What howler monkeys tell us about loud managers

If evolution had a sense of humor - its favorite punchline might be the howler monkeys. These treetop vocalists are nature’s rock stars: dramatic, loud and convinced that volume equals value. They don’t just make noise; they make statements. According to a 2015 Cambridge University study, however, these jungle divas pay a hilarious biological price.

- REY ELBO

The louder male howler monkeys’ call, the smaller his... family jewels.

Yes, Mother Nature implemented a performance-for-package exchange deal. Somewhere in the jungle, a monkey probably shouted, “Check out my lungs!” and evolution whispered, “Sure, but you'll pay for that.” The logic behind this evolutionary gag is resource allocation.

If you invest heavily in your throat’s version of subwoofers, there’s less energy left for other things - like, say, reproductive potential. Meanwhile, species that skip the excessive foghorn upgrades tend to have larger reproductive investments.

It’s biology’s reminder that you can’t have it all, even if you shout like you do.

Biologists say the booming calls help males impress mates and intimidate rivals without risking physical combat. A complete energy-saving strategy: sound formidable, avoid injury. That’s smart evolution. And, if you squint a little, smart management... or at least familiar management.

In my decades observing workplace wildlife, I’ve noticed a similar pattern. In the corporate version of the jungle, the louder the manager, the smaller their leadership depth and result-orientation. Some managers behave like howler monkeys wearing neckties — burning precious energy on hifalutin speeches, grandstanding presentations and emails so long they probably require instant archiving.