The Unseen Power of Collaboration
Picture this: 10 volunteers forming a circle, each holding a rope in their right hand. One by one, they pass the other end to the person across the circle until it all becomes an intricate entanglement (picture: steps 1-3).
Now, the challenge: untangle it within 2 minutes without releasing the ropes. No time for analysis, no room for complex algorithms.
The immediate reaction: Is this even possible? Anyone with advanced math skills?
Yet, against all odds, teams naturally move, and with each step, they reduce the complexity until they reach a beautiful untangled state (picture: step 4)
I learned about this game many years ago, thanks to a post by Nathan Donaldson, and have been experimenting with it in workshops ever since. This week, a team shattered expectations, untangling it just in 17 seconds. Wow.
This game mirrors the complexity we face in organisational settings, where dependencies create a web that seems impossible to navigate.
Empower your team(s) to collaborate, self-organise, and witness the magic unfold.
What challenges has your team overcome through collaboration? Please share your stories!
Learning resources:
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