I cannot believe that Rubik’s Cube is turning 50! I still remember receiving my first cube as a child in West Germany. Initially, we had just one cube in the house, but my sister and I kept fighting over it. To preserve family peace, our parents decided it was better to have two cubes. As we were caught up in the craze, puzzling away, twisting and turning, the 7-8 year old me had little idea, that over 40 years later, the cube would come in handy to illustrate some important principles of strategic decision making.

What follows is based on a LinkedIn post I wrote

🔍 Pattern Recognition:

Without recognizing a pattern behind how the cube presents, it’s impossible to know what moves to make to adjust it. Repeat experience makes it easier, and eventually automatic to recognize patterns, predict likely outcomes and make informed decisions.

🧠 Strategic Thinking:

Each move of the cube has knock-on effects not just on the plane you’re working on, but on others as well. Going for a quick fix in the immediate problem you’re trying to tackle may work against your long-term interest.

🛠️ Problem-Solving Skills:

Tackling a Rubik’s Cube encourages a methodical approach. I love that Rubik said “My method was understanding” when asked how he approached solving his own puzzle . Breaking down complex issues into manageable parts is crucial for effective decision making.

🔄 Adaptability:

Every twist and turn can either bring you closer to solving the cube or require you to adjust your strategy. Flexibility and adaptability are key to respond to changing circumstances.

💡 Persistence:

Solving a Rubik’s Cube requires patience and perseverance. Sometimes, it may appear that you are going backwards, even though you are gradually advancing.

My sister then added the following insights:

💧 Upkeep:

Just as it’s important to occasionally lubricate the Rubik’s Cube to prevent it from getting stuck, we must ensure we don’t lose sight of our physical and mental well-being when tackling complex tasks. Neglecting self-care can hinder our ability to make effective moves and progress.

🔨Integrity:

Brute-force disassembling the cube and reassembling it for a quick win might provide insight into its mechanics, but the result is neither satisfying nor respected. Similarly, taking shortcuts or cheating through a problem may be tempting but rarely offers a sustainable solution. Perseverance and honest effort lead to much more integral solutions.

What other lessons come to mind when you think of solving Rubik’s Cube?

If you want to explore other metaphors for how to tackle complex decisions, let’s talk.