My son has spent some of his downtime this summer trying to invent new card games.  It’s one of the toughest challenges with which I have seen him grapple, since many invented games are either “all luck” or “too technical,” either “too simple” or “too complex.”  Also, adding to the challenge, many games are shaped and adjusted over time by generations of anonymous players.  Just try playing rummy with someone else’s grandmother — house rules shift from house to house.  As we have found, not having the benefit of generations, of a crowd source, leaves many games feeling awkwardly amateurish and unfinished.

Regardless, as I was prepping for a leadership retreat, I decided to try to invent a leadership card game.  I played it with a leadership team today, and it seemed to go pretty well.  Maybe you can try it too, adjusting it where you see fit.  Here are my rules:

A. Make a card for each of your team members.  Yes, draw a picture of each member of your team. (I provided index cards and pens.)

B. On the back of each card, add each person’s vital statistics and superpowers.  What do they do, day-to-day, for the institution, and what is their special talent?

C. In a small group, answer the following questions using the cards, making action notes on the cards where appropriate and sharing what you think you can.

1. Which people have the chance to use their superpowers at work and receive praise for them?
2. Which do not have the chance to use their superpowers at work and receive praise for them?
3. Which of your team members are ready for more responsibility? What challenges and opportunities might you offer them?
4. Which team member is your number 2?
5. Which team members are the future of your discipline? When do they have the chance to express or share this?
6. Which team members can you macro-manage without a problem?
7. Which team members need more attention / active management, and how do you handle that without causing tension?
8. Which team members have some characteristics / habits / mindsets / skills that you would like to spread among your team? What are those c, h, ms?
9. Who is dealing with some personal stuff and may need some extra support?
10. Which team members could be future leaders at this institution?