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“The Vanishing Elephant”

Magicians often rely on mirrors, trap doors, and hidden wires. However, The Vanishing Elephant, one of Harry Houdini’s most mysterious tricks, was truly unique. For more than 90 years, long after his death, the secret by which Houdini made an elephant disappear remained a puzzle that even other magicians could not solve.

It began in 1918. Harry Houdini walked across the stage. A crowd of over 5,000 had gathered to watch him perform what, at the time, was considered the world’s most incredible illusion.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Houdini cried. To the audience’s alarm, a full-grown elephant came into view.

The elephant raised her trunk in greeting to the wide-eyed crowd before being led into a huge, brightly colored box on wheels. The doors were closed behind her. There was a dramatic drum roll. Then, the stage hands flung open the doors at both ends of the box to reveal that it was now completely gone. The audience was amazed!

Instructions

Imagine that you are leading a five-person team that is tasked with generating new magic trick ideas at Magicians Inc., an organization whose mission is to supply the world’s professional magicians with creative, awe-inspiring magic tricks to perform.

You need your Magicians Inc. team to develop a better (more creative) trick than Houdini’s Vanishing Elephant trick. You are meeting with your team later today to start generating new magic trick ideas.

Respond to the following in your write-up:

1. What specific techniques or behaviors would you use as you lead this meeting and guide your team to greater creativity? Describe how your strategy would benefit your goals for creativity and also discuss what you could do to avoid any potential negative consequences of your approach.

2. To encourage creativity, leaders also need to be creative as well. Describe your own idea for a magic trick that would be more creative than The Vanishing Elephant – keep in mind the criteria of novelty and usefulness as you think of a creative idea!