Conversation Starters

PRACTICE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS

These workplace scenarios, developed by Trainers Warehouse, address common categories of workplace dissonance. Each includes one or more roleplays that ask participants to consider their strategy in addressing a sticky situation. Each is an opportunity to either build or erode trust, which is key to effective working relationships.

BROAD RANGE OF TOPICS

The 18 scenarios contained in this deck cover a broad range of topics. As players practice, observers and facilitators can help identify successful approaches and outcomes. There are no “right answers.” The goal is simply to practice having difficult conversations in ways that build trust. Find roleplays that explore these four areas:

1. Conflict Resolution: Addressing differences and misunderstandings. Managing conflicts between team members or dealing with disputes within the team can be challenging. Successful outcomes require players to address issues tactfully, mediate disagreements, see things from diverse perspectives, and find solutions that maintain a cooperative work environment.
2. Performance Issues and Giving difficult feedback. Addressing performance issues like poor productivity, missed deadlines, or quality concerns, is a common challenge for managers. Give them an opportunity to practice giving constructive feedback, setting performance expectations, and developing improvement plans. Successful roleplays will consist of delivering difficult messages, providing feedback that’s specific and actionable, improving communication, and preserving relationships.
3. Sharing feedback and facilitating tough conversations within teams. Peer feedback is a valuable tool for professional development and collaboration. Feedback scenarios focus on giving specific, constructive, and supportive input about an individual's or team's growth and development. Productive conversations should foster a culture of collaboration and understanding within the workplace.
4. Leadership: managing change, crises, and growth (multi-person role-plays). Effective leadership can help motivate excellent work, create a positive organizational culture, and inspire action. Practicing multi-person scenarios will help leaders navigate challenges, guide teams, build alignment, and make decisions. Judge your success based on whether constituents feel heard, and everyone understands the way forward, with minimal stress, anxiety, and uncertainty.

24-CARD DECK CONTAINS SCENARIOS AND FACILITATION TIPS!

Work-Plays deck (4" x 6") contains these 24 cards:

• 18 scenarios
• 1 Overview/cover card
• 1 Learning Objectives
• 1 Listing of 18 scenarios
• 1 Facilitation Suggestions
• 1 Example scenario
• 1 Debrief Suggestions

The deck comes in a beautifully designed box. The cards are a hefty 330 gsm, so they won't wear out!

NO RIGHT ANSWERS

Remind players that there are no "right answers." Rather these provide an opportunity to practice difficult conversations in a safe space. While you're players may not experience these exact situations in their workplace, they will raise familiar issues. Often, practicing with cases that don't strike too close to home is easier because it allows players to take some chances and try out new techniques to apply to more "real life" situations.

FACILITATION SUGGESTIONS

TIPS TO MAKE BEST USE OF SCENARIOS

1. Choose a role play scenario.
2. Select which conversation you’d like to practice.
3. Decide to conduct a one-on-one or multi-player roleplay.
4. Decide if role players will practice privately or in front of a small group.
5. Read the scenario to the group and/or distribute the situation to roleplaying participants.
6. Remind players: “There are no right answers. The exercise is about getting practice and discovering effective techniques.”
7. Select “observers” to help identify effective or problematic approaches.

FRONT-OF-ROOM FACILITATION TIPS

If you choose to demo difficult conversations in front of the room, keep these tips in mind:

• • Explain that participants will take turns having these difficult conversations. Let them know that you plan to stop and start frequently, so the group can discuss techniques that are effective and/or phraseology that inhibits productive dialogue.
  • Let participants who are playing the “difficult person” know they can ham it up as much as they want, but if an argument is compelling, they should respond positively.
  • Change role players frequently. Invite observers to raise a hand if they have an approach they’d like to try. Invite role-players to raise a hand if they’d like a “reliever” to step in.

In LEGO® Activities for Training, you’ll find each activity contains easy step-by-step instructions to set up and debrief the exercise, as well as time and materials needed. Plus, find tips to integrate the game activity into a larger training session!

These activities are suitable for experienced or novice Trainers, Facilitators, Educators, and Coaches. Those who consider themselves novices should expect to take extra minutes to think through their needs and be very clear on the PURPOSE and CONTEXT of the session.

21 ADAPTABLE EXERCISES

Each activity is designed to start conversations. For maximum effectiveness, you may need to make some adjustments to the instructions or timing. Use these notes as a guide but feel free to make changes to suit the needs of your team or conduct deeper discussions. NOTE: copy written in red italics indicates words you will speak.

LEGO® ACTIVITIES FOR TRAINING INCLUDES

The deck includes:

• FAQs
• LEGO brick suggestions
• Icebreakers and Introductions - 7 activities
• Communication Skills - 7 activities
• Team Dynamics - 7 activities

COLLECTING THE RIGHT LEGO BRICKS

The deck DOES NOT INCLUDE Lego building materials. However, LEGO bricks are readily available new (at toy stores) and used (ebay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, etc.) While you can use any LEGO bricks for these activities, you may want to consider the following:

• LEGO® Explorer Bags & LEGO® Serious Play Starter Kits: These sets work well if you want everyone in the team to have the same selection of bricks. They’re also ideal in exercises requiring players to duplicate another team’s model.
• More isn’t always better: A smaller selection of bricks can be helpful with storytelling and metaphors.
• Base plates: Extra base plates help when asking people to create a scene or move about the room to share their creations with others.
• Mini-figures and Special bricks: Pieces such as eyes, flags, and wheels etc., help create a variety of scenes. Mini Figures are useful for expressing interactions between people.
• Keepers: Allowing learners to keep their LEGO® model can help with memory and retention, as well as spreading the word about your LEGO®-based training.

7 ICEBREAKER ACTIVITIES

1. My Accessories (10 mins + 2 mins PL sharing) - Introductions and assessing knowledge.
2. Build a Creature (10 mins + 2 mins PL sharing) - Introductions and making links to personality.
3. My Monday Morning (10 mins + 2 mins PL sharing) - Creative introductions that link to roles.
4. Five Piece Speed Build (6 mins + 1 min PL sharing) - Quick introductions that can link to efficiency and time management.
5. Build a Tower (10 mins + 2 mins PL sharing) - Introductions that use a tower as a metaphor for experience (or anything else).
6. Surprise Surprise! (8 mins + 2 min PL sharing) - Make deeper connections through sharing.
7. My Journey so far... (8 mins + 3 mins PL sharing) - Explore how people evolved to their current roles and the experience they bring with them.

7 COMMUNICATION SKILLS ACTIVITIES

1. Build an Animal (10-30 mins) - Start a discussion about clear instructions and interpretations.
2. Build My Duck (20-30 mins) - Highlight what happens when communication is sporadic and unclear.
3. My Duck's Better Than Yours! (20-30 mins) - Explore the nuance of “great” vs. “best.”
4. The “RIGHT” Duck? (5-10 mins + Discussion) - Demonstrate the importance of clarity.
5. Making Connections (5-10 mins + Discussion) - Illustrate how more people, means more interpretations.
6. Picture This (15-30 mins) - Show how visual images are seen differently, or explore the impact of limited resources.
7. Persuasive Communications (20-30 mins) - Increase confidence in approaching others.

7 ACTIVITIES FOR TEAM DYNAMICS

1. Follow the Leader (20-30 mins) - Highlight that the role of leader in a team isn’t always what you imagine.
2. The Value of Values (30-40 mins) - How one’s values may link or clash with the team.
3. Defining Company Values (60 mins) - Allow teams to explore company values in more depth.
4. Hanging off the Edge (30-40 mins) - Get the team working together to come up with a solution to a unique challenge.
5. Sabotage (30-40 mins) - Explore how people may approach a task differently depending on their goals.
6. Ask Me! (20-30 mins) - Discover the talents of each team member.
7. Beyond the Team (30-40 mins) - Highlight the impact of additional stakeholders.

NOTE: LEGO® is not associated with this product

Quote Builders consists of a handful of collaborative puzzles generated from 18 different inspirational quotes guaranteed to make you think.

QUOTE BUILDERS INCLUDES

The 48-card hexagonal deck consists of 18 quotes from icons like Golda Meir, John Steinbeck, Maya Angelou, Margaret Thatcher, Eleanor Roosevelt, Frederick Douglass, and more. These quotes serve as an "answer key" for the quote puzzle cards.

Each of the quotes on the black cards can be "built" from the words on the accompanying blue, green, and purple cards. The cards are color-coded, indicating the difficulty of figuring out the order of the words in the quote. As such, the deck includes

• 12 HARD cards (blue)
• 10 MEDIUM cards (purple)
• 8 EASY cards (green)

On each card, you'll find the following elements, working from the outside of the card, inward:

• One or two words on each of the six sides. All are in different fonts/colors, as this indicates which words will make up the famous quotation.
• 6 numbers match the color-coding of the deck (which would help any who might be color-blind)
  • 1-6 are blue
  • 7-12 are purple
  • 13-18 are green
• The inner hexagon identifies the number of cards in the set, so teams can be sure they have all the cards necessary to build a quote. (12 blue, 10 purple, 8 green).

