Cards Against the Status Quo, Part II

Time to say something nice

Recently we introduced our first version of Cards Against the Status Quo. In this game we asked people to give and take critical feedback from their colleagues. But creating a learning environment is not only about working on weak points, it’s just as important to identify the bright spots. You’re probably not as special as your momma told you, but you do possess some hidden gems.

So without further ado we present you Part II of the Cards Against the Status Quo pack. It’s a follow up game, and one you should take just as seriously, which you can download here.

Both the negative and positive cards are chances to create teams where there’s psychological safety. Which is heralded by Google as “a sense of confidence that the team will not embarrass, reject or punish someone for speaking up”. Where there is psychological safety people feel supported in being honest and themselves, and teams are more likely to succeed.

We hope this deck will help people to give and take a compliment at work, without making it awkward. Also, compliments should make us feel good about ourselves AND they should teach us something. By the end of this game you will have found out what other people think are your strengths. Be in for a few surprises, because the game will probably highlight a number of positive traits that you hadn’t put much thought into yet.

These are the three cards:

I consider this your Unique Strength
Give this card to a colleague when they showed an example of something they’re uniquely good at. Like that one person who is awesome at presenting, or providing mental support to others, or heck, baking. Anything you think is a strength that really defines them.

This is Awesome
Very simply, if something is genuinely amazing and completely exceeds your expectations. It could be a presentation, a pitch, a proposal, a drawing, a design or anything that was excellently made or done.

Damn, that’s Insightful
Did your colleague just blow your mind? Did they pick up on something incredibly sharp or valuable? Well let them know and tell them how they opened your eyes.

The Rules
The same house rules apply for part II. It’s a game played with a set amount of people (at least five), a set amount of cards (nine each), during a set amount of time (ideally a week).

We’ve left the back of the cards blank on purpose, for you to specify your compliment. Be detailed in your explanation as to why you think your colleague has done a good job, but make this completely your own.

Bonus
Before starting the game try writing down what you’re expecting to hear and put it in a closed envelope. Once the game is done, take score of what people have told you and see if it matches up. Are there any big surprises? Are you satisfied with this or would you like to see positive feedback in other areas?

Ultimately, the point of this version is to know that compliments are more than just ego-boosters. By the end of the game you will know how you positively affect others. Use your superpower to make yourself even more effective. After all, Gotham needs you.

Download the second part of the game for free here.

Mats Siffels is partner at Professional Rebel. He’s also a master in strategy and wants to share the tools and tips to help people drive change in their working and daily lives. He draws inspiration from a diverse group of people including NBA coach Gregg Popovich, Grammy-nominated trumpeter Christian Scott and Italian restaurateur Massimo Bottura.

Get in touch with Mats: LinkedIn | Twitter

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