PLAYING WITH STYLE
by Sivasailam " Thiagi" Thiagarajan and Tracy Tagliati
Fast and Fun Card Games for Improving People Skills
From the Thiagi Group, Playing with Style is a collection of card games for employee and management development training. Improves the knowledge of personality style and interpersonal skills. Developed by Sivasailam “Thiagi” Thiagarajan and Tracy Tagliati of The Thiagi Group, these instructional games and training activities supplement the learning from the Style Series, assessments that accurately identify individual personal styles.
There’s lots of buzz about personal style and how to capitalize on it. But acquiring and mastering this knowledge can take years through real-life experiences alone.Playing with Style is a collection of ten different training games and training activities that help individuals to quickly learn the common characteristics of each of the four personal styles in the Style model: Direct, Spirited, Considerate, and Systematic. These training games and activities also help develop an understanding of the strengths and potential trouble spots associated with each style. Individuals quickly build fluency in the different personal styles so that they can improve interpersonal skills and interact more effectively with others. Playing with Style motivates people to take an active role in the mastery of personal styles.
Game play ranges from one-player solitaire to large group activities, and most games can be played in less than 30 minutes.
The objective of the instructional games is to help individuals quickly build fluency in the different personal styles so that they can improve interpersonal skills and interact more effectively with others. Playing with Style motivates people to take an active role in the mastery of personal styles. The games provide a wide variety of interactive training activities and learning experiences.
The Playing with Style games are intended as supplemental learning and training activities to the Style Series assessments. While it is possible to introduce the Style Model using Playing with Style, it is most helpful to participants to have a working knowledge and understanding of their preferred dominant style and the basic characteristics of each of the four styles. The games are an excellent follow up to any of the titles in the Style Series.
Playing with Style includes 10 card games plus an additional bonus game you can use as an ice breaker or closing activity. Based on classics such as poker, rummy, and bluff, game play ranges from one-player solitaire to large group activities.
Each game takes approximately 15 – 30 minutes to facilitate and play. The choice is yours – play one, play some, or play them all. We guarantee the games will be the hit with any audience. Participants will leave the session prepared to transfer the learning to the workplace and put their newly-acquired knowledge into immediate action.
Theory and Development
Playing with Style was developed by world-renowned training game developer, Dr. Sivasailam “Thiagi” Thiagarajan and Tracy Tagliati of The Thiagi Group. Using their experience and expertise in the field of instructional games and training activities, Playing with Stylewas developed as a supplemental learning tool to the Style Series assessments.
The power behind Playing with Style and the Style Series products lies in the simple but effective model for understanding human behavior. Based on the proven personality theories of Marston and Jung, the model identifies two basic dimensions of personal style: Assertiveness and Expressiveness. Assertiveness is the effort a person makes to influence or control the thoughts or actions of others. Expressiveness is the effort that a person makes to control his or her emotions and feelings when relating to others. Combining the two dimensions results in a four-quadrant model with four unique personal styles: Direct, Spirited, Considerate, and Systematic. The simplicity of the Style Model is easy for trainers to facilitate and memorable for employees and managers to apply.
Uses for the Game
Playing with Style is an excellent way to expand, enhance, and reinforce the learning gained from the Style Series training assessments. Here are just some of the ways you can use the instructional games for classroom-based training:
- Introduction to any Style Series assessment
- Standalone training activities
- Ice breakers
- Energizers
- Refresher games
- Component of a management development workshop or training programme
- Follow up to any Style Series assessment
Product Type: Game
Time Required: 15-30 minutes per game
Number of Players: Suitable for 1-20 players
Games (with recommended group size) include:
- Speed (8 – 20)
- Which Style? (8 – 20)
- Personal Style Poker (8 – 20)
- Five Tricks (8 – 10)
- Quick Classification (5 – 6)
- Grab It (5 – 6)
- Bluff (4 – 6)
- Auction Rummy (3 – 4)
- Match (3 – 4)
- Solo Style (1)