See All on Motivation
It started like a simple activity.
“Here are the two abutments of a bridge,” the instructor said.
“Use the resources here and make a bridge.”
Straightforward, right? Ten minutes were given. The task was clear. But within moments, the atmosphere changed.
As the participant began working, the barrage began:
“You’ve seen a bridge before, right?”
“Then why are you struggling?”
“Come on! This is how you cut a string!”
“You don’t even know how to use scissors?”
“Very bad. Useless!”
The instructions kept shifting too:
“You have ten minutes.”
A few seconds later: “Two minutes! I want the bridge in two minutes!”
Nothing felt fair, nothing felt steady, and nothing felt supportive. The goal was simple—build a bridge—yet the noise made it feel impossible.
But this wasn’t really about building a bridge.
When the time was up, the instructor revealed the point of the entire exercise:
In real life—especially in projects, teams, and leadership roles—you will face exactly this.
People will taunt you.
Communication will be unclear.
Specifications will be missing.
Attitudes will be negative.
Deadlines will shift without warning.
So what do you do?
You shut out the noise.
You focus on the task.
You preserve your attitude, even when others don’t.
As the instructor summed it up:
“When you start judging others’ attitude, you risk losing your own. Ignore the noise and finish the task.”
Leadership isn’t about complaining that instructions weren’t perfect.
It isn’t about reacting to every negative comment.
It isn’t about panicking when chaos hits.
Leadership is about composure.
About focusing on the next step.
About maintaining your internal clarity even when the environment lacks it.
And perhaps the most powerful line from the session:
“Good managers never panic. They give an iron handshake with a velvet cushion.”
Firm.
Steady.
Respectful.
Calm under pressure.
This bridge-building exercise was more than a game. It was a miniature version of stress interviews, competitive work environments, and real-world messy situations where confusion and distractions are deliberately created.
And the message is simple:
Look at the task.
Do what needs to be done.
Move on.
Good luck—and when the noise gets loud, just remember the bridge.
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