Designing Usable Governance Tools

Let’s be honest—governance tools aren’t always the most exciting part of a project. But what if they could be?

In our many-to-many group, we’ve been designing and testing playful governance tools—card decks, role prompts, and game-based workshops—to make shared leadership easier and more accessible.

One popular tool was a deck of cards that helped clarify different types of power—facilitative, strategic, operational—and the tensions between them. People used it to reflect on their own roles and spark honest conversation.

“It helped me realise I was holding authority I didn’t even want,” one participant said. “Now I know I can pass some of that on.”

These tools aren’t about rigid rules. They’re about helping people co-create agreements, name their boundaries, and find flow in group work.

We’re learning that governance doesn’t have to be abstract or top-down. It can be co-owned, practical, and even… fun.

That’s how we’re building a system where participation feels possible—not performative.