place a set of steps underneath 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 other monkeys with cold water.
After a while another monkey makes an attempt with the same results-the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.
Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and goes to climb the stairs. To his horror, the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt, he knows if he touches the stairs he will be assaulted!
Next, remove another of the original monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer joins in the punishment with enthusiasm, now feeling accepted.
Then replace a third monkey, the a fourth. Every time a newcomer takes to the stairs he is attacked. Most of the monkeys beating 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 all of the original 5 monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Still, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs. Why not? Because as far as they know that's the way it's always been done around here...
And THAT'S how company policy begins!
After a while another monkey makes an attempt with the same results-the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.
Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and goes to climb the stairs. To his horror, the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt, he knows if he touches the stairs he will be assaulted!
Next, remove another of the original monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer joins in the punishment with enthusiasm, now feeling accepted.
Then replace a third monkey, the a fourth. Every time a newcomer takes to the stairs he is attacked. Most of the monkeys beating 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 all of the original 5 monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Still, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs. Why not? Because as far as they know that's the way it's always been done around here...
And THAT'S how company policy begins!
posted by Paul at
10:55 AM
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