Domino is a flat thumbsized rectangular block, either blank or bearing from one to six pips or dots: 28 such dominoes form a complete set. They are used to play a variety of games, most of which involve stacking them end-to-end in long lines and then knocking them over. The fact that the first domino in such a line is simply tipped over, triggering the rest to fall in a cascade, has given rise to the phrase “domino effect,” describing any action that triggers a series of greater–or even catastrophic–consequences.
Dominoes have a long history, and they’re more than just an entertaining pastime. They can also teach us a lot about the nature of leadership and management. For example, a company that isn’t listening to its employees can quickly find itself in trouble. Domino’s Pizza, which is currently led by CEO David Brandon, faced such a situation a few years ago. In response, the company put new measures in place to make sure that it was better communicating with its staff. This included a relaxed dress code and new employee training programs. It also focused on directly asking customers what they thought the company could do differently.
As a result, Domino’s was able to turn around its business and become one of the best places to work in America. Its approach to leadership can be modeled by other organizations, including Microsoft, which has a long-standing commitment to listen to its employees. In recent years, it has made significant changes to its compensation and benefits system and revamped its internal communication channels.
In addition to its internal communications, Domino’s has also been making an effort to promote its values and culture to the public. It has participated in various TV shows and has been featured in several articles in national publications. This has helped to increase brand awareness and further solidify its reputation as a top workplace.
Similarly, writing a story requires that the scenes advance the plot and create tension, just as a good domino construction does. If a scene feels like it’s taking too long to get to the point or doesn’t do enough to raise tension, then that scene isn’t serving its purpose. It’s a common pitfall that can be avoided by using tools like outlines and Scrivener to help map out the plot ahead of time.
As Hevesh has learned from her experience, a key factor in creating a successful domino art is timing. She creates test versions of each section of her displays and films them in slow motion to ensure that the pieces fit together properly and can be tipped over in the proper sequence. This helps her to spot problems before the display goes up and makes it easier to correct them. It’s a process that any writer can apply to their stories.