02-12-2005, 13:50
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#1
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: LA
Posts: 1,653
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What a simply elegant exercise
There was a selection exercise they used for OSS operatives during WWII. The candidate was placed in charge and had two "helpers" under him. They were given a set of tinker toy-like objects and a schematic and told to build what was on the drawing. The catch was the candidate couldn't touch it, only give directions to the "helpers". And the "helpers" were instructed to be particularly unhelpful. One always had a better way and opposed the directions by the candidate. The other would do everything wrong. They would talk to themselves in a foreign language, etc.
I have been thinking about this a lot and I really like it. It teaches maintaining calm with increasing frustration levels. Good for working with indig. I also think it could be a valuable teaching tool for subordinates to get a taste of the burden of leadership without any real risk. Just have one of the "helpers" demonstrate the negative characteristics displayed by the person receiving the lesson.
As for the OSS, reportedly only one candidate ever got the thing built. A big Texan that apparently knocked the shit out of both the helpers as soon as they started their games. LOL
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Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home.
He knows only The Cause.
Still want to quit?
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NousDefionsDoc is offline
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02-12-2005, 20:13
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#2
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Gun Pilot
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Iowa and New Mexico
Posts: 2,143
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by NousDefionsDoc
There was a selection exercise they used for OSS operatives during WWII. The candidate was placed in charge and had two "helpers" under him. They were given a set of tinker toy-like objects and a schematic and told to build what was on the drawing. The catch was the candidate couldn't touch it, only give directions to the "helpers". And the "helpers" were instructed to be particularly unhelpful. One always had a better way and opposed the directions by the candidate. The other would do everything wrong. They would talk to themselves in a foreign language, etc.
I have been thinking about this a lot and I really like it. It teaches maintaining calm with increasing frustration levels. Good for working with indig. I also think it could be a valuable teaching tool for subordinates to get a taste of the burden of leadership without any real risk. Just have one of the "helpers" demonstrate the negative characteristics displayed by the person receiving the lesson.
As for the OSS, reportedly only one candidate ever got the thing built. A big Texan that apparently knocked the shit out of both the helpers as soon as they started their games. LOL
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I like it!
Know any big Texans? 
Terry
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CPTAUSRET is offline
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02-12-2005, 20:25
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#3
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Consigliere
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland (at last)
Posts: 8,825
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by NousDefionsDoc
I have been thinking about this a lot and I really like it. It teaches maintaining calm with increasing frustration levels. Good for working with indig. I also think it could be a valuable teaching tool for subordinates to get a taste of the burden of leadership without any real risk. Just have one of the "helpers" demonstrate the negative characteristics displayed by the person receiving the lesson.
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Sounds like something I could use. Sometimes I want to strangle some of the lawyers who work for me.
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Roguish Lawyer is offline
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02-12-2005, 20:51
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#4
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: east coast
Posts: 607
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer
Sounds like something I could use. Sometimes I want to strangle who work for me. |
RL, Don't think so surgical - feel free to expand your horizons/similar target group!
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casey is offline
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02-12-2005, 21:02
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#5
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Bladesmith to the Quiet Professionals
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Oregon, Land of the Silver Grey Sunsets
Posts: 3,884
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I like that, as long as I'm never involved in the game/test.
I wish Col. A was around to comment further on this.
You can't take these Texas kids anywhere.
edited to add, " Bet the guys causing the trouble were engineers, you know, the forerunners of Geeks."
Last edited by Bill Harsey; 02-12-2005 at 21:10.
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Bill Harsey is offline
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02-13-2005, 15:02
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#6
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Consigliere
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland (at last)
Posts: 8,825
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by casey
RL, Don't think so surgical - feel free to expand your horizons/similar target group!
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LOL -- I already hunt plaintiff's lawyers for a living. 
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Roguish Lawyer is offline
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02-14-2005, 09:31
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#7
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 4,530
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Yeah, but do you have any 'trophies' on your wall? 
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Razor is offline
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02-14-2005, 11:39
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#8
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Consigliere
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland (at last)
Posts: 8,825
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Razor
Yeah, but do you have any 'trophies' on your wall? |
I actually do have a few trophies, but not the kind you are thinking about. Copies of judgments and sanctions awards and such.
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Roguish Lawyer is offline
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02-14-2005, 11:45
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#9
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: East Coast
Posts: 438
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I have experience with a similar type test. In the one I did, you had to guide assembly of a widget to a helper who was blindfolded. While the frustration levels produced were not as high as I imagine they would be with the OSS task, the exercise did help you learn to be very precise in your instructions and to try to understand the problem set as the blindfolded person understood it.
__________________
They only the victory win
Who have fought the good fight and have vanquished the demon that tempts us within;
Who have held to their faith unseduced by the prize that the world holds on high;
Who have dared for a high cause to suffer, resist, fight—if need be, to die.
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Jimbo is offline
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02-14-2005, 12:22
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#10
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 4,530
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer
I actually do have a few trophies, but not the kind you are thinking about. Copies of judgments and sanctions awards and such.
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Sorry, only heads count (scalps receive a 'good effort--maybe next time' credit).
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Razor is offline
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02-14-2005, 12:27
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#11
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 4,530
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by NousDefionsDoc
The candidate was placed in charge and had two "helpers" under him. They were given a set of tinker toy-like objects and a schematic and told to build what was on the drawing. The catch was the candidate couldn't touch it, only give directions to the "helpers". And the "helpers" were instructed to be particularly unhelpful. One always had a better way and opposed the directions by the candidate. The other would do everything wrong. They would talk to themselves in a foreign language, etc.
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NDD, isn't this test commonly referred to as 'parenthood'? 
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Razor is offline
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02-14-2005, 12:31
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#12
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Consigliere
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland (at last)
Posts: 8,825
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Razor
NDD, isn't this test commonly referred to as 'parenthood'? |
Dude, be a man and tell her to stay out of the room when you're putting something together. Except when she's bringing another beer. 
(Just kidding, honey! )
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Roguish Lawyer is offline
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02-14-2005, 12:38
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#13
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 4,530
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Are you kidding? She's watching my back for ambush when I'm try to work with the mutinous little savages.
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Razor is offline
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02-14-2005, 13:00
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#14
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Area Commander
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,355
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RL, I am very disappointed. No eagle feathers for the ego wall?
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"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither Thou goest." - Ecclesiastes 9:10
"If simple folk are free from care and fear, simple they will be, and we must be secret to keep them so." - JRRT
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jatx is offline
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02-14-2005, 13:06
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#15
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JAWBREAKER
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Gulf coast
Posts: 1,906
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Razor
NDD, isn't this test commonly referred to as 'parenthood'? |
LOL
I am with you Razor... my 18 mos twins perform this exercise on me daily. This would be no different than the battle I face every night after work. Try feeding and trying to teach twin monsters to feed themselves... of course, the hard part is completing the task without having to get out the pressure washer for the kitchen afterwards.
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