Day 16: The Swinging Monkey vs. The Focused Antelope

Some people are everywhere — and nowhere at the same time. Others are barely visible — but always moving forward.

Yesterday, we explored the troubling gap between how some leaders appear from above and how they operate below—the Radiant Display and the hidden reality. Today, we shift to something quieter but just as impactful: the difference between constant motion and true progress.

Because in every workplace, energy can look like impact. Until it doesn’t.

🐒 The Swinging Monkey

He’s full of energy — and it’s infectious.

He’s the first to reply on the team chat. The first to raise his hand when a new idea is floated. The one who seems to be in ten places at once, pinging between WhatsApp groups, task forces, pilot programmes, and last-minute brainstorms.

There’s a buzz around him. He’s always on. Always “looped in.” Always moving.

But the closer you look, the more the pattern emerges: not much is actually landing. Projects stall. Follow-ups vanish. Action points are marked “pending.” Colleagues nod along, unsure what, if anything, he’s actually delivering.

It’s not that he’s avoiding work. It’s that his energy is diffused. Spread across too many trees, never stopping long enough to build something solid.

He doesn’t sabotage. He just doesn’t finish.

His restlessness isn’t laziness — it’s the inability to say no. To slow down. To focus. In his mind, motion is commitment. But over time, even he starts to sense the gap between being active and being effective.

🦌 The Focused Antelope

The Antelope moves differently.

She’s not flashy. She’s not loud. But she’s consistent and precise.

She doesn’t jump into every thread. She doesn’t need to be in every meeting. She watches, listens, filters. When she commits, she delivers — fully, on time, with clarity.

Her strength lies not in volume, but in direction. She knows that not all motion is momentum. That saying yes to everything means standing still. And that most great progress doesn’t happen in meetings — it happens at work.

She doesn’t chase trends. She doesn’t multitask for applause. She just… moves. And when she passes a milestone, she doesn’t announce it. It’s simply done.

People might underestimate her at first. But they never do twice.

🔍 The Reflection

The Monkey and the Antelope both move fast. But only one makes real progress.

One seeks presence everywhere. The other seeks progress somewhere. One is fuelled by urgency. The other by clarity. And in a world addicted to noise, it’s easy to mistake busyness for value.

But leadership isn’t about being seen. It’s about helping others move forward.
And contribution isn’t how many things you start, but how many you finish.

So ask yourself: Are you always in motion, but going in circles? Or are you quiet — and quietly making things happen?

📌 Did You Know?

Monkeys, particularly species like the howler and spider monkeys, are known for their agility and constant movement. Their behaviour is exploratory, reactive, and social, helping them adapt to unpredictable environments. But while they’re skilled climbers and quick movers, their energy is often spread thin, hopping from branch to branch without staying in one place for long.

Antelopes, especially gazelles and impalas, are strategic runners. They conserve energy until it’s needed, and when they move, it’s with direction and purpose. Their speed is purposeful, not panicked. They choose when to sprint, when to pivot, and when to stay still.

In work, as in the wild, not all movement is progress. Sometimes, the quietest stride goes the furthest.

📚 References

• Cheney, D.L., & Seyfarth, R.M. (2007). Baboon Metaphysics: The Evolution of a Social Mind

• Estes, R.D. (1991). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals

• Newport, C. (2016). Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

• Harvard Business Review (2021). “Why We Confuse Activity With Achievement”

• Goleman, D. (2013). Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence