Setup, Instructions, & Additional Ways to Plays

Set Up:

• Step 1: Gather three or more people at a table; we recommend four to seven players for the best experience, but many more can play, especially on teams. You may choose to deal one Solution Category Key card to anyone who wants one. (While the categories are not used in the basic rules of the game, they provide information that may be helpful in matching Solutions to Scenarios. The categories are also used in variations on the game.

• Step 2: Shuffle the Scenario cards and separately shuffle the Solution cards. Place the two decks side by side on the table: Flip over one card in each deck to start a discard pile next to each deck.

• Step 3: Deal seven Solution cards face down to each player. Players may look at their own cards. Note: If you are using the Choose Happiness @ Work Sample Pack you will only deal six Solution cards to each player. 

• Step 4: The dealer is the first Executive and initiates gameplay.

Playing the Game:

We highly recommend acting on the following instructions step-by-step through a practice round in order to learn how to play.

• Executive: Flip a Scenario card over from the top of that deck. If you are not interested in Solutions to that Scenario, you may discard that Scenario card and flip over another. (You may do this up to two times; in that case use the third Scenario card you get so you don’t keep everyone else waiting too long.)Describe the Scenario you choose aloud and place it face up on the table in front of you. (You may read some or all of the Scenario card or, even better, describe a problem like this in your own words. You may set your hand of Solutions aside for the moment; you will not be using those while you are the Executive.)A few Scenario cards are labelled “Free Choice Problem Card”; if you choose this card then describe any real or imaginary problem for which you want Solutions.

• All other players: Choose the Solution card from your own hand that you feel will best help with the Scenario. If you don’t have a great Solution for the Scenario, get creative or funny; you can score points that way too! (Please note that while most Solutions can be humorous in certain contexts, every single Solution in the game is a real, effective, science-based Solution to the right Scenario.)Starting with the player to the left of the Executive, put your Solution face up on the table and explain how your Solution would help. (You may read some or all of your chosen card or explain in your own words how and why the Solution will work.)

• Executive: After hearing each player’s explanation, pick the Solution card you feel is the best. Also pick a different solution card you feel is the most creative or funny.If either winning card says “Everybody try it now!”, then everyone at the table tries the Solution at that moment.The player who provided the best Solution scores two points and keeps that winning Solution card and the Scenario card in a stack near them on the table to record their points. The player that provided the most creative or funny card gets one point and keeps that winning Solution card to record that point.Collect all of the other unused Solution cards that were played and discard them.

• Players: Draw one Solution card to get your hand back up to seven cards.

• At the end of each round: Each player has the option of discarding one Solution card from their hand and drawing a new one if they choose. The role of the Executive passes to the left.

Repeat steps 1-5 until the game is over. The game is over when each person has been the Executive three times. You may also choose to instead play to a certain number of points or for a certain amount of time.

Additional Ways to use Choose Happiness @ Work cards:

The cards in Choose Happiness @ Work may also be used to play different versions of the game.

• Stack the Decks: Go through each deck and create a subset that applies especially well to your work situation.

• Quick Decisions: The Executive has up to 30 seconds to pick a Scenario they want Solutions for. Players have up to 30 seconds to pick a Solution card. The Executive gets 1 minute to pick winners.

• No Lobbying: Solution cards are placed face down in front of the Executive who shuffles them before reading them and choosing winners. Players may not explain to the Executive why they picked their Solution.

• DIY Scenarios: Instead of using the Scenario cards, the Executive describes any real or hypothetical problem.

• We are the Executive: The group serves as the Executive. A Scenario is turned over from the top of the Scenario deck. Every player provides a Solution. All players vote on the best Solution and most creative Solution. Players are not allowed to vote for their own Solution.

• Less is More: Players hold 6 or fewer Solution cards.

• More is More: Players hold 8 or more Solution cards.

• Multiple Scenarios: The Executive draws two Scenarios and describes them both. Players play a single Solution that must be able to solve both problems simultaneously.

• Well Rounded: The first player to have a Solution card chosen (as best or most creative) from all four categories—Subdue Stress, Practice Positivity, Flow to Goals, and Revitalize Relationships—wins.

• Let’s Talk About It: Anyone may pause the game for deeper discussion any time a card is played.

• Scenario my Solution: Play the game normally, except that the Executive picks a Solution, and players have hands full of problems. They present the Executive with the problem they think the Solution would best solve.

• Imaginary Application: Thirty-six Solution cards are placed face down in a 6 x 6 array. A die (not included) is thrown twice. The first number identifies the column, and the second number the row. This card is turned face up. All players create and share a fictional application in which this Solution produced positive results. All players vote for the best story that features the most appropriate alignment of the situation and the Solution.

• Many Games in One: Roll dice (not included) before each round, and use the roll of the dice to determine which of these many variations you will use for the next round.

• Bad Solution: The Executive picks the Solution least likely to help with the problem!

• Expert Facilitation: Bring in a facilitator who understands the science of happiness and employee engagement. Have them answer questions, explain how some Solutions work, and point out patterns in the players’ choices and discussions, for example.

• Solitaire: Play by yourself. Choose a real Scenario you are facing in your work life. Randomly deal ten Solution cards to yourself. Pick the one that is most likely to help with your problem, and act on it.

Strategies for Facilitating Discussion and Action:

Along with games, the cards may be used to facilitate discussion and/or action. In most of the uses below, each person starts with a hand of seven Solution cards, and each person talks about which Solution they choose and why.

• Best for Us: Each person chooses a Solution they think will give their organization the biggest boost, then shares it with their colleagues at a table. Everyone at the table votes on the most important Solution for the organization. If multiple tables are participating, then each table reports out their best Solution, and the room votes on the best of the best.

• Let’s Try This: People give their leader or human resources colleague a card indicating what they think will be most effective for the organization. The recipient can say how many of various cards she received, and what she thinks it means the next step is for the team.

• This is for You: Everyone gives everyone else at their table a card they think would help the recipient be happier or more engaged at work.

• Put it Up: All Solution cards are spread out face up on a table. Each person picks one they would like to use in the next few weeks, takes it back to where they work, and places it where it will remind them to take action.

• Find a Problem: Pick a random Solution card. Discuss a problem in your organization that would be best solved by the Solution, and how.

• Keep Doing: Everyone gives everyone else at their table a Solution card that describes something the recipient does, and should keep doing.

• Send Me This: Everyone chooses several cards to be delivered to them over the next several months. As each card arrives, act on it and report back to others on how it worked out.

Make Choose Happiness @ Work your own– hack the rules, create custom cards, get creative and use the cards however you like!