The Tangram Activity
Last Sunday, I attended a workshop titled “Habits of Mind.” The facilitator led us through activities and reflection that helped us to think about the traits or habits of mind we would like to cultivate to ‘succeed’ at work and in life.
One activity involved the participants working in groups of three to put together a tangram puzzle. I mean, how hard can it be to put together a tangram puzzle with two other adults?
The activity had a twist. One person had to put the puzzle together while blindfolded. This person could not see the puzzle that had to be solved. Let’s call this person the builder.
Another person had the instruction sheet with the puzzle on it and had to communicate with the blindfolded person, guiding them to put the puzzle together. Let’s call this person the communicator.
The third person was the observer, observing what was going on.
The communicator and the builder had 6 minutes to put the puzzle together. The builder first took the pieces and felt them in her hands, figuring out the shape of each one. The communicator guided her to sort them out by distinct pieces and pointed out what shape each of them was.
Then they got to work. The communicator gave precise instructions. The builder listened to each of the instructions and followed them exactly. After building a few pieces together, the communicator realised she made a mistake, and the builder had to replace the pieces. The builder did so calmly without a hint of frustration.
At the end of 6 minutes, the puzzle was almost complete. There was just one piece that was about to be placed in the designated area, but it kept getting stuck under the surface on which she was building it.
The facilitator called for us to stop the activity and asked us to reflect on the entire process, using the following questions as a guide.
How challenging was the process for you? Rate it from 0-10
What were the feelings you experienced during the process?
What went well in the process?
What was frustrating or challenging in the process?
If you were to do this again, what would you do differently?
In my group, the communicator and the builder were thrilled by the outcome. The puzzle was almost complete.
The builder reflected that she is comfortable following clear and precise instructions. When there is clarity, and she knows her role, she is happy at work.
The communicator reflected that this activity reinforced for her that she was good at giving instructions in a manner that helped the other person complete the task.
During my reflection, I asked for the instruction sheet and saw what they were building—a dog. I then looked at the puzzle, and then I could see the dog.
That made me realise that I would have been super frustrated if I were the builder. It is important for me to know the big picture behind the work I am doing. I would have had trouble following instructions, and while I might have completed the task, I would have done so with ample frustration.
So, if I had been put in the position of a builder, I wondered what I could have done to ensure that I could do the task without getting frustrated. Just one thing came to my mind.
It is important for me to have the big picture. So, I would have asked the communicator what we were trying to build.
Communication is a two-way street. Most often, if we are at the receiving end of the work, we just take what is given to us and run with it. When we are at the delegating end of the work, we give instructions based on what is comfortable for us.
Some of us need the big picture to work with, and some of us need details. Most of us are somewhere in between.
If we are the communicators, it would help to communicate in a way that includes both elements—the big picture and the details. If we are the builders, it would help to ask for clarity in a way that includes both elements.
Sometimes, we miss the forest for the trees. Sometimes, the devil is indeed in the details. And most times, both are needed.
What is your communication preference? Do you have an affinity for the big picture or details? How do you communicate to others?
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💌 Siri