FACILITATING THE GAME

Setup: Select a difficulty. Shuffle the cards of the same color together, then distribute them evenly among the players. Do not pass out the black answer key card.

Play: Select one of the six quotes in a set and work together with your team to arrange the cards until you discover the answer. Solutions will always match fonts and colors. If you solve a quote, select a new quote and play again. Or use the cards to build a brand new inspirational quote from scratch.

VARIATIONS

1. No visuals - Teams are likely to lay out their cards to come up with the answer. For added difficulty, ask that players keep their card(s) hidden from teammates. Explain that they are only able to speak the words on their cards, but may not show them or put them down. For further difficulty, after a group has been through the exercise a few times, tell them they can ONLY speak the word on their card, and all other communications must be non-verbal.
2. Create-a-quote - Ask teams to build their own quote with an assortment of words from the cards they're dealt.
3. Reflection - Distribute the quote "answer key" cards as an ice-breaker or reflection game.

It's perfect for professional facilitators, leaders, trainers, coaches, or anyone who uses experiential learning to bring out the best communication and collaboration from their team. With four ways to play, you'll be returning to this activity again and again.

MORE TIPS

In addition to the tips shared here, the packaging has a QR code, allowing facilitators to access/download additional tips online.

Designed by and for facilitators, VirtualGlass™ is an online training platform containing 20+ virtual activities that make online learning more interactive and engaging. The toolkit offers dozens of tools and experiences for Team Development, Leadership, Styles, and Communication. All were modified from face-to-face experiences, in an effort to bring top-notch in-person energy to remote workshops.

MAKE ONLINE INSTRUCTOR-LED TRAINING FUN!

Find dozens of virtual instructor-led games and activities that make online training more engaging and interactive, including:

• Team building games activities, addressing...
  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Co-opetition
  • Problem-solving
  • Assumptions
  • Process improvement
  • Roles
  • Knowledge sharing
• Leadership activities, building...
  • Leadership qualities
  • Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
  • Expectations and Accountability
  • Conflict Management
  • Time Management
  • Building Trust
  • Peer-to-Boss promotions
• Conversation & facilitation tools
  • Flipchart-style note taking tools
  • Debriefs
  • Discussion forums
• Assessments
  • Communication Styles
  • DiSC

VirtualGlass™ works exceptionally well with blended learning as participants in the class and those virtual can complete the same activities at the same time. See an explanation of the different games below.

VIRTUALGLASS AT-A-GLANCE

• Easy Access: participants login with a URL you provide.
• Quick set up: Copy and paste the activity link in the chat box and click the play button in an activity to get started. Takes just 5 seconds!
• Participants: 3 - unlimited (some activities work best with at least three participants).
• Facilitation Notes: Activities include detailed leaders notes and PowerPoints (you can also reach out to the folks at Glass of Learning, if needed).
• Co-Facilitation: For small groups of 3-15 you may not need a co-facilitator. For larger groups, it helps to have one producer/moderator who sends participants into teams and breakout rooms so the facilitator can focus on the content.
• Downloadable Notes: Easily download notes from previous sessions for review or sharing with participants
• Administrator Panel: The admin panel lets you access facilitation tips and notes, as well as:
  • Divide groups into teams
  • View or track team progress
  • Reset team progress on a game
  • Listen in on group discussions
  • Re-brand or re-name activities
  • See all team notes on a final debrief screen
  • Export and share post-session results

PRICING

Your purchase of VirtualGlass is for a 1-YR SUBCRIPTION for one Facilitator. You can have as many participants as you want!

WATCH OUR SHOW & SHARE DEMO

AND, SOME QUICK EXPLANATIONS...

About the platform

Why the platform was created

GAMES & FACILITATION

TEAM BUILDING GAMES

Aggregate – An architect has come up with plans for a new condo complex, however, before he could complete the drawings, he quit the job. Each team will complete the Architects drawings for the ground floor of a condo complex. The team will only have the Architect’s notes to complete the construction. PURPOSE: Team collaboration, managing assumptions, prioritizing information

Circle Words - Participants organize a series of words into a logical order. Focus debriefs on mindset, community, communication, decision-making, flexibility, time management, and more. PURPOSE: Effective communication, team building, team bonding, and problem solving, time management. [Credit: Chris Cavert & Friends FUNDoing]

County Fair – In this matrix/logic puzzle teams must identify the winners of the County Fair using the 13 clues. Teams must identify who baked each pie and which prize each pie won. PURPOSE: Building communication and collaboration skills. [Credit: Michelle Cummings]

Distortion - Participants must communicate a drawing to someone else who will build the drawing, using the tools they have been provided. Based on roles in the activity, different views of the information are available to the different users. PURPOSE: Build communication skills, examine limiting beliefs about what we have control over, improve planning, reframe mindsets, increase customer satisfaction.

Finding the Point - In this activity, a set of puzzle pieces, when properly assembled, creates a set pattern. Teams will assume they don’t have enough resources to finish the task and must explore reactions and approaches to wrestling with limited resources. PURPOSE: challenging assumptions, collaborative creative-thinking, and problem-solving. [Credit: Jim Cain Teamwork & Teamplay]

On Deck – In this sudoku-like activity, teams must organize a 4x4 grid of playing cards according to a set of criteria. Over a series of rounds, the criteria will change, making the challenge more difficult. Between rounds, teams debrief their successes and explore new strategies to complete the task. PURPOSE: develop communication and listening skills, process improvement, and group problem-solving. [Credit: Michelle Cummings]

Personify – in this win-win game, teams take turns placing their game pieces on a grid to gather the highest score possible. Typically, teams will competitively block each other, restricting both teams from accumulating the most points possible. PURPOSE: explore tendencies toward competition over collaboration and highlight the benefits of sharing knowledge across teams.

LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES

Best/Worst Leader - Use a variety of online crafts to create a metaphorical representation of the best or worst leader they have experienced. Discuss how it feels to work for different types of leaders. PURPOSE: Understand the impact of leaders, explore personal leadership goals

Emotional Intelligence – Explore four quadrants of EI, identify the EI behaviors of each quadrant. PURPOSE: identifying the 4 skills associated with Emotional Intelligence.

Expectations and Accountability – 2 part coaching activity – Help participants set clear expectations with their direct reports. Use Glass of Learning’s 5-step model to outline the expectations, then work through the 5-step accountability model to establish how they will hold individuals accountable for expectations set. PURPOSE: setting expectations and delivering on promises.

Impact of Conflict - See how conflict has a ripple effect throughout the organization. Teams will review a set of conflict scenarios and together, discuss the impact these situations would have and possible solutions to address the situation. Upon review of the scenarios, teams will add notes to the screen recapping key learnings on the impact of conflict and solutions to manage conflict in the workplace. PURPOSE: managing conflict and understand the impact of conflict on others.

Managing Time – Working in small groups, participants organize a manager’s daily tasks in the Priority Matrix. Concurrently, a series of interruptions will appear on the screen, interrupting the group’s flow. Participants must figure out how to manage these additional tasks in real time. PURPOSE: time management, prioritization and shifting priorities, differentiating tasks based on urgency and importance.

Peer to Boss – a scenario-based activity demonstrating the challenging decisions that can come up between bosses and their employees who once were peers. In this “Choose your adventure’ style activity, participants choose between multiple choice answers related to each scenario. PURPOSE: navigate changing roles, from peer to boss and build awareness of potential challenges, opportunities, and roadblocks.

Trust Spectrum Scenarios (team experience) – participants examine a series of real-life situations, then discuss whether they would give or withhold trust in that scenario. PURPOSE: understand individuals’ varying degrees of trust and the impact of psychological safety on work environments and team performance.

Trust Spectrum (Individual experience) – individuals review a series of actions members of their team do to support both the department and the leader. In reviewing these actions, individuals assess if they would readily complete these actions for their leader and if their team would complete these actions for them. PURPOSE: explore obstacles that may prevent trust in the workplace and the impact of distrust.

CONVERSATION TOOLS

Bring & Brag, Share & Steal - Debrief tool allows participants to share experiences and successes using online sticky notes. PURPOSE: Collect group’s wisdom and best practices.

Circle of Influence – Leadership Activity exploring areas of Influence and Concern - In part 1, Teams identify work issues over which they have influence or no-influence. Debriefs explore how circles of concern and negative energy can affect others’ success. Part 2 invites participants to revisit their concerns, and identify how they can add influence (not just concern) in these areas. PURPOSE: leadership development, understanding areas of concern and influence, and focusing on areas where you can have positive impact. [Credit: Stephen Covey]

Discussion Forum / Flip-charting - Capture notes from small groups on any number of topics. Combine break-out discussions into one document that can be viewed by all participants for a debrief discussion. PURPOSE: record and review any team discussion.

