TED Tuesday: Build A Tower, Build A Team | Tom Wujec

"And sometimes, a little prototype of this experience is all that it takes to turn us from an "uh-oh" moment to a "ta-da" moment. And that can make a big difference."

Good Morning Folks,

Our site managers have incredibly varied job roles—their responsibilities include everything from overseeing change management to implementing internal communication strategies and new office technologies. For site managers looking to stay on top of workplace and technology trends, TED Talks can be a great resource. 

Tom Wujec's talk is a case in point. With almost 4 million views it outlines a staple team building exercise—he engages different groups in a simple tower building contest. The competition pits groups like kindergartners, engineers and CEOs against each other to see who can build the tallest tower within a time limit. The talk unveils some unexpected results, with teams who remove ego and focus on iterative methods winning over teams consisting of people typically in leadership positions. Managers who work with project-focused teams may find this talk especially helpful as it holds valuable information about matching incentives, skill sets and work processes in order to achieve a goal.

Tom Wujec presents some surprisingly deep research into the "marshmallow problem" — a simple team-building exercise that involves dry spaghetti, one yard of tape and a marshmallow. Who can build the tallest tower with these ingredients? And why does a surprising group always beat the average? Have a look:

With topics ranging from employee habits and leadership tactics, to big data and technological innovations, here are some other important TED Talks we've showcased for site managers to watch:

Jason Fried: "Why work doesn't happen at work"

David Autor: "Will automation take away all our jobs?"

Thanks to David Spence at Office Space for leading me to today's talk. And thanks to you for watching.

Have a GREAT day,

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

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"Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried”
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Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form. TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE.