--- title: "Explain and Apply" description: "Working in triads, each person reads a practical advice card, recalls it from memory to one peer, and explains a concrete workplace application to the other peer while receiving targeted feedback." last_updated: "2026-09-07" canonical: "https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/tgl-april-2013/" --- # Explain and Apply Working in triads, each person reads a practical advice card, recalls it from memory to one peer, and explains a concrete workplace application to the other peer while receiving targeted feedback. **Time:** 20 minutes. Source specifies 15 to 30 minutes; 20 minutes allows a brief setup, three 4-minute rounds, and a 5-minute whole-room debrief. **People:** 3 to 24. Triads (groups of 3). Any extra person serves as an observer; two extras form a triad with the facilitator. ## Choose this exercise **Purpose:** Test recall accuracy and practice generating realistic real-world applications of specific guidelines. **Use it when:** Use during skill-building or professional development sessions when participants need to translate abstract guidelines into concrete workplace behaviors. **Skip it when:** Skip when the training topic relies purely on open-ended reflection or when participants lack common workplace context to evaluate practical scenarios. ## Materials and tools - One practical advice card per person (a printable deck of 9 sample cards provided in participant_materials) - Timer or stopwatch for the facilitator ## Before participants arrive 1. Print and cut out practical advice cards so every participant has at least one unique guideline card. 2. Arrange room chairs into clusters of three facing each other. ## Say this to open Take your advice card and read it silently. In your triad, you will each take a turn passing your card away, explaining the guideline completely from memory to one partner, and proposing a realistic workplace application to the other partner. The partners will give quick feedback on accuracy and practical realism. ## How to run it ### 1. Distribute and study cards (3 minutes) Form triads of three people. Give one advice card to each person. Instruct everyone to read their card silently for two minutes, memorizing the core message and preparing a realistic workplace scenario where it applies. ### 2. Run round one (4 minutes) Person A hands their card to Person B (on their right) face up. Person A looks at Person C (on their left) and explains the guideline from memory without looking at the card, then describes a concrete workplace application. Person B compares the spoken explanation against the text on the card and gives feedback on recall accuracy. Person C gives feedback on how realistic and practical the proposed application is. Stop at 4 minutes. ### 3. Run round two (4 minutes) Person B hands their advice card to Person C. Person B explains their guideline from memory to Person A and describes a practical workplace application. Person C checks the card and provides feedback on accuracy; Person A provides feedback on the realism of the application. Stop at 4 minutes. ### 4. Run round three (4 minutes) Person C hands their advice card to Person A. Person C explains the guideline from memory to Person B and shares their workplace application. Person A evaluates accuracy against the card; Person B evaluates the application realism. Stop at 4 minutes. ### 5. Debrief application insights (5 minutes) Bring the room together. Invite 3 or 4 volunteers to share one compelling workplace application or a key challenge they noticed when translating advice cards into daily practice. ## Debrief questions - What made an application feel realistic versus theoretical or impractical? - How did explaining the advice from memory change how well you understood the underlying guideline? - Which guideline that you heard today could you test in your workplace this week? **Finished output:** Every participant explains one guideline from memory, proposes an application scenario, and receives peer feedback. ## Remote Form breakout rooms of three people. Distribute cards privately via direct chat or dedicated digital card links. Person A pastes their text to Person B in direct chat or sends a link, then speaks to Person C. Time rounds at 4 minutes each using broadcast announcements, then recall all participants to the main room for debrief. ## Hybrid Keep in-person participants in room triads with physical cards. Form dedicated remote-only triads in separate breakout rooms using direct messaging so physical handing of cards is not mixed across formats. ## Access and participation choices - Participants may refer to notes or glance at the card if memorization causes undue anxiety. - Anyone may choose an observer role in a triad, focusing purely on providing feedback on application realism without presenting. ## If the session gets stuck **A participant gives an overly vague scenario such as 'I will just communicate better next week.'** Remind listeners to prompt for specifics: ask 'Who would you talk to, what would you say, and when would this happen?' **The group size is not divisible by 3.** If 1 extra person remains, assign them as a dedicated feedback observer in one triad. If 2 extra people remain, invite the facilitator to join them to form a complete triad. ## Terms used here - Practical Advice Card: A card containing a concise, actionable guideline on a workplace topic such as listening, feedback, or delegation. ## Participant material: Workplace Practical Advice Cards Card 1: Active Listening Paraphrase the speaker's main point in your own words before responding, especially when there is disagreement. Card 2: Constructive Feedback Describe the specific observable behavior and its tangible impact on the project, rather than evaluating the person's intent or character. Card 3: Delegation Clarify the intended end result and constraints, then let the person decide the exact steps to accomplish the task. Card 4: Meeting Management State the explicit objective and desired output for each agenda item before opening the floor for discussion. Card 5: Managing Disagreements Separate the people from the problem by focusing joint attention on shared criteria and objectives rather than defended positions. Card 6: Asking for Help Specify exactly what assistance is needed, by when, and how long it will take, rather than making an open-ended request for support. Card 7: Customer Communication Acknowledge the client's frustration explicitly before explaining the policy, constraints, or next steps to resolve their issue. Card 8: Work Prioritization Identify your single most critical outcome for the day before checking inbound email or chat messages. Card 9: Peer Recognition Offer appreciation in real time and specify the exact contribution that made a difference to the team's outcome. ## Sources and adaptation Observed in Thiagi GameLetter (April 2013), edited by Sivasailam Thiagarajan, under the title 'Explain and Apply'. Retained the core mechanic of the three-player card game 'Explain and Apply' by Sivasailam Thiagarajan from the April 2013 Thiagi GameLetter: Person A hands their card to B, explains the concept to C from memory, B rates recall accuracy, and C rates realism of application. Added a standardized 20-minute run structure, participant cards, remote/hybrid adaptations, and concrete debrief questions. [The Thiagi Group](http://thiagi.net/archive/www/pfp/IE4H/april2013.html) [The Thiagi Group](https://thiagi.net/archive/www/pfp/IE4H/april2013.html) Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/tgl-april-2013/