ASSESSMENTS

Communication Styles - Players examine four communication styles: Intuitor, Feeler, Thinker and Sensor. Improve teams’ awareness of how we send and receive information through our communication. PURPOSE: Assessing your own and others’ communication style, and adapting your style to improve leadership and relationship results. [Credit: Paul Mok, Training Assoc. Press]

DiSC Work of Leaders – 3-part activity – Style teams (grouped according to their DiSC style) review a set of descriptive words corresponding to their style and collectively select the top 5 cards that best describes them. Then, teams come together and answer two questions about their work style, highlighting key differences among the different styles. Finally, the group plots their DiSC style on a visual map. PURPOSE: understanding what qualities might be missing, understanding personal DiSC Styles of Leadership, and ways to adapt styles to improve leadership impact.

Walk Awhile in my Shoes - Participants gain a deeper understanding of the perspectives of employees versus managers on a variety of topics. In small groups, teams read through a series of examples that build empathy, understanding and cooperation between different levels in an organization. PURPOSE: build empathy and appreciation, give benefit-of-the-doubt, and help others be their best. [Credit: Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura]

A FEW MORE DEMOS

AGGREGATE GAME

DISTORTION GAME

Build Emotional Intelligence—wherever you are! Whether you're running a team meeting, virtual classroom, or remote training session, this online version of The EQ Game makes it easy to build emotional intelligence skills from anywhere.

THE EQ GAME * OVERVIEW

• Purpose: Build emotional intelligence by exploring real-world challenges and identifying skills to navigate them. Foster deep conversations and team connection. EQ Game makes learning the skill of emotional intelligence fun, interactive, and memorable.

• Format: Online/virtual game—perfect for Zoom, Teams, or other video platforms

• Time Required: Up to 90 minutes for Parts 1 and 2 combined. However, those with less time can use just a handful of the situations, adapting to their specific needs.

EQ GAME VIRTUAL EDITION * INCLUDES

These 7 files (conveniently compressed into a single .ZIP file) will give you all you need to conduct the game as a single large group experiences, or in the format of 4 breakout groups:

FACILITATING THE EQ GAME VIRTUAL EDITION

The game is facilitated in two parts. Part 1 builds the first two Emotional Intelligence skills and Part 2 helps develop the second two skills.

PART 1: SELF-AWARENESS & SELF-MANAGEMENT

Focusing on the first two pillars of emotional intelligence, PART 1 presents 20 typical situations that anyone might encounter at work. Each situation includes two slides:

• Slide 1: shows a scenario with two questions—

  • How are you feeling?
  • What will you do to manage your feelings?—plus sample responses.

• Slide 2: answers the questions - by offering additional answers for both questions, players can compare their answers to other typical responses. Reiterate that the answers shown on the slides are there as suggestions. There are never "right" feelings. The goal instead is to grow more familiar with noticing and labeling feelings.

PART 2: SOCIAL AWARENESS & RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Part 2 adds to Part 1 by asking participants to focus on the second two skills associated with Emotional Intelligence: Social Awareness and Relationship Management. Part 2 presents 16 typical work situations, with the goal of moving from identifying and managing feelings to taking action in ways that reflect social awareness and strengthen relationships.

• Introduction slides
• Slide 1: shows a scenario with four questions
  • How are you feeling?
  • What will you do to manage your feelings?
  • How can you tune into your co-worker?
  • What relationship skills can you use?
• Slide 2: answers the questions - as noted above, suggested answers are offered for guidance, not as "final say."

FACILITATING & SCORING THE GAME

FLOW OF THE GAME

1. Show the first slide and ask participants to put themselves in the scenario. Read the sample feelings and actions.
2. Then ask, “What else are you feeling?”, empahsizing that feelings are one-word emotions (e.g., angry, happy), not thoughts or interpretations.
3. After players list their feelings, ask: “How will you manage those feelings?” Read the example.
4. Then ask, “What else can you do?” Keep the focus on Self-Management, not problem-solving the situation itself.
5. Finally, have teams self-score the round, based on the scoring protocols below.

PLAY AS A GROUP OR IN BREAK-OUTS

LARGE GROUP - If you're playing as one big group, you'll present the Situations one at a time. You can either follow the game sequence or pick and choose your favorites.

BREAKOUTS - Alternatively, participants can work through a subset of Situations in small groups. Each of the four groups will get 5 situations in Part 1 and 4 situations in Part 2.

SCORING THE EQ GAME

• Each time a participant names a feeling or a self-management technique, they get 1 point.
• Each time a participant provides a social awareness action or relationship management technique, they get 1 point.
• Participants can win additional points by:
  • Giving an example of a situation they have experienced – 2 points
  • Giving an example of an empathetic statement – 2 points
• Participants keep track of their own points.

Just for Fun Thumball® Set is your go-to for energizing training sessions, breaking tension, and bringing out laughter. With 6 soft, tossable balls filled with fun prompts—favorites, "Would you rather?", “Which are you & why?”, and more—this set is perfect for warming up audiences, re-energizing after breaks, or injecting personality into virtual or in-person workshops. These brain-friendly Thumballs seamlessly integrate science-backed learning principles to maximize retention, energy, and connection.

HOW THESE THUMBALLS ENHANCE LEARNING

1. Stay ACTIVE – Physical movement increases blood flow to the brain, enhancing focus and cognitive function.
2. Boost ENDORPHINS – Laughter and fun reduce stress, improve memory, and promote learning.
3. Strengthen RELATIONSHIPS – Creating a safe and welcoming environment allows for deeper conversations and learning.
4. Encourage BREAKS – Strategic pauses help learners better retain key information.
5. Drive PARTICIPATION – Engaging activities activate multiple areas of the brain, making learning stick!

WHY FACILITATORS LOVE IT

• Instant energy boost: Laughter and simple fun lift mood and engagement.
• Low risk, high camaraderie: Prompts are light and inclusive—great for mixed groups.
• Warm-up stage-set: Ideal icebreaker, middle-of-day energizer, or transition tool.
• Mix & matchup: Works alone or paired with more serious themes (EQ, Diversity) to balance tone.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

These 6" stuffed vinyl balls looks like a cool soccer ball but is pre-printed with 32 questions/discussion prompts. This set is suited for adults and teens alike! Following are more details about each of the popular Silver Series Thumballs in the Team Development set:

• Favorites: Share favorite place, preferences, pastimes, and more.
• Would you Rather?: Playfully explore personality and preferences by choosing between too likely options.
• What Makes You YOU?: Discover fascinating facts that make each person unique.
• Shaped by Our Past: Discuss the experiences from your past that shape who you are today.
• Energy Break: Keep their blood flowing with prompts that inspire physical movement, meditation, and mental exercise?
• Which are you and Why?: Identify where you fall on a variety of spectrums.

NOTE: ©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.

WHEN TO USE

• Introductions and icebreakers in new teams
• After lunch or breaks to refuel energy
• Virtual meeting warm-ups to shift tone
• Team building days to create shared laughter and connection

COMPARE THUMBALL® SETS

If you’re deciding between Thumball® sets, here’s how Just for Fun compares with others:

FAQS

Q: What makes this set different from other Thumball® sets?
A: The Just for Fun set focuses purely on enjoyment and energy—it’s not about deep reflection or serious topics. Use this when you want participants to laugh, loosen up, energize groups, and connect lightly.

Q: How many people can use one set?
A: Ideal for groups of 4+; works well in both small groups and larger audiences via circle tosses or breakout sets.

Q: When’s the best time to use it?
A: Right at session start, after breaks, or any moment when energy dips and you want to revive engagement.

Q: Can I mix it with more serious sets?
A: Definitely! Many facilitators alternate Just for Fun with EQ, Diversity, or Getting Acquainted sets to balance tone and learning depth.

Q: How durable is the set?
A: Each ball is made with soft material and stitched panels, built to withstand repeated use in training, virtual or in-person settings.

Synergy Stack is a deck of "Habit Cards"

The deck contains 48 "Habit cards," that help colleagues build synergy, communication, and understanding through improved Connections, Clarity, Curiosity, and Commitment. Use this thoughtful deck to help teams in their "Getting to Yes" efforts. Build strength in communication and negotiation skills. Develop alignment between individuals, teams, and departments by fortifying this critical set of skills and habits.

4 COLOR-CODED CATEGORIES TO BUILD SYNERGY

• CONNECTION: Get to know one another as human beings. The 12 GREEN cards focus groups on topics such as showing empathy, getting to know peers beyond the workplace, being real, giving credit where it's due.
• CLARITY: Develop a shared understanding of success. The 12 TEAL cards home in one on building shared understanding about goals, expectations, and priorities.
• CURIOSITY: Show genuine interest in other perspectives and possibilities. 12 ORANGE cards seek to explore others interests and perspectives through inquiry, idea sharing, challenging assumptions, openness to new thinking.
• COMMITMENT: Coming to clear commitment. 12 BLUE cards help get teams to the finish line by helping teams stay on track, honor deadlines and confidentiality, accepting accountability, and sparking action.

