You’ve probably seen videos of a long chain of dominoes falling over in a beautiful, rhythmic cascade. The first domino just needs a tiny nudge to fall, and then the rest fall in a sequence of one-after-the-other until all of the pieces are down. This is called the Domino Effect. Today’s Wonder of the Day is all about this effect.
A domino is a rectangular tile with an arrangement of numbered dots or spots on both sides. Each domino has a line in the middle to visually divide it into two squares, called ends. Each end may have an identical pattern of spots or a different number of dots, or it may be blank. Dominoes are usually twice as tall as they are wide, which makes them easy to stack and re-stack. Each end has a value, which is typically a number between one and twelve, though larger sets are available.
Most people think of dominoes as small, lightweight toys that can only be knocked over by something one-and-a-half times their size. But a 1983 study by University of British Columbia physicist Lorne Whitehead showed that it’s possible to create a domino chain reaction with objects much bigger than the original dominoes themselves.
This shows that there’s a lot more potential energy in even a very large object than we might expect. What’s more, the chain reaction can be started from any point in the domino chain, and it can continue to grow until the entire structure is ripped apart by the resulting force.
While the domino effect is most often used to describe the result of a sequence of events, it can also be applied to human behavior. For example, if one person starts a fight in public, others might follow suit, and soon everyone is involved. This is called the domino effect, and it’s a good reminder that one person’s actions can affect many other people in unexpected ways.
If you want to be a successful leader, you can use the domino effect to your advantage. For example, if you are trying to motivate your team, you might start by starting with a small goal or project that will get them excited about working together. This will give them a sense of accomplishment and confidence that they can achieve more. Then, as they achieve more, it will be easier to keep them motivated and engaged.
The best way to stay on top of your game is to use a management style that is more like Domino. This type of leadership is more hands-on and participatory than traditional bureaucratic styles, and it gives employees a say in how things are done. This can help you build a team that is more effective at reaching your goals.