CHALLENGE:

I was the team leader for one of the competitions that were held during a team building session at my  work place. We were given two challenges; to build a stable card castle with only squares cut from  newspaper, and to build a tall tower with newspaper cylinders stacked over. The conditions were that  the towers should start with ten cards/cylinders at the bottom most layer, with nine on top, going all  the way up to one on the topmost layer, the tenth one. Sheets of paper can be placed in between  each layer for stability and support. The winning is the one that had the tallest cylinder stack and the  most stable card castle. Rules; finish both in time and use the limited number of newspapers provided.

SELECTION:

I chose the Visualization tool to achieve the goal set for my team. I drew a mental picture of the two  towers we were to build and then laid down the guidelines, while describing it to my teammates.  Visualization of any process creates clear pathway that takes us from where we are to where we need  to go. Not only did I see the final product in my mind clearly, but also have a standard to compare the  model we were building to. It provided my team and me a benchmark that we needed to attain in  order to win the race. We used our ideal map to compare the other teams’ approach and modified  ours when we found something better that they were doing.

APPLICATION

We knew that adding more layers to each sheet of paper we used would add to stability of the  structure, but also increase the weight, thus leading to collapse. Lighter construction would keep the  weight in check but would compromise the stability. So we decided to build the bottom few tiers with  additional layers of newspapers folded/rolled together, where stability requirements are high and the  arrangement needed to withstand the weight added on top. We kept the top layers light to reduce  the load on the base tiers.

INSIGHT

What I learnt from this exercise is that when we have a goal that we practically see in our mind, it  makes the process of reaching that goal that much easier, and that we can go much closer to the ideal  that we do when the target is an abstract one. I also understood that even when we precisely know  what we have to do, it takes multiple iterations of approach we need to make to reach that goal. And  this is where visualization helps, in keeping the image of the target reachable and easy to understand.  I also started applying visualization in various aspects of my life; from remembering the shopping list,  to superimposing Google maps onto the streets of new places I visit. It made my life that much easier.

APPROACH

Even though we have multitude of tools I could have chosen from, I think visualization is the best  suited one for my problem here. So the next time I face a challenge that I need to handle, I would first  apply visualization tool. Maybe I would throw in a pinch of experimentation between each iteration  of processes I undergo for ease of applying changes.

This exercise made me realize that even when I can’t solve all of my problems, I can go pretty close if  I have a picture of where I want to be when I finish it, and that drives me forward.


CHALLENGE : I was the team leader for one of the competitions that were held during a team building session at my work place . We were given two challenges ; to build a stable card castle with only squares cut from newspaper , and to build a tall tower with newspaper cylinders stacked over . The conditions were that the towers should start with ten cards / cylinders at the bottom most layer , with nine on top , going all the way up to one on the topmost layer , the tenth one . Sheets of paper can be placed in between each layer for stability and support . The winning is the one that had the tallest cylinder stack and the most stable card castle . Rules ; finish both in time and use the limited number of newspapers provided . SELECTION : I chose the Visualization tool to achieve the goal set for my team . I drew a mental picture of the two towers we were to build and then laid down the guidelines , while describing it to my teammates . Visualization of any process creates clear pathway that takes us from where we are to where we need to go . Not only did I see the final product in my mind clearly , but also have a standard to compare the model we were building to . It provided my team and me a benchmark that we needed to attain in order to win the race . We used our ideal map to compare the other teams ’ approach and modified ours when we found something better that they were doing . APPLICATION We knew that adding more layers to each sheet of paper we used would add to stability of the structure , but also increase the weight , thus leading to collapse . Lighter construction would keep the weight in check but would compromise the stability . So we decided to build the bottom few tiers with additional layers of newspapers folded / rolled together , where stability requirements are high and the arrangement needed to withstand the weight added on top . We kept the top layers light to reduce the load on the base tiers . INSIGHT What I learnt from this exercise is that when we have a goal that we practically see in our mind , it makes the process of reaching that goal that much easier , and that we can go much closer to the ideal that we do when the target is an abstract one . I also understood that even when we precisely know what we have to do , it takes multiple iterations of approach we need to make to reach that goal . And this is where visualization helps , in keeping the image of the target reachable and easy to understand . I also started applying visualization in various aspects of my life ; from remembering the shopping list , to superimposing Google maps onto the streets of new places I visit . It made my life that much easier . APPROACH Even though we have multitude of tools I could have chosen from , I think visualization is the best suited one for my problem here . So the next time I face a challenge that I need to handle , I would first apply visualization tool . Maybe I would throw in a pinch of experimentation between each iteration of processes I undergo for ease of applying changes . This exercise made me realize that even when I ca n’t solve all of my problems , I can go pretty close if I have a picture of where I want to be when I finish it , and that drives me forward .