KEY ELEMENTS OF SYNERGY STACK CARDS

1. Title: The name of the HABIT (12 habits for each of the 4 Cs).
2. Color and icon- associated with one of the 4 Cs.
3. Description of the Habit – definition of the habit explains what the habit looks like when used effectively.
4. Question – example phrase showing how one might further explore or discuss the habit.

SO MANY USES

This thoughtfully curated collection of tools, games, and activities is designed to amplify team collaboration, foster innovation, and spark meaningful conversations among leaders at every level. The Synergy Stack deck is perfect for workshops, team retreats, or leadership development programs, such as:

• Dynamic Team-Building Exercises: Engage participants with activities that build trust, improve communication, and encourage problem-solving in real time.
• Powerful Discussion Prompts: Dive deep into leadership challenges using expertly crafted questions and scenarios.
• Adaptable Frameworks: Tailor activities to any group size or leadership style with flexible resources that meet your training objectives.
• Plus...
  • Team building
  • Strategic planning
  • Problem-solving
  • Project kick-offs
  • Post-project reviews
  • Company offsites
  • Conferences
  • Coaching and mentoring
  • Conflict resolution and Negotiation Training
  • Communication training

READY-TO-GO LEARNING EXPERIENCES & GAME IDEAS

SynergyStack includes access to an online hub that's chock full of facilitation and teaching notes, multimedia content, deeper explanations of the 4-Cs approach, and 13 games that you can tailor to the needs of your groups.

• 3 general "icebreaker" exercises that use all the cards in the deck
• 4 exercises that use just the 12 cards of the associated "C"
• 1 Teambuilding exercise
• 3 one-on-one activities (build self-confidence, coach through a conflict, career development)
• 2 personal development activities

LEARN MORE

Read a synopsis here.

Listen to a recording.

FA

FAQs

Q: What is Synergy Stack?
A: Synergy Stack is a deck of 48 “Habit Cards” designed to strengthen team communication, collaboration, and negotiation. The cards help teams build practical habits across four areas: Connection, Clarity, Curiosity, and Commitment.

Q: How do teams use Synergy Stack in training or workshops?
A: Facilitators use the cards as conversation starters, reflection prompts, and activity guides during team-building sessions, leadership development workshops, project kickoffs, and retrospectives. The deck supports both group discussion and one-on-one coaching.

Q: What are the four categories in Synergy Stack?
A: The deck is organized into four color-coded categories:

• Connection (green): building empathy and human connection

• Clarity (teal): aligning on goals, expectations, and priorities

• Curiosity (orange): exploring perspectives and challenging assumptions

• Commitment (blue): accountability, follow-through, and action

Q: What’s included on each Habit Card?
A: Each card includes the habit name, a brief description of what the habit looks like in practice, and a sample question or prompt facilitators can use to spark discussion or reflection.

Q: What kinds of programs is Synergy Stack best for?
A: Synergy Stack works well for team building, leadership development, strategic planning, communication training, negotiation training, conflict resolution, project kickoffs, post-project reviews, offsites, and coaching or mentoring sessions.

Q: Is Synergy Stack suitable for different group sizes?
A: Yes. The cards can be used with small groups, full teams, or in one-on-one coaching. Activities can be adapted for workshops, retreats, classrooms, and conference sessions.

Q: Are ready-to-use activities included?
A: Yes. Synergy Stack includes access to an online hub with facilitation notes, deeper explanations of the 4Cs framework, multimedia resources, and 13 ready-to-run games and exercises that can be tailored to different learning goals.

Q: What skills does Synergy Stack help develop?
A: The cards help build practical habits for communication, collaboration, alignment, curiosity, accountability, problem-solving, and negotiation—skills that support high-performing teams and effective leadership.

Kind Cards is a set of 52 cards, including two wild cards, designed to enhance your kindness skills at work. Each card outlines a unique act of kindness, along with its benefits, practical tips, suggested scripts, and thought-provoking questions. On the back of each card, you'll find reflection questions, providing a space for you to record your experiences directly on the card.

Kindness is a skill, and like any skill, it varies among individuals. Needing help with kindness doesn't imply someone is unkind; it presents an opportunity for personal growth at all levels.

For Individual Contributors: Upskilling kindness improves collaboration and goal delivery.
For Managers: Kindness is your top retention tool; upskilling enhances team commitment and performance.
For Executives and Business Owners: Set a kind tone for the business; it results in higher retention, engagement, and overall organizational performance.

COLOR-CODED FOR EASY REFERENCE

The 52-card deck has three categories of cards, plus 2 wild-cards focused on practicing self-kindness.

• Red: Personal Growth and Self-Reflection (18 cards)
• Blue: Communication and Connections (17 cards)
• Yellow: Relationship Building and Support (17 cards)

On each card, find 7 elements:

1. A prompt for a kind act
2. Guidance on how to identify kindness opportunities
3. Examples of how to act on that kindness
4. Numbered cards to help pair that act of kindness with other acts
5. Ways to incorporate the kind act going forward
6. Questions to reflect on the act of kindness, its impact, and how it felt do perform the act
7. Emoji that aligns with the theme of the kind act

FOUR QUESTIONS FOR KIND CARD GROUP ACTIVITIES

INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS & OPPORTUNITIES

If using Kind Cards for group activities, team building, or EQ and kindness training, set out a deck of cards and ask players to select a a card that describes a...

• Kindness skill you're strong in -- and how it benefits your team
• Kindness skill you want to develop -- and how it might benefit your team
• Kindness action that could enhance team effectiveness
• Kindness act you value and hope others will extend to you
• Recent act of kindness you extended or received -- and how it made you both feel

Have participants share the card they selected and discuss why they chose it.

TEAM ASSESSENT

Alternatively, as a team, select 1-2 kindness acts, in which your team is...

• Currently really good at
• Could use some work on
• Might benefit from enhancing

USING KIND CARDS - INDIVIDUAL KINDNESS PRACTICES

Each week, simply choose a card randomly, or in order. Read the suggested act of kindness carefully. Keep the card with you as a reminder and actively look for opportunities to practice the kindness mentioned to a colleague. After performing the kind act, answer the reflection questions on the back of the card to capture the experience. If the opportunity doesn't arise, hold onto the card for the right moment or pick a new one to explore a different act of kindness.

DOZENS OF USES

• Team Building Activities
• Onboarding and Orientation
• Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity Initiatives
• Manager Training
• Internal Communication Campaigns
• Icebreaker Activities
• Conflict Prevention & Resolution Workshops
• Daily Huddles or Check-ins
• Company-wide Kindness Contests
• Company Values
• Critical Conversations
• Virtual Team Engagement
• Leadership Development

KIND CARD DEVELOPER, JAMIE GRACEFFA, PRESENTS...

POWERPOINT DEMO

Try the facilitation techniques described here!

Each Card is 4 1/2" x 5"

Use a deck of Climer Cards with groups to increase conversation around a certain topic. Using the power of metaphors, the result is a meaningful dialogue that helps people connect and understand each other at a deeper level.

The cards spark ideas, connect people, enhance conversations, and deepen learning. You'll be surprised what users will say!

This simple deck of cards uses hand-drawn pictures to evoke metaphors and imagination. Climer Cards can be used in dozens of team activities. Used by facilitators, teachers, parents, therapists, and camp counselors alike, this deck of cards helps with team building activities, enhancing conversations, and generating creative ideas.

A VERSATILE TOOL FOR TEAM BUILDING AND CREATIVITY!

• Coaches use them to get clients exploring new ideas.
• Facilitators help participants express what they learned.
• Social workers and counselors use them with clients to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences.
• Teachers help students create connections in class.
• Parents use them to get kids talking about their day.

CLIMER CARDS INCLUDE...

• 52 images based on watercolor paintings by Amy Climer
• Sorting tool to mix large groups into smaller groups
• Directions on use -- but feel free to get creative with endless variations!
• 52 2.5" x 3.5" cards made from high quality, coated paper.
• Printed cardboard box

Lead your team, students, or family to deeper conversations with a simple, powerful deck of cards. Creative images offer hundreds of ways to use. Directions included or invent your own activities!

TEAM SORTING FEATURE TO DIVIDE INTO GROUPS

AMY CLIMER DEMO'S THE DECKS!

See how to use the cards to build team creativity!

USE CLIMER CARDS THROUGH THE ONLINE PORTAL

For a 10% discount on the Climer Cards Virtual Platform, use promo code: TRAINER10

Start talking about topics that matter with the Emotional Intelligence Conversation Deck.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE CONVERSATION PROMPTS

Emotional Intelligence is a skill that allows people to be more effective in their roles at work and at home. It’s not just touchy-feely stuff and being able to name your feelings. Rather, it enhances employee retention and engagement, customer service, collaboration, and crisis management.

