Why We Created the Monkey Journals for Trainers and Managers

Over the years, we have worked with thousands of trainers, managers, and supervisors across a wide range of industries. One pattern appears again and again: learning happens in the room, but reflection and improvement often stop once people return to work.

Training does not fail because people are not capable. It fails because people are busy, distracted, and rarely given the space to think properly about what they are doing, why they are doing it, and how they could do it better.

We are well known for our term Throwing the Monkey and that is exactly why we created the Monkey Journals.

Reflection Is Where Learning Actually Happens

On our Train the Trainer programmes, we place a strong emphasis on learning transfer. Training is not about what happens during the session; it is about what people do differently afterwards.

The same principle applies in management development. On our Leadership and Management programmes, we regularly see that managers improve most when they take time to reflect on how they lead, train, and support their teams.

Reflection is the missing link. Without it, people fall back into old habits, even when they know better.

The Monkey Journals are designed to slow people down just enough to think — not in a vague or academic way, but in a practical, structured way that links directly to performance.

The Monkey Journal for Trainers

The Monkey Journal for Trainers was created for people who deliver training, instruction, or facilitation in the workplace.

It supports the same behaviours we develop on our Train the Trainer courses, encouraging trainers to reflect on how effectively they engage learners rather than simply delivering content.

Built around the idea of throwing the monkey, the journal prompts trainers to think about where responsibility for learning really sits.

Rather than being a diary, the journal focuses reflection on areas such as:

• How well the session was structured
• Whether learners were engaged or passive
• The quality of questioning used
• What worked well and why
• What could be improved next time

This helps trainers continue developing their skills long after formal training has finished.

You can view the Monkey Journal for Trainers here:
Monkey Journal for Trainers – Amazon

The Monkey Journal for Managers

Managers are expected to train, coach, supervise, and lead — often without being given the space or tools to reflect on how effectively they are doing it.

The Monkey Journal for Managers was created to support the same behaviours we develop through our management development programmes.

It focuses on practical reflection around questions such as:

• How effectively am I developing my people?
• Am I telling, or am I engaging?
• What standards am I setting and reinforcing?
• Where am I carrying the monkey that should belong to my team?

For managers, this kind of reflection is critical. Poor training and unclear expectations often show up as mistakes, rework, frustration, and increased supervision — all of which are avoidable.

You can view the Monkey Journal for Managers here:
Monkey Journal for Managers – Amazon

Designed to Support Real-World Performance

These journals were created because we repeatedly saw capable trainers and managers struggling to improve simply because they never had time to stop and think.

They provide a practical bridge between formal training and day-to-day performance, reinforcing the same principles of structure, engagement, questioning, and accountability that underpin our trainer and management programmes.

Used consistently, they help people take ownership of their development rather than waiting for the next course.

Final Thoughts

Good training and good management do not happen by accident. They happen when people are given the tools to reflect, adjust, and improve.

The Monkey Journals are a simple but powerful way of embedding that mindset into everyday work — for trainers, managers, and anyone serious about developing others.

If you want to build confident, effective trainers and managers within your organisation, explore our Train the Trainer programmes or our Leadership and Management courses, or speak to our team on 0800 302 9344.