Domino is a term used to describe any chain reaction in which one thing causes another to fall. Most of us are familiar with the idea of dominoes, with a line of them set up in a straight or curved line and then tipped ever-so-slightly so that all the pieces tumble down together in a satisfying cascade. This is what is called the domino effect and it can be quite mesmerizing to watch. But the concept of dominoes can also be applied to any sequence of events or actions, both in real life and fictional worlds.
For example, a teacher might use the concept of domino when working with students who have learning challenges. It’s easy to see how compensating for a lack of basic skills can impact the student in an almost domino-like way, where they continue to avoid building those skills and end up getting overwhelmed and frustrated. Then that frustration can have a domino effect of its own and impact other areas of the student’s academic performance, leading to a downward spiral that can be difficult to reverse.
Similarly, a manager might think of the domino effect when trying to solve problems in the workplace. It’s important to listen to employees and consider what they are saying, but a manager should not be afraid to make changes when necessary. For example, if employees are complaining that the dress code is too casual, a manager should not automatically rule out changing it. In fact, a more appropriate response might be to consider how a change in the dress code will impact other policies and procedures, such as employee engagement or recruitment and retention.
In the comic book world, the character Domino is a mutant with the ability to subliminally and psionically initiate random telekinetic acts that affect probability in her favor, giving her good luck. This can range from causing an enemy’s equipment to fail to shutting down a nuclear reactor. She’s also a superb marksman with various firearms, a skilled athlete and swimmer, and a proficient martial artist. She’s been seen working for X-Corporation, which monitors mutant rights violations, and she’s been involved in a number of battles with X-Force.
As writers, we often think of our novel’s plot in terms of the domino effect. Whether we write by the seat of our pants or with a carefully crafted outline, all our plotting comes down to one question: What happens next? Considering the power of the domino effect in your writing can help you answer this question in a compelling and exciting way.