Playing with Style

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 HRDQ Style Series, assessments that accurately identify individual personal styles.

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.

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 10 different training games and training activities that help individuals to quickly learn the common characteristics of each of the four personal styles in the HRDQ 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.

How It Works

The Playing with Style games are intended as supplemental learning and training activities to the HRDQ Style Series assessments. While it is possible to introduce the HRDQ 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 HRDQ Style Series.

Playing with Style includes 10 card games plus an additional bonus game you can use as an ice breaker or closing activity. Each game takes approximately 15 to 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 Style was developed as a supplemental learning tool to the HRDQ Style Series assessments.

The power behind Playing with Style and the HRDQ 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 HRDQ Style Model is easy for trainers to facilitate and memorable for employees and managers to apply.

Uses and Applications

Playing with Style is an excellent way to expand, enhance, and reinforce the learning gained from the HRDQ Style Series training assessments. Here are just some of the ways you can use the instructional games:

• Introduction to any Style Series assessment
• Standalone training activities
• Ice breakers
• Energizers
• Refresher games
• Component of a management development workshop or training program
• Follow up to any Style Series assessment