▶ Created by global leadership expert Clark Aldrich.
Hear Clark Aldrich talk about Socratic Cards
Rob Alvarez Bucholska Interview: The Blueprint to Leading High-Performing Teams from Day 1
Jake Stahl Interview: Why Organizations Fail to Unlock Human Potential
About Clark Aldrich
Clark Aldrich is a global expert on growing leaders, who has worked with C-level executives from scores of the world’s most influential organizations, including at the NSA where he served on the board and held Top Secret Clearance. The former Gartner analyst who founded their eLearning coverage – and Training Magazine columnist – Aldrich also has written six books on pedagogy (several of which are taught at the post-graduate level).
His published written work has been at the forefront of: eLearning (Gartner Research, starting 1997); simulation- and game-based learning (Simulation and the Future of Learning, 2003); microschools (Unschooling Rules, 2011); and action-based learning (Short Sims, 2020).
His award- and patent-winning work around actionable and experiential learning, which has been covered extensively including by The New York Times, ABC, CBS, NPR, ESPN, and CNN, focuses on media-based experiences that role-model meaningful alternatives to today's workbook-essay-lecture-test model. It has two branches:
- Aldrich has created dozens of educational simulations and computer-based serious games. This work culminated in the revolutionary, democratizing pedagogy of Short Sims, which makes simulation design accessible to any creator for any learner on any topic.
- Aldrich also creates real-world based experiential learning. His latest and most transformative is Socratic Cards, which role models and enables the next generation's vision for education and work.
Play for engagement and insight
More (and light game rules)
With a group, chew on the top question on a card. Poll everyone for their immediate reaction, then discuss, then poll again.
Start each business meeting (or class) with a single Socratic question for four weeks. Watch everyone grow more connected and engaged.
Or with friends, play through four or five. At the end of each question, have each participant give a point to the person who made the most insightful comment.
- Normalize asking real questions
- Normalize participation
- Normalize high energy
This gives you the energy to invest.
Light Game Rules
- Host reads the top Socratic question.
- Everyone commits to a position (usually by show of hands).
- Host asks participants “why,” and all ask follow‑up questions.
- Everyone commits to a position again.
- Each participant awards one point to the participant who made the most insightful comment (the bon mot).
- Repeat for the agreed number of questions.
- Most points wins.
Grow through completing challenges
More (and challenge game rules)
The middle "catalyst" question and optional bottom activity on each card provide real ways for anyone to make progress on important journeys.
Each will help you matter at work and home. Challenge yourself or others — and even make workplaces a bit more like Ted Lasso's (or John Wooden's).
- Normalize making progress on the journeys that matter
- Normalize community strengthening
- Normalize running experiments to answer important questions
Easy challenges return more energy than they cost to complete, and harder challenges return even more energy.
Challenge Game Rules
- Anyone who completed a past challenge can share it. (5 minutes.)
- Top Socratic question discussion within a group. (5 minutes.)
- Discuss the middle “catalyst” question. (5 minutes.)
- Presentation of the optional challenge (bottom of card). Ask for takers. (5 minutes.)
- Participants can also select different challenges after the meeting.
Lead by taking the Mentor Path
More (and click below for The Mentor Path rules)
Imagine a culture that rigorously develops mentors and leaders, where people regularly take on greater challenges to become more powerful and improve their community.
The Socratic Cards include a viral Mentor Path that any group can use to propagate a trackable transformation.
- Normalize asking for help
- Normalize mentoring others
- Normalize a culture that improves itself and its members
The Mentor Path lays out predicable and achievable steps to a total transformation, powered by fun and growth.
▶ Learn more about The Mentor Path
Socratic Cards include a viral “Mentor Path” for communities with members who want to lead and help others grow.
Participants follow a clear, four-step progression:
1. Complete two Level 1 challenges
2. Complete two Level 2 challenges, with mentor sign-off
3. Complete two Level 3 challenges, with mentor sign-off
4. As a mentor, sign off on six challenges for others
Participants choose their own challenges and ask mentors to validate real work—creating a trackable, community-driven development loop.
Order now (US Only)
Choose a starting set, or begin the full Mentor Path.
Socratic Cards — Set 1
50 cards with Level 1 and Level 2 challenges for individuals or organizations.
$25 + shipping
Socratic Cards — Set 2
50 cards with deeper Level 2 and Level 3 challenges.
$25 + shipping
Complete Set (1 + 2)
All 100 cards and the full Mentor Path.
$45 + shipping