Play - Learn - Lead
Play-Learn-Lead is a facilitated game-based management development and learning program that can be tailored to your organization's needs. The games are outstanding tools for management teams to develop knowledge, sharpen skills, share wisdom and support important conversations on a range of management challenges.
What participants are saying
"I’ve taken part in many training sessions throughout my career, and this one really stood out.
"What made it different for me was how real it felt. Working through scenarios and making decisions in the moment made it easier to see how our choices play out and where things can shift depending on how we lead, communicate, and respond. It didn’t feel theoretical, it felt practical and directly relevant to the kinds of situations we deal with day to day.
"Thanks again for putting this together, I’m really glad I had the chance to be part of it."
"I have attended many training sessions over my 20+ year career and this was the best.
"It was fun + interactive - with concrete learning + actionable learnings. Great facilitation."
"This training was amazing. Loved the interactive approach. Enjoyed the small group. I liked being able to learn while playing. Mostly happy to be able to share issues with others. It was perfect."
"This training was one of the best and most memorable I have ever attended.
"I liked learning via games. The games are very well designed and fun."
"This training was fantastic, fun, inspirational.
"I liked that it's filled with interaction and activities but we learn and gain wisdom that can be applied to work."
Stratevariance: The Management Game is a co-operative tabletop game and the centrepiece of a management development workshop. Through facilitated game-play and briefings, participants gain insights into their own leadership strengths and strategies for team success. Participants play managers who supervise employees. We can adjust game play to focus on factors important to the organization or course.
Stratevariance: The Management Game was developed by Appleyard-Ross.
Who is it for? Managers and directors, management students
How long does it take? Approximately three hours, including debrief; it is also part of a day-long management retreat option with additional related activities
Complexity score: 3/5
Decision Distortion is a fast-paced competitive card game to deepen understanding of the psychology of risk and decision-making.
Who is it for? Executive leaders, managers and directors, business and management students, boards of directors
How long does it take? Approximately 30 minutes
Complexity score: 2/5
Mission Fund Moxie is a competitive game where co-operation leads to success. Players play charities competing for funding opportunities. Which funding opportunity builds on your competitive advantage, helps advance your mission, and doesn't overstrain your resources?
Who is it for? Non-profit / charity managers and directors, non-profit management students
How long does it take? Approximately 45 minutes
Complexity score: 2/5
The Policy Play: A Government Relations Game is a competitive game for groups of 8-50. Players play either non-profits or political parties. Through advocacy and coalition building, non-profits influence parties to adjust their platforms. Non-profits use a digital aid designed by Ethan Dolman to keep track of their membership and the parties' platforms.
Who is it for? Non-profit / charity executive leaders, managers and directors, nonprofit and publci sectore management students
How long does it take? Approximately 90 minutes
Complexity score: 3/5
Startup Showdown is a fun competitive card game to explore competitive advantage.
Who is it for? Business managers and directors, business students
How long does it take? 45 minutes
Complexity score: 3/5
Station to Station is an active management training game that helps management teams to develop communication and co-operation skills as they quickly make collaborative decisions on where to focus. This sharpens key skills in asking for help and assessing prioritization from a shared perspective.
Who is it for? Workplace teams
How long does it take? Approximately 30 minutes
Complexity score: 2/5
Conflicting Interests is a fast-paced co-operative card game to deepen understanding and promote identification of conflicts of interest. Can you identify your conflicts of interest in time?
Who is it for? Boards of directors, executive leaders, managers, management students
How long does it take? Approximately one hour
Complexity score: 2/5
Curiosity Circle is a set of card-based activities for groups to learn from each others' strengths and practice curiosity skills.
Who is it for? Managers, Executive Leaders, Community Health Workers, Medical Secretaries; I can customize this activity for your group
How long does it take? Approximately one hour
Complexity score: 1/5
Cause & Category is a co-operative game where players match real Canadian nonprofits with their classification. Players learn about the incredible breadth of the sector.
Who is it for? Nonprofit leaders, employees and volunteers, students
How long does it take? Approximately 20 minutes
Complexity score: 1/5
Project Pulse is a semi-cooperative game to develop project management skills. Originally commissioned by The Evolve Builder Group to build capacity on their project management methods, the game can be adapted to your setting or played as a generic game to develop project management basics.
Who is it for? Project managers and leaders and people who work closely with them
How long does it take? Approximately half a day
Complexity score: 4/5