The Challenge

When organizations talk about AI, the conversation often stays polite and surface-level. People say what they think leaders want to hear — while hiding their real fears, frustrations, or hopes. But without surfacing these hidden dynamics, AI adoption stalls. Leaders needed a way to draw out the truth in a safe, human, and even playful way.

‍

Our Approach

We designed the Play Cards: a deck of reflective prompts grounded in behavioral science and design thinking. In workshops, participants pulled cards and responded to provocations like “What excites you most about AI?” or “What risk feels hardest to talk about?” The cards broke the ice, sparked laughter, and created space for candor.

‍

• Designed a deck of reflective prompts rooted in behavioral science
• Facilitated workshops where staff used cards to share candid reflections
• Created space for laughter, candor, and difficult conversations
• Helped leaders uncover hidden fears, hopes, and blockers

‍

The Outcome

Teams voiced things they’d never said before: excitement about creativity, frustration with clunky tools, anxiety about job security. Leaders finally heard what was really on their staff’s minds. The result was deeper trust, stronger alignment, and a readiness to move forward together. Staff left feeling both heard and hopeful.

‍

What's next?

The Play Cards are now a signature PLAI tool, woven into workshops and transformation programs. We’re expanding editions to focus on themes like ethics, collaboration, and creativity — so organizations everywhere can use them to surface truths and unlock breakthroughs.

‍

‍