What is it?

This deck is a collection of “live-fire” facilitation scenarios and a tailored menu of techniques to help you navigate them. While our activity cards tell you what to do, these cards focus on the how—specifically, how to handle the messy, unpredictable human side of workshops. Each card presents a common challenge, from awkward power dynamics and “post-merger” tension to the inevitable afternoon energy slump, paired with a curated menu of design thinking techniques to help you steer the room back on track.

Why did we create it?

We created this set because even the most perfectly planned workshop can be derailed by a room full of tired people, technical jargon, or conflicting departmental agendas. We wanted to move beyond the theory and provide a practical “field guide” for when things get tricky. These cards were developed to build your facilitation “muscle memory,” giving you the confidence to adapt your style in real-time and ensuring that no matter who is in the room—or how the energy shifts—you always have a structured way to reach a productive outcome.

Who should use it?

These cards are for anyone who has ever felt the pressure of leading a room where the stakes are high and the personalities are complex. They are particularly useful for project leads, change managers, and designers who need to bridge the gap between diverse groups, such as senior executives and service users. Whether you use them as a solo prep tool to anticipate risks before a session or as a quick-reference guide when you need a “break glass in case of emergency” activity, they are designed for anyone who wants to master the art of calm, effective facilitation.

© London Office of Technology and Innovation, 2026. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.