Domino is an ancient game with many variations. Players arrange small rectangular blocks, called tiles, edge to edge to form rows that can be turned into lines and angular patterns. Each tile has a number of dots that are either blank or marked like the ones on dice. The most common domino set consists of 28 tiles. Each player draws seven tiles from the stock, or boneyard, and places them in front of him.
Then the first domino is tipped over. This causes the next domino to tip, and so on. The result is a chain reaction where each domino affects everything else around it in some way, from pushing other pieces to blocking them from moving, to setting off a domino rally. The term domino has also become a metaphor for a series of events that cause something to happen, such as a political crisis or the collapse of a business.
Domino’s Pizza is a company with strong leadership that has demonstrated how to use the domino effect in action. In the Domino’s episode of the TV show Undercover Boss, CEO Don Meij sent one of his executives to work in several Domino’s restaurants and delivery service locations. He worked side by side with employees and saw how they interacted with customers. He then identified the weak points and made changes to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction.
When the Domino’s executive came back to headquarters, he shared his findings with senior management. The CEO emphasized the importance of listening to customers, and the corporation quickly implemented new policies that improved communication with its customers. This led to a domino effect of positive change, and the company started to rebound from its difficulties.
A domino effect occurs in learning, too. When a student is compensating for a weak skill, it taxes his or her working memory capacity. This is because the extra resources used in working memory limit the ability to process information. Then the student begins to overtax the system, which can negatively impact learning. This is why it is important to identify the weak foundational skills that need attention.
Hevesh started creating domino projects as a kid and eventually began to post her creations online. Now, her YouTube channel, Hevesh5, has more than 2 million subscribers. She has created stunning domino artwork for movies, TV shows and events, including a recent album launch for Katy Perry. She has also set a Guinness record for the most dominoes ever used in a project.
The next time you have a problem at work, take a look at your own domino effect. It could be that something small is causing you to react in an inefficient or negative way. Instead, focus on improving your processes and you might find that the problems solve themselves. In fact, that might be the best way to get through any difficult situation: just keep the momentum going by focusing on the next step in your plan.