Page 188 - Make Work Great

8 Mobilizing Groups

magine being given three wooden blocks—the same simple build-
Iing blocks that have entertained toddlers for decades—along with a
request: “Please build a structure optimized for height and stability.”
This isn’t a complex task, and it won’t take long. Most likely, you will
take little time to seek outside input. You’ll stack your blocks and be
done with it.
Suppose that on seeing your result, your requester is pleased and
returns with about 20 multicolored blocks of various sizes and shapes,
along with a slightly modifi ed task: “Please build a structure that
is optimized for height, stability, and aesthetic appeal.” This time,
you might be inclined to seek some advice. Perhaps you will ask the
requester for a bit more clarity regarding the meaning of “aesthetic
appeal.” Perhaps you’ll turn to a nearby colleague to ask if he or she
has ever been given this assignment. Ultimately, you will do the work
yourself, but it might be wise to seek a little guidance fi rst, as you
now have both more options and more constraints.
Now imagine that your block-bearing requester is a wealthy and
extremely eccentric property developer. Impressed by your perfor-
mance on these building-block exercises, he decides to put you in
charge of his next development project, a high-rise building in a heav-
ily populated metropolitan area. He makes you an employment offer
you can’t refuse, and within minutes, you fi nd yourself responsible for

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