Trading Cards

How to Play

Setup

1. Choose the format: physical (index-card or trading-card size) or digital (slide, whiteboard, or card app). Print or distribute a simple template with fields for photo, name, role, superpowers (skills), interests, and fun facts.
2. Gather materials: for physical, provide markers, stickers, glue/tape, card sleeves, and a few printed photo options or a quick photo station. For digital, set up a shared folder or slide deck and a place to upload headshots.
3. Prepare the space: create an open area for mingling and a “display wall” (whiteboard or corkboard) for finished cards. Label zones by department or topic to encourage cross-pollination. Play light background music.
4. Clarify the objective: collect cards from people you don’t know well or haven’t worked with. Set a target (e.g., 4–6 trades). Explain there will be brief introductions using someone else’s card at the end.
5. Timebox: 10 minutes for creation, 15–20 minutes for trading, 5–10 minutes for introductions and display.

How to Play

1. Create your card (10 minutes): participants fill out the template and add a photo (selfie, printed pic, or quick doodle). Include 3–5 superpowers (skills), 3 interests, and 1–2 fun facts. Optional: add contact info or a QR code to a profile.
2. Trade and mingle (15–20 minutes):
   • Approach people you don’t know well. Offer your card and ask 1–2 questions based on theirs.
   • Keep each conversation to about 2 minutes, then swap cards one-for-one and move on. Facilitators may call “switch” every 2 minutes to keep energy high.
   • Sign or stamp the back of cards you collect to track new connections.
3. Showcase (5–10 minutes):
   • Invite a few volunteers to introduce someone else using the person’s card (name, role, a fun fact, and a superpower).
   • Post cards on the display wall or compile digital cards into a shared directory. Snap a group photo of the wall or export the digital deck for later reference.

Rules

1. Prioritize trading with people you don’t already know or haven’t worked closely with.
2. One-for-one trades only; keep your own collection visible.
3. Every trade includes at least one follow-up question inspired by the card.
4. Respect comfort levels; participants may skip sensitive fields. Keep content professional and inclusive.
5. Legibility matters—print clearly and avoid confidential information.
6. Stick to time limits to maintain pace and energy.
7. Accessibility: offer large-print templates, high-contrast colors, and a digital option.

Tips

• Seed the room with examples so participants see what “good” looks like.
• Provide fun embellishments (stickers, stamps) and sleeves/envelopes to hold collections.
• Use a target (e.g., collect 5 new cards) and consider a small prize or raffle entry.
• Rotate by zones (e.g., Engineering, Marketing) to ensure cross-team mixing.
• For remote sessions, use breakout rooms and a shared slide deck; each slide is a card.

Variations

• Speed Trading: two circles face each other; 90 seconds per trade; rotate on a bell.
• Bingo Back: print a mini bingo on the back (e.g., “loves spreadsheets”); first line wins.
• Color-Coded Departments: collect one card of each color/function.
• Mentor Match: add “I can teach” and “I want to learn” to spark skill-sharing.
• New-Hire Edition: pair new employees with veterans; prioritize cross-tenure trades.