Dominoes are a classic game of skill and chance. They can be played in bustling city squares and quiet village homes, and they are a unifying force that transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries. They are a symbol of our innate desire for connection and community. They can also teach us a few lessons about leadership and organizational behavior.
When a domino is set up to create a chain, it must be placed so that the two matching ends touch fully and are adjacent to each other. Dominos are normally double-sided, and one side is numbered with pips (also known as dots) that range from six to blank. The value of the domino’s pips determines its rank or “weight” and may be used to indicate the order in which it should be followed.
The domino effect is a term used to describe any action that leads to another action in a cascade of motion. This phenomenon is demonstrated in the satisfying videos we have all seen where, after tipping the first domino ever-so-slightly, all of the other pieces fall in a beautiful synchronized sequence.
For example, when a person starts to smoke a cigarette, this can lead to others in the room smoking as well. Then, when those people smoke, it can lead to still more smokers and so on. This process is often called a domino effect because the action of smoking triggers many other consequences that can cause a chain reaction.
There is a famous story about the founder of Domino’s Pizza, Tom Monaghan, who was pulled over while driving after work and found out that his license had been suspended due to an outstanding warrant for traffic violations. He quickly paid the fine and then drove on his way to Domino’s. He knew that if he didn’t get to the store to pick up his pizza, he would miss the dinner rush. As he turned the corner at the end of the road, he saw a traffic light that was about to change from green to red.
When a company is faced with challenges, they often turn to the “domino effect.” By following the principle of this theory, companies can achieve great results from small changes. For example, when the Detroit Free Press named Domino’s one of its Top Workplaces, the company CEO, James Doyle, promoted a policy that centered on listening to employees. In turn, this helped them improve company morale and increase customer satisfaction.