5 SKILLS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Emotional Intelligence (a.k.a. EQ) is associated with five skills. Develop your teams’ EQ by facilitating conversations that help participants grow more aware of their motivations, measure their reactions to difficult situations, and hone techniques to manage those emotions in empathy and social acumen. The five skills are:

1. Self-Awareness [SA]
2. Motivation [MO]
3. Self-Regulation [SR]
4. Empathy [EM]
5. Social Skills [SS]

On each card, below the conversation starter question, you'll see the EQ skill that the question addresses or develops.

PLAYING WITH CONVERSATION DECKS

Pairs of 2 or 3

To play, deal a card to each participant. Have participants stand, find a partner, and discuss the questions on each of their cards. When their conversation has run its course, invite them to swap cards and hold their arm in the air, indicating to other players that they're ready to find a new partner. Repeat this process as time allows.

Table Talks

If your group isn't too big or you want to build camaraderie at a table, have each person in the group choose a card and answer the question. If you have enough time, ask each speaker a couple of follow-up questions. Alternatively, have others at the table answer those same questions for themselves. Then, swap cards, or pick new cards from the top of the deck.

1-2-4-All

Expert Trainer, Nora Gerber, shares facilitation notes on using the 1-2-4-All approach with the Emotional Intelligence UNZIP-IT! Deck. Tips include:

• Writing a note-to-self
• Pairing up to discuss stories of different experiences
• Huddling in groups - to discuss each of the four skills in more depth:

1. 1. Self-Awareness [SA
   2. Motivation [MO]
   3. Self-Regulation [SR]
   4. Empathy [EM]
   5. Social Skills [SS]

• Returning to the big group to explore opportunities for individual and group development.

READ MORE!

Start talking about topics that matter with the Common Ground UNZIP-IT Conversation Deck

UNZIP-it!™ WITH THE COMMON GROUND DECK

As you try to generate conversation and build new friendships and relationships, a key challenge is finding “common ground” experiences and interests that you share with others. This deck helps to uncover these commonalities.

COMMON GROUND PROMPTS

The Common Ground discussion prompts help build new friendships and relationships, by helping you explore experiences and interests that you share with others.

Prompts will help players to delve into new topics that draw out commonalities and shared experiences, for instance:

• Time: Ways to spend free time, weekends, vacations, etc.
• Favorites: Favorite foods, activities, apps, show, books
• People: Family and friends who impact your life
• Growth: Goals, talents, or skills you'd like to develop
• Moolah: What you'd spend money on
• You: claims to fame and more...

PLAYING WITH CONVERSATION DECKS

Pairs of 2 or 3

To play, deal a card to each participant. Have participants stand, find a partern, and discuss the questions on each of their cards. When their conversation has run its course, invite them to swap cards and hold their arm in the air, indicating to other players that they're ready to find a new partner. Repeat this process as time allows.

Table Talks

If your group isn't too big or you want to build camaraderie at a table, have each person in the group choose a card and answer the question. If you have enough time, ask each speaker a couple of follow-up questions. Alternatively, have others at the table answer those same questions for themselves. Then, swap cards, or pick new cards from the top of the deck.

[NOTE: Silver Series Conversation Prompts are available as Thumballs, UNZiP-IT! Pocket & Deck, and Virtual/Remote PPT.]

Start talking about topics that matter with Diversity Conversation Deck.

UNZIP-it!™ WITH A DIVERSITY DECK

The Diversity deck is fun training tool that tackles a difficult topic with smarts and sensitivity. We live in a diverse world with many differences that are visible, like skin color, gender, height or weight, physical challenges and age. Many other differences may not be visually apparent, but still affect how individuals feel or are treated: ethnicity, socio-economic position, sexual orientation, virginity, use or non-use of alcohol, allergies, intellect, depression and other emotional diseases.

Includes 30+ Cards: 3.5” x 2.5”

DIVERSITY CONVERSATION PROMPTS

Explore the topic of diversity by chatting about these topics:

• Sources of your attitudes towards people unlike yourself
• Experiences in which you felt like an outsider or shared an unpopluar idea
• Important aspects of your identity that feel important
• Origins and experiences with prejudice
• Ways to combat discrimination and make others feel included
• Bias based on gender, disabilities, age, race, sexual identity...

PLAYING WITH CONVERSATION DECKS

Pairs of 2 or 3

To play, deal a card to each participant. Have participants stand, find a partern, and discuss the questions on each of their cards. When their conversation has run its course, invite them to swap cards and hold their arm in the air, indicating to other players that they're ready to find a new partner. Repeat this process as time allows.

Table Talks

If your group isn't too big or you want to build camaraderie at a table, have each person in the group choose a card and answer the question. If you have enough time, ask each speaker a couple of follow-up questions. Alternatively, have others at the table answer those same questions for themselves. Then, swap cards, or pick new cards from the top of the deck.

[NOTE: Silver Series Conversation Prompts are available as Thumballs, UNZiP-IT! Pocket & Deck, and Virtual/Remote PPT.]

Want to increase conversation around a certain topic? Try a deck of Climer Cards 2. The hand illustrated images use the power of metaphors to stimulate meaningful dialogue that helps people connect and understand each other at a deeper level.

2 SIDES = 2 DECKS!

SIDE 1: Dr. Amy Climer's latest deck of cards uses 52 new gorgeous and evocative watercolor paintings (that she painted!) to spark metaphors and imagination.

SIDE 2: On the reverse side, find words describing a variety of emotions. This deck is useful for initiating conversations about feelings. It gives players an opportunity to move beyond "good,""fine," and "okay" to describe their feelings, and is a wonderful enhancement to Emotional Intelligence and EQ training. Each emotion is translated from English into French and Spanish. You'll also find that each emotion is written in one of 6 different colors, making it quite useful to help you divide your players into smaller work groups.

TONS OF ACTIVITIES

Facilitators can use the two sides indendently, or paired.

• Images: Spread the cards out with the image side face-up. Pose a question to the group and ask that the pick a card that represents their answer. For example: Select a card that represents:
  
  • a personality trait
  • an aspect of your identity
  • a goal for the next quarter
  • how you connect with your company's mission
  • your definition of _______
  • your team's greatest challenge
  • something you hope to learn

Then, invite each person share their card and their thinking.

• Emotions: Spread the cards out with the emotion words face-up. Ask a question that can be answered with a feeling. For instance:
  • How are you feeling right now?
  • How are you feeling about our team?
  • How do you feel about...
    • changes happening at the company
    • risky new opportunities
    • walking into a crowded room
  • How do you feel when...
    • you mess up something you're usually very good at
    • you hear about a friend's promotion
    • your team loses a sports match
• Pair the decks:
  • Consider how the image on the front might (or might not) reflect the emotion on the reverse side.
  • Alternatively, pair the Climer2 deck with the original Climer Card Deck for 104 unique images!

USE CLIMER CARDS IN DOZENS OF SETTINGS!

These wildly versatile cards can be used with groups of adults and youngsters:

• Coaches use them to get clients exploring new ideas.
• Facilitators help participants express what they learned.
• Social workers and counselors use them with clients to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences.
• Teachers help students create connections in class.
• Parents use them to get kids talking about their day.

CLIMER CARD DECKS FEATURE...

• 52 images based on watercolor paintings by Amy Climer
• Directions on use -- but feel free to get creative with endless variations! You can also download a free ebook at climercards.com.
• 2.5" x 3.5" cards made from high quality, coated paper.
• Cardboard box to hold the deck

Lead your team, students, or family to deeper conversations with a simple, powerful deck of cards. Creative images offer hundreds of ways to use. Directions included or invent your own activities!

WATCH AMY CLIMER DEMO THE DECKS

USE CLIMER CARDS THROUGH THE ONLINE PORTAL

For a 10% discount on the Climer Cards Virtual Platform, use promo code: TRAINER10

Look under your thumb and share! This Session Thumball Set has all the prompts you need to Open, Debrief and Close your learning event.

Trainers Warehouse's Silver Series Session Thumball Set is perfect for running an entire meeting focused on getting to know your participants, helping them learn from the session and closing out with key takeaways. As with any Thumball it's super-easy to play. Simply, toss the ball and ask recipients to share their reaction to whatever prompt lies under their (right) thumb. Thumballs are soft 6" stuffed balls with loads of applications!

THE "SESSIONS SET" INCLUDES...

