Tweenbots Restore Man’s Sense of Teamwork

I was forwarded a link recently to www.tweenbots.com, an art/science/social experiment that sends a little “robot” on a mission which requires the help from strangers. “Over the course of the following months, throughout numerous missions, the Tweenbots were successful in rolling from their start point to their far-away destination assisted only by strangers. Every time the robot got caught under a park bench, ground futilely against a curb, or became trapped in a pothole, some passerby would always rescue it and send it toward its goal. Never once was a Tweenbot lost or damaged. Often, people would ignore the instructions to aim the Tweenbot in the “right” direction, if that direction meant sending the robot into a perilous situation. One man turned the robot back in the direction from which it had just come, saying out loud to the Tweenbot, "You can’t go that way, it’s toward the road.” I couldn’t help but smile and think of how wonderful it is to see complete strangers collaborate toward a shared goal ... and a goal they really had no idea about before requiring their action. I also thought about how teams collaborate toward a shared goal. Whether building websites, developing software, or hosting events, it’s the shared effort toward a common goal that breeds success. In the case of Tweenbots, all that was required was a moment to stop and simply decide to help: a little push or a quick hand to guide the Tweenbot in the right direction. So often it’s the little actions that mean the most. I like to think that the “little things” are sometimes what helps move projects in the right direction, as well: a thoughtful hallway conversation, a few minutes at the whiteboard working out an idea with members of the team, taking time to understand the perspectives and needs of the teammates and what they require to help reach the goal. Imagine if the people in the park during the experiment had not only helped the Tweenbot on its way to reach its goal, but had communicated with one another about what that goal was, and agreed to help the little guy get there. How much more quickly could he have arrived at his destination? How much less effort would it have been for him and everyone else involved if he had had attention the duration of his trip? In the context of sites and software, I realize we have a *shared* goal and requires everyone’s help, attention, and communication. The robot can’t get across the park on its own. What do you find is helpful in working toward a shared goal? What restores your "sense of teamwork"? Write a comment and tell us what you think. Stay in touch with us through Twitter.