Card Negotiation Game

The card negotiation game is focused on a fun communication exercise that allows participants to network with each other and trade for the better of their team in a limited period of time. The art of negotiation is a great skill and we all need to develop it.

The purpose of this game is to learn other players perspectives before they can influence them and negotiate the deal – This being the secret to success.

Cut each playing cards diagonally twice so that you end up with 4 pieces. Decide on how many teams you are going to split the group into, mix and divide the card pieces into equal piles.

The next step is to provide the teams with their own pile of card pieces of which will not all will be complete cards. Explain to the group that they have a designated period of time (up to you to decide but say 3 minutes or so) to sort out their card pieces and look at which pieces are missing.

Once the time is up explain to the group that the aim of the game is to negotiate with the other teams in order to gain as many complete cards as possible within the next 10 minutes. The team with the most amount of complete cards at the end will be the winner.

Moment of Reflection

• Did they have any particular strategy to their negotiation methods?
• Did some teams work together and combine their efforts in order to progress quicker?
• Ask the wining team to explain their successful techniques and get feedback from the other teams on how they felt they approached them to clinch the deal.
• Take a look at team who gained the least amount of complete cards and investigate why.

Once you have researched the positives and negatives of the exercise, compile the effective communication and negotiation skills.

The topics of this publication: interactions, negotiation, argumentation, make agreements, strategy