• Session Openers Thumball -- more than your standard ice-breaker, this one offers somewhat deeper prompts that explore participants' motivations, goals for the event or session that lies ahead.
• Session Debrief Thumball -- use this one reflect on experiential learning activities.
• Session Closers Thumball -- end the learning day by taking a moment to highlight key take-aways.
• Clear plastic tote - tote color varies and chosen randomly based on in-house stock

SESSION OPENER THUMBALL PROMPTS

The prompts on the Session Opener Thumball are intended to build relationships and tease out session goals, so that facilitators can get their learning sessions off to a good start. To this end, prompts primarily cover these three categories:

• Getting to Know You - dreams, peeves, wishes, decisions, frustrations, talents
• Learning Styles - best teachers, preferred learning methods, learning goals
• Work Styles - proudest accomplishments, creative contributions, strengths

SESSION DEBRIEF THUMBALL

For experiences to stick -- for them to move to long-term memory -- individuals must take time to think about what happened. They have to talk about it, relate it to something they already know, understand its importance, and consider when they might need to retrieve that learning down the road. After all, we only remember what we take time to think about (otherwise it's quickly in and out of our brains). That's the importance of a DEBRIEF!

You'll find the Session Debriefs Thumball useful for games focusing on:

• Team building
• Communication
• Leadership
• Process improvement
• Negotiations

SESSION CLOSER THUMBALL

End a learning session by taking a beat -- a pause to let the learning settle in and allow learners' brains to organize the new information so it can be easily recalled. Take time at the end of class to draw our key learning points and ah-ha moments.

The Session Closers Thumball offers a variety of memory-enhancing techniques. Understand that our brains aren't equipped to remember every single thought that enters. Instead, we remember what we take time to think about. Each of the prompts on this one-of-a-kind Thumball seeks to enhance retention by highlighting memorable points for participants, making them consider goals or challenges of implementation, heightening the emotional impact of the session, and more.

For instance, prompts help learners focus on ...

• Information and observations learned
• Top take-aways and AH-HA! moments
• Remaining questions
• Ways to implement or use information going forward
• People they can turn to for support and questions, or just to share what they learned.
• Challenges that pushed their comfort zone

THUMBALL FEATURES

Each Thumball™ is a soft 6" stuffed vinyl ball that looks like a cool soccer ball and has 31 panels pre-printed with questions suited for adults and teens. Safely toss it around in a group and ask participants to share their reaction to whatever prompt lies under their thumb.

• PHYSICALLY SAFE: 6" ball is safe to toss indoors
• 31 PROMPTS: With so much content, if someone wants to choose a favorite question... why not?
• EMOTIONALLY SAFE: Conversation prompts are vetted by industry experts.
• TIPS: The packaging includes facilitation notes to help ensure that the experience is positive for everyone.

The Connection Toolkit is a comprehensive Product Bundle for Team Building, Communication, and Creative Connections. The toolkit includes: We! Connect Cards™, We! Engage Cards™, and a copy of Pocket Guide to Facilitating Human Connections, our newest book Ask Powerful Questions and a free-for-life subscription to playmeo.com (typically at $97/year).

THE CONNECTION TOOLKIT

• Provides a faster, more fun way to “break the ice” with new teams
• Offers a suite of activities to cross-pollinate different departments across your company
• Arms employees and management with a set of questions to break down communication barriers and management hierarchies
• Gives employees permission to have fun and be excited about work

WE CONNECT CARD DECK

A deck of 60 cards that spark conversation, and build trust and connection.

• 20 green cards ask questions that are fun and light
• 20 blue cards ask questions that are a bit deeper
• 20 purple cards ask questions that encourage self-reflection

Suggested Activity

• Have every person select a question card.
• Ask players to find a partner and discuss the questions on each of their cards.
• When the discussions are over, ask them to swap cards and hold the new cards up over their heads.
• Players can look for a new partner, who is also raising their card.
• And so on...

WE ENGAGE CARD DECK

A deck of 50 hexagonal cards, each with an inspiring, thought-provoking quote on one side and a powerful photo on the other, with activities designed to increase group engagement. They're great for: Brainstorming, Goal setting, Productivity, Meetings, Trainings, Getting out of your seat, Sparking conversation, Effective communication.

Suggested Activities

• Pick a quote you click with, when you come in. Turn to someone near you and share the quote -- what made it click for you?
• Spread the image cards on the floor or table and have participants choose one before they enter the training room. When assembled, they can introduce themselves along with a reason they chose the image they did.

ASK POWERFUL QUESTIONS BOOK

A bestselling book that explains how the questions we traditionally ask are often meaningless when it comes to establishing a connection. By introducing a set of practice tools for understanding others by changing the way we ask questions, the book shows how to transform “How are you?—I’m fine, thanks” into conversations that change not only how you lead but who you are as a person.

POCKET GUIDE TO FACILITATING HUMAN CONNECTIONS

A 140 page, pocket-sized handbook that unpacks the psychology of communication, collaboration, and trust. Provides 20+ real-world applications that can be used to create workshops, trainings, team-building exercises, or any event that relies on audience engagement.

CHAD LITTLEFIELD TALKS ABOUT CONNECTIONS BEFORE CONTENT

The Meeting Zest Thumball provides perfect questions for any meeting, which will build camaraderie, ease tension, foster development of collegial relationships and surface hot topics. On this Thumball, you'll find three types of questions - those that focus on "me," "we," and "me & we."

• Me - Share highs and lows, ah-ha moments, mood boosters, favorite activities, and more
• We - Consider workplace norms you love and hate, plus opportunities to improve meetings, communications, and processes
• Me & We - Discuss individuals roles within the organization, what's working, and what causes stress

©Trainers Warehouse 2023

Share your reaction to whatever prompt lies under your thumb. Thumball is a soft 6" stuffed ball with loads of applications!

[NOTE: Silver Series Conversation Prompts are available as Thumballs, UNZiP-IT! Pocket & Deck, and Virtual/Remote PPT.]

HOW IT WORKS

Someone throws the ball, another catches it and responds to the prompt under their thumb.

FACILITATION TIP 1

EXPLAIN....
In order to achieve greatness, sometimes teams need to take a step back and reflect on their relationships, communication, and their process of working together.

Tailor your Thumball game to meet your needs:
Option1: Have each player respond only to the prompt under their thumb, then toss the ball to another.
Option 2: After the first player has responded to their prompt, invite others to share their perspective or discuss ways they could work together more effectively.

FACILITATION TIP 2

SET GROUND RULES

Explain that conversations about team dynamics can become emotionally charged. The goal of the Team Dynamics Thumball activity is to raise important issues and have necessary conversations in a positive environment. So that everyone can feel safe, have the group set up their own Ground Rules. Here are some that you might want on the list:

• Only one person speaks at a time
• Speak only for yourself; Use I statements
• No personal attacks critique ideas, not people
• Agree to disagree; disagree without being disagreeable
• Listen - make sure everyone feels heard and validated
• Be positive and non-judgmental; open to new ideas

FACILITATION TIP 3

IF CONVERSATIONS GET STICKY
Expert facilitators suggest these techniques to ease difficult or emotional situations:

• Pause the conversation so you can review the ground rules with the group.
• Redirect negative comments; ask what can we do differently?
• Focus on changes that can positively affect the team.
• If two parties disagree, suggest that they switch roles and make the counter argument.
• Keep a flip chart of difficult topics that can be addressed later.
• Be ready to share some of your own experiences.
• Take a break. Stop for awhile and regroup.
• Thank participants for sharing their personal stories.

©Trainers Warehouse 2023

MORE RESOURCES

• All about Silver Series Thumballs
• Tips & Suggestion on Facilitating Thumball Experiences
• How Deep to Discuss
• 7 Tips to formulate great questions
• More tools for great conversations
• Discover Your Thumball Style
• How Deep to Discuss Infographic

Effective time management is critical for efficiency, productivity, stress reductions, achievement, and work-life balance. While it allows organization to reap the benefits of greater productivity, it takes more than simple reminders to "stop procrastinating."

The Time Management Thumball is a dynamic tool designed to facilitate conversation and understanding. Featuring 31 thought-provoking conversation prompts, it empowers players to explore their individual time management challenges and opportunities. Cover topics such as procrastination, technology, sleep, priorities, urgency, importance, planning, delegation, and more.

BUILDING TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Typically, time management curriculums cover these business skills:

• Avoiding procrastination
• Digital time management (time spent on devices)
• Ways to improve focus and productivity
• Sorting and prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance

TIME MANAGEMENT THUMBALL PROMPTS

Each conversation prompt on the Time Management Thumball encourages reflection and discussion about personal time management, including:

• Topics for Reflection
  • Typical time thieves
  • Understanding when and why you lose track of time
  • Feelings about planning, to-do lists, and deadlines
  • Personal priorities
• Strategies for Better Managing Time
  • Managing interruptions
  • Delegation
  • Structuring time and breaks
  • Time saver tips
• Use of down time
  • Favorite time-wasters
  • Routine activities
  • Sleep

FACILITATING THUMBALL ACTIVITIES

Playing with Trainers Warehouse Silver Series Thumballs couldn't be easier. Just toss the ball and ask the recipient to respond to the prompt under their thumb. Beyond that, remember that your goal is to make conversations about time management interesting and productive. Remind your group that there are no "right answers. The goal is to understand yourself and each person's pitfalls, opportunities for improvement, and pick up a few new strategies.

