How Do You Use Imagicals?
Use Imagicals as an approachable leadership tool to engage in conversation. For example, exchange cards in one-on-one meetings to advance trust and initiate dialogue.
Ingeborg van Egmond
Behavior and communication consultant, friend
“For my birthday, my friends took me on a surprise outing, beginning with a lovely walk through nature. Before we had dinner at a new vegetarian restaurant by the water, we used the set of cards [Imagicals] over drinks. The question posed to me was: ‘Choose the card that suits you best at this moment and explain why.’ Oohhh, hard! All the cards were good, but I had to choose. I picked the orangutan with the baby on her neck. ‘I feel safe with you,’ I said. My friends and I looked at each other, and something clicked. We then had an intimate conversation about the phrase on the back of the card: ‘How close can the other person get?’ Several beers and questions later, we went through a final round of cards: ‘Which three cards do we as friends think best fit Ingeborg and why.’ What a beautiful birthday present!”
Iza Zilver Eschel
Conversationalist, student
“I take the bag of cards with me everywhere. I play it with friends and have done a fun session with it at school. I always learn things I didn’t already know from my friends; we get to know each other better. Or rather: we get to know each other differently.”
Hadewig Dokter
businesscoach
“Imagicals is also suitable for management teams undergoing change processes. For example, ‘What do you have to do as the management team [which represents the team ideal) and explain what you see.’ All the chosen cards together in a collage show what the management team stands for. Another method is the here and now. ‘Choose a card that depicts what this image says about your work now.’ The set of cards is a gift from me as facilitator to each management team member. The invitation to the management team members is to use the set in their own teams, in their own way. Later, you can discuss the effect of the game and what happened in the group.
Imagicals can be used as a management tool as well as a means for personal inspiration, which leaders themselves can use. The game is an easy tool to use and helps get conversations going within their team. What a beautiful gift, right?”
Nick van Dam
Leadership Program Facilitator, Coach and Professor
“I have used the cards in several leadership programs. For example, in one group we first answered some questions individually and then shared them with each other.
I have also begun meetings with colleagues by saying, ‘I have a question card for you to answer.’ And sometimes I have given myself a card that I then answered in the group. It is very valuable to start a meeting with something personal before delving into the meeting’s content. Colleagues change their perspective; connection and rapport are created. You start by listening and asking each other questions. This sets the tone for the rest of the meeting. It also contributes to everyone’s personal development.”
