Leadership Is a Circus. So Be the Ringmaster.

By Dawn Isaac, COO at Black Dog Consultants

“Not my circus, not my monkeys.”

I first heard this phrase a few years into being a people manager.
I remember chuckling, smugly relieved that whatever chaos was unfolding - wasn’t mine.

Not my monkeys. Not my mess. I could just sip my coffee and watch the show.

But I was quite proud of my own circus. As an aspiring Greatest Showman, I thought I ring mastered with flair.

My acrobats were slick, the clowns were funny (on purpose) and the whole thing ran on time.

“My circus, my monkeys, 10/10. Move along. Nothing to see here.”

But recently, something brought that old phrase screeching back. A family member sent me a meme about the “fourth monkey” - a new beast created by modern life’s obsession with interconnectivity.

Forget the new monkey for a second. It got me thinking about the original three. And then about work.

What are our monkeys?
How many of them are invisible?
And do we even know we’re feeding them?

Monkey One: Seeing Effort (Before It Disappears)

Deadlines met. Tasks ticked. Targets hit.
Brilliant! On to the next.

But how often do we pause to really see someone’s effort - not just the end result?

We might ask: “Did you hit the deadline?”

But do we ever ask:

• “What did you learn?”
• “What surprised you?”
• “What would you do differently next time?”
• “How was that for you?”

Sometimes the work doesn’t even get finished - but the effort, the thought, the grit? That’s still worth seeing.

At Black Dog Consultants, celebrating effort - big and small isn’t a calendar event. No award ceremony required.

We make space for it in everyday moments.
Small celebrations = big culture shift.
Get greedy for that feeling. It’s addictive.

Monkey Two: Hearing What’s Not Said

“Any questions?”
Silence. A few nods.

Someone says, “It’s fine.”

Job done, right?
Not quite.

What’s behind the “fine”?
Are we actually hearing what’s being said - or are we rushing to tick the box?

Eyes drop. Shoulders tighten. Words shrink.

“It’s good.” “All fine.” “No worries.”
But what if it’s not?

At BDC, we call it “peeling the onion”.
Yes, it takes longer. But the deeper you go, the richer the insight.

We ask open questions. We pause for silence.
We prep for conversations that matter - not just ones that move the agenda along.

Because listening well is leadership

Monkey Three: Speaking Up Before You Shrink Back

Quiet quitting. Apathy. Safety in silence.
We’ve all been there.

• “What if I get it wrong?”
• “What if I end up with more work?”
• “What if people think it’s a stupid idea?”

Here’s a thought.
What if… this is your chance to lead?

Flip it:

• What if you spark the idea that changes everything?
• What if you join the conversation rather than watching it from the side-lines?
• What if this is your moment to be the ringmaster?

At Black Dog Consultants, we ask “what is?” instead of “what if?”
It grounds the conversation in the now.

“What if” has its place - in blue sky sessions or pub chats.
But if you stay there too long, nothing moves.

Action needs roots. “What is” gives you those.

Final Act: Your Monkeys, Your Circus

Your circus might be wild.
Your monkeys might be throwing bananas.

But they’re yours.
And there’s magic in owning that.

You get to decide what kind of ringmaster you want to be.
Not perfect. Not polished. Just… aware.
Pay attention. Celebrate effort. Listen harder. Speak up.

Your circus might just become the one everyone wants to run away to.

Thought to leave you with:
Who needs your attention right now - and what’s one thing you can do to show up differently?

Want to turn your team into better listeners, braver speakers and celebration junkies?
Let’s talk.

About Dawn
Dawn Isaac is the quietly fierce force behind the operational hum of Black Dog Consultants.
As COO and General Manager for Hong Kong, she doesn’t just keep the lights on - she powers everything we do. With over a decade of banking experience across London and Hong Kong and more than 12 years steeped in the world of learning, Dawn blends precision with people-savvy.
She brings order to the chaos and heart to the numbers, ensuring everything we deliver lands with impact. A long-time member of the Black Dog crew, Dawn’s commitment to excellence is matched only by her belief that the best learning partnerships are built on trust, transparency and a little bit of magic. Connect with her on LinkedIn