TIPS

1. Explain your goal. Be transparent in communicating the purpose of the game.
2. Don't rush. Appreciate that some many not be able to give quick answers; others might want to take time to discuss their thoughts.
3. Give players a "pass." If a player finds a prompt particularly difficult, invite them to take a pass, ask a friend, or toss again.

©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.

MORE CONVERSATION STARTERS BY TRAINERS WAREHOUSE

In addition to Silver Series Thumballs, Trainers Warehouse offers many other tools to build relationships, inspire conversation, and enhance learning about meaningful topics. Explore products such as Conversation Cards and UNZIP-IT Decks. Some facilitators prefer decks because they enable players to have small group conversation with 1 or 2 other participants before sharing with a larger group of players.

For over a dozen years, the Square Wheels® metaphor has proven itself to boost creativity and innovation, increase organizational effectiveness, improve communications, build teams, and generate a sense of active problem solving and involvement.

The expert facilitation techniques utilized in this exercise (listening, discussion, reframing, summarizing and prioritizing) can be easily transferred to other developmental and coaching opportunities.

Cartoons and images are simple, powerful and effective ways to create lasting impact. They are memorable, encourage creative thinking, and produce rapid individual involvement and understanding. As a metaphor, Square Wheels® has a myriad of applications:

• As an icebreaker, this illustration relates to a range of business and workplace issues, at all levels of an organization. Use it as a vehicle to get a discussion moving, kickoff a training program, energize a staff meeting, or hone in on issues and opportunities.
• As a design thinking, performance improvement tool, Square Wheels can be used to understand issues, define problems, brainstorm and ideate new solutions. The Square Wheels image is a powerful tool that draws out people's thinking on current situations and ideas for moving forward.
• As a team review, to discuss approaches that are working and others that could use improvement

The 40-slide PowerPoint deck includes:

• 20 slides to facilitate your conversation, focusing on Square Wheels, Round Wheels, Pushers and Pullers
• 20 quotations to emphasize topics of leadership, change, brainstorming, teamwork, and communication

PRESENTATION FORMAT: The file is saved as a compressed “zip” file, and you will need a program such as WinZip to extrac the 3 files:

• Square Wheels Reality Presenttion - Microsoft PowerPoint
• Square Wheels Reality Facilitation Notes - Microsoft Word
• Reflections Worksheet - Adobe PDF

This is a downloadable product. After you've placed your order, you will be able to log into your account and download the file.

Square Wheels®- is a registered trademark of Performance Management Company. © Trainers Warehouse. The facilitation guide was developed by Trainers Warehouse, with PMC's permission.

ZIN OBELISK GAME

This challenging mathematical puzzle is made even more complex, by using made-up words in the fictitious, ancient city of Atlantis, where a solid, rectangular obelisk -called a zin - was built in honor of the goddess Tina. The structure took less than two weeks to complete and the group's task is to determine the day of the week on which the obelisk was completed.

To play, each participant receives 1-5 clues, which can only be shared verbally. Together, teams must figure out the day the Obelisk was completed. Success requires organization, leadership, coordination, listening, problem solving, and processing skills. Most groups require 15-25 minutes to arrive at a solution.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Have clearly defined goals
• Collaborate! Work together
• Share the leadership
• Share knowledge-on complex tasks, one person rarely has all the answers
• Listen to each other
• Clearly articulate ideas
• Manage ambiguity through discussion
• Make sure everyone has a common understanding of terminology

USES FOR Zin Obelisk - Yse this mathematical team challenge to:

• Make discussions more productive
• Enhance problem solving skills
• Increase clarity of communications
• Discover productive team behaviors
• Foster participation and involvement
• Improve awareness of others
• Improve listening skills and questioning techniques

Enhance a variety of training and development initiatives:

• Communication and Listening Skills
• Problem-Solving
• Team Building
• Leadership Development
• Cooperation
• EQ & El Skills

TIME: 30-60 mins for Introduction, Gama Play, Debrief, and Closure.

PARTICIPANTS: 5-8 players per team; multiple teams can play against each other.

Working remotely? Email a few clues to each player and try to sort it out over the phone--maybe with a shared online whiteboard! After all clear phone communication is more important now than ever!

** TIPS **

Feel free to adapt the full facilitation notes included as a booklet in the card deck to the needs of your group and your material:

• Display the instructions on an overhead, flip chart, or whiteboard. Or, give a printed copy to each team.
• Keep notes during the exercise so you can refer to them during the debrief.
• If the group did not discuss their process during the activity, share a handout explaining the definitions and differences between Task-Related and Process-Related discussions.
• Record "learning points" on a flip-chart for follow-up and future reference.

DISCUSSION STARTERS THAT GET YOU TALKING ABOUT MEANINGFUL TOPICS

It's time to open up the conversation and talk about the unspeakable! Pop a bunch of pertinent questions into the UNZIP-it!™ zipper mouth and pass the pouch from player to player. Unzip the playful pocket and pull out a discussion topic to spark conversation and build relationships. Invite recipients to pull out a topic, read it to the group and respond.

Stuff the pocket with the following deck of 30 pre-printed cards. The Shaped By Our Past deck helps people get to know each other by looking into the past and the roads traveled. Walk a mile in someone else's shoes to understand what makes people tick! We are who we are today because of our history and our lifetime of experiences. Encourage your group to share details of their past -- school, friends, family, hobbies, challenges, and more! (Click on the card images above to see the prompts).

Each deck contains the same prompts as its namesake Thumball (you can customize any blank cards with your own discussion prompts)

Pocket: 8” x 6”
Cards: 3.5” x 2.5”

UNZIP-it!™ * SHAPED BY OUR PAST CONVERSATION PROMPTS

The "Shaped by Our Past" collection of prompts draw out the experiences in our life that helped shape who we are today. Among them you'll find:

• Childhood memories: birthdays, vacations, regrets
• Past experiences: scary moments, hospital visits, turning points, accomplishments
• Daily life when you were younger: extracurricular activities, friendships, summer traditions
• People & personalities: impact of birth order, mentors, grandparents

The inscription on the back will get you started:

Feeling shy about speaking out?
Or, not sure what to talk about?
It's easy now to start the flow,
And have discussions bloom and grow.
Unzip the pouch and pick a topic,

Big and broad, or microscopic,
A prompt that doesn't dig too deep,
Or one that makes you take a leap.
Go ahead, reach in and pick it,
Read the prompt and then UNZIP-it!

[NOTE: Silver Series Conversation Prompts are available as Thumballs, UNZiP-IT! Pocket & Deck, and Virtual/Remote PPT.]

©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.

UNZIP-it!™ AND TALK ABOUT TOPICS THAT MATTER!

It's time to open up the conversation and talk about the unspeakable! Pop a bunch of pertinent questions into the UNZIP-it!™ zipper mouth and pass the pouch from player to player. Unzip the playful pocket and pull out a discussion topic to spark conversation and build relationships. Invite recipients to pull out a topic, read it to the group and respond.

Stuff the pocket with the deck of 30 pre-printed cards. Each deck contains the same prompts as its namesake Thumball (you can customize any blank cards with your own discussion prompts).

UNZIP-it!™ WITH A DIVERSITY DECK

The Diversity deck is fun training tool that tackles a difficult topic with smarts and sensitivity. We live in a diverse world with many differences that are visible, like skin color, gender, height or weight, physical challenges and age. Many other differences may not be visually apparent, but still affect how individuals feel or are treated: ethnicity, socio-economic position, sexual orientation, virginity, use or non-use of alcohol, allergies, intellect, depression and other emotional diseases. (Click on the card images to see the prompts)

Pocket: 8” x 6”
Cards: 3.5” x 2.5”

DIVERSITY CONVERSATION PROMPTS

Explore the topic of diversity by chatting about these topics:

• Sources of your attitudes towards people unlike yourself
• Experiences in which you felt like an outsider or shared an unpopluar idea
• Important aspects of your identity that feel important
• Origins and experiences with prejudice
• Ways to combat discrimination and make others feel included
• Bias based on gender, disabilities, age, race, sexual identity...

THE INSCRIPTION SETS THE STAGE FOR SHARING

Feeling shy about speaking out?
Or, not sure what to talk about?
It's easy now to start the flow,
And have discussions bloom and grow.
Unzip the pouch and pick a topic,
Big and broad, or microscopic,
A prompt that doesn't dig too deep,
Or one that makes you take a leap.
Go ahead, reach in and pick it,
Read the prompt and then UNZIP-it!

[NOTE: Silver Series Conversation Prompts are available as Thumballs, UNZiP-IT! Pocket & Deck, and Virtual/Remote PPT.]

