When managers are plagued by reverse delegation, the “monkeys” (assignments) end up on their backs and desks rather than those of their subordinates. Thus, many managers find themselves running out of time while their employees are running out of work—they fall behind in their employees’ work as well as in their own.

This book underscores the value of assigning, delegating, and controlling the “monkeys” that dominate a manager’s time by partnering with employees for their “care and feeding.”

Effective managers eliminate reverse delegation by training their employee to become self-reliant (rather than boss-reliant) members of an interdependent team, freeing up time for (1) key personal and professional relationships and (2) planning, organizing, leading, and making sure things stay on track, on time, and under budget.