** TIPS & FACILITATION SUGGESTIONS **

MORE RESOURCES

• Ground Rules Signs
• Tips for facilitating difficult situations

EQ Thumball® Set is an emotional intelligence training game that helps teams and classrooms build self-awareness, empathy, and trust. This team-building icebreaker ball sparks conversation with every toss, turning abstract EQ concepts into interactive learning. Talk about self-awareness, empathy, trust, resilience, collaboration, and more. Perfect for leadership development, coaching, or social-emotional learning programs, the EQ Thumball® makes emotional intelligence training active and memorable.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Improve emotional self-awareness and self-regulation
• Build trust and empathy in teams
• Encourage resilience and stress management
• Enhance listening and interpersonal communication skills

DEVELOPING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Make it easy to talk about Emotional Intelligence in a fun and casual way, as well as build these five essential EQ competencies:

1. Self-Awareness
2. Self-Regulation
3. Motivation
4. Empathy
5. Social Skills

THE EQ THUMBALL SET

Emotional Intelligence is the capability of individuals to recognize their own emotions and those of others, discern between different feelings and label them appropriately, use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior, and manage and/or adjust emotions to adapt to environments or achieve one's goal(s).

We've specially selected this set of 6 Silver Series Thumballs, with more than 150 discussion topics, to stimulate conversations around Emotional Intelligence. Choose a ball that will help stir up simple conversation or develop deeper understanding about the world around you. The balls are super easy to use! Just toss it to another player and ask the recipient to look under their thumb and respond to the prompt.

• Set of 6 EQ-focused Thumballs® Each Silver Series Thumball (6" stuffed vinyl ball) looks like a cool soccer ball but is pre-printed with 32 questions/discussion prompts. They are suited for adults and teens alike!
• Each ball features conversation prompts that build emotional intelligence skills
• Durable, soft 6″ fabric balls with stitched panels
• Free mesh carrying bag

Following are more details about each of the popular Silver Series Thumballs in the Emotional Intelligence set:

• Emotional Intelligence Thumball: Develop your teams’ EQ by facilitating conversations that help participants grow more aware of their motivations, measure their reactions to difficult situations, and hone techniques to manage those emotions.
• Building Trust Thumball: Build bridges by fostering trust and respect and developing shared understanding about interests, values, and sensitivities.
• Common Ground Thumball: Discover shared experiences and interests. As you try to generate conversation to build new friendships and relationships, a key challenge is finding "common ground." This ball offers a fun way to uncover these commonalities.
• What Makes You You Thumball: Set the groundwork for deeper conversations. It was developed to help groups scratch below the surface and explore motivations, goals, and what makes you tick.
• Developing Resilience Thumball: Explore how individuals and teams can foster patience, acceptance, gratitude, kindness, forgiveness, and personal composure.
• Getting to Know You Thumball: Ask probing questions that get to your phobias, wishes, and favorite moments. For individuals who know each other pretty well already, it's an excellent way to dig a little deeper and learn something more!

©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.

WHY FACILITATORS LOVE THIS SET

• Active learning: Gets participants moving, talking, and thinking—ideal for experiential training.
• Deeper connections: Prompts explore emotions, trust, communication, and personal growth.
• Versatile: Use for icebreakers, coaching, team-building, or leadership development.
• Inclusive engagement: A safe, playful way to bring every voice into the conversation.

BEST USES

• Leadership training and coaching
• Team-building and staff retreats
• Classroom discussions on social-emotional learning (SEL)
• Conflict resolution and diversity workshops

FAQS

Q: How do you play?
A: Toss the Thumball®, catch it, and answer the question under your thumb. It’s that simple—and it works for groups of 4+ participants.

Q: What skills does the EQ set build?
A: It's an excellent emotional intelligence training game! The prompts focus on emotional intelligence—helping participants explore self-awareness, empathy, trust, resilience, and communication.

Q: Can I mix sets?
A: Yes! Many facilitators combine different Thumball® sets to align with training themes or keep activities fresh.

Q: Who uses EQ Thumballs® most?
A: Trainers, HR teams, facilitators, teachers, and coaches who want to build stronger, more self-aware teams.

Q: How durable are they?
A: Each 6″ ball is made with stitched, fabric panels for long-lasting use in training, classrooms, and workshops.

FROM A DELIGHTED TRAINER, WINSOME CULLEY

COMPARE THUMBALL® SETS

Not sure which set is right for you? Here’s how the EQ Thumball® Set stacks up against other popular Trainers Warehouse Thumballs®:

MORE RESOURCES

All about Silver Series Thumballs

Tips & Suggestion on Facilitating Thumball Experiences

How Deep to Discuss

7 Tips to formulate great questions

More tools for great conversations

Discover Your Thumball Style

How Deep to Discuss Infographic

Ground Rules Signs

Tips for facilitating difficult situations

This amazing Emotional Intelligence Activity lets players practice emotional intelligence skills! Take turns picking one of the EQ Game 50 Situation Cards and reading it aloud. The fun and learning begin when players choose a Self-Awareness Card that describes how they're feeling, then select a few EQ Skills Cards (Self-Management, Social Awareness, or Relationship Skills) that might help them deal with the sticky situation.

OVERVIEW OF THE EQ GAME

• PURPOSE: The purpose of the EQ game is to provide practice in emotional intelligence skills. Players pick a situation card, read it aloud, then play a Self-Awareness Card AND one or more EQ Skills Cards. After playing a round, players can discuss practical solutions to the situation, then score the round.
• PLAYERS: The game can be played by up to 8 people
• TIME: Expect to play for 30-60 minutes.

EQ GAME PARTS

Situation Cards (50/deck):

• Self-Awareness/Self-Management focused situation, followed by 2 questions;
• Social Awareness / Relationship Skills situation, followed by 4 questions.

Response Cards:

• Self-Awareness Cards (54 cards)
• EQ Skills Cards (60 color-coded cards for Self-Management, Social Awareness, and Relationship Skills)

For trainers who may want a quick activity for a larger group of up to 25 participants, the Situation Cards can be used by themselves. The game has enough Situation Cards for up to 25 people, who can work in groups of 4-6 to discuss the situations described on the cards and figure out the emotionally intelligent way to respond.

PLAYING THE EQ GAME

Before playing, explain the model to the group by saying, "It takes emotional intelligence to deal successfully with these situations. We'll learn the EQ basics in four key areas, below."

1. Give each participant a Situation Card. Ask:
   • Have you ever been in this or a similar situation?
   • What do you need to do to handle this kind of situation?
2. Introduce each competency and facilitate a discussion using these questions.
• Self-Awareness: Ask the group: What are some strong feelings you've experienced recently? What were the circumstances? Are you always aware of what you are feeling?
• Self-Management: Engage the group in a discussion of any of the following topics: How to you bounce back after a setback (resilience)? How to you manage your feelings and resources in a difficult situation? How do you get started on a difficult project (initiative)? How to you maintain a positive outlook as much as possible? How do you control your disruptive emotions and impulses?
• Social Awareness: Engage the class in a discussion of empathy—what makes it the foundation of social awareness and how we can empathize.
• Relationship Management: Explain that the key to managing relationships well is flexibility, calmness, kindness, and clarity. Engage the class in discussion about where they have seen others be flexible, calm, kind, and clear. Ask for specific examples.
3. Play The EQ Game.

MORE RESOURCES

• Ground Rules Signs
• Tips for facilitating difficult situations

UNZiP-it!™ and start talking about topics that matter!

It's time to open up the conversation and talk about the unspeakable! Pop a bunch of pertinent questions into the UNZiP-it!™ zipper mouth and pass the pouch from player to player. Unzip the playful pocket and pull out a discussion topic to spark conversation and build relationships. Invite recipients to pull out a topic, read it to the group and respond.

Stuff the pocket with the following deck of 30 pre-printed cards. Each deck contains the same prompts as its namesake Thumball (you can customize any blank cards with your own discussion prompts)

Pocket: 8” x 6”
Cards: 3.5” x 2.5”

[NOTE: Silver Series Conversation Prompts are available as Thumballs, UNZiP-IT! Pocket & Deck, and Virtual/Remote PPT.]

UNZiP-it!™ With Session Openers Deck Prompts

The prompts on Session Opener are intended to build relationships and tease out session goals, so that facilitators can get their learning sessions off to a good start. To this end, prompts primarily cover these three categories:

• Getting to Know You - dreams, peeves, wishes, decisions, frustrations, talents
• Learning Styles - best teachers, preferred learning methods, learning goals

Work Styles - proudest accomplishments, creative contributions, strengths

The Session Openers deck helps people get beyond knowing each other and contains deeper questions about motivations, goals, and what makes people tick. The most compelling reason to break the ice is to create a stress-free environment, optimized for learning. (Click on the green card images above to see the prompts)

The inscription on the back says it all:

Feeling shy about speaking out?

Or, not sure what to talk about?

It's easy now to start the flow,

And have discussions bloom and grow.

Unzip the pouch and pick a topic,

Big and broad, or microscopic,

A prompt that doesn't dig too deep,

Or one that makes you take a leap.

Go ahead, reach in and pick it,

Read the prompt and then UNZIP-it!

** TIPS **

©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval.