Get Acquainted…there are lots of formal and informal ways for people to get to know each other. It’s amazing how much people can learn about each other even if they have worked together for a long time. Here are some informal ways that people can connect. These fun interactions produce lots more than fun; they begin to create trust and familiarity among group members…a great beginning for a formula for success.
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Scenarios
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Group members pretend to meet in different scenarios, e.g., at the beach, a cocktail party, etc. A fun way to mill around and people meet new people.
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People Map
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Create a human map to show where people consider their home. Indicate North, East, South & West, then allow participants to position themselves to create a map.
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Society
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A sequence of questions which help people to find out about one another, move around, and have fun.
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Group Juggle
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Throwing balls to others in a circle and learning names. Works every time. Can be extended to "Warp Speed" by seeing how fast the group can throw balls through a set order to each group member.
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Instant Replay
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Each person chooses an action-word to go with their name (e.g., "Swimming Sam"), then show the action to the group who repeat it. Stimulating way to introduce oneself & learn people's names.
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His/Her Story
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Where does your name come from? Share the story of where your name comes from and what it means. Everyone’s name has a surprisingly interesting origin.
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Tell the Truth
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Involves small groups sharing answers to 10 revealing questions, including "What would you do if you had $1 million to spend in 24 hours?".
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Point & Shoot
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Puts people on the spot for learning names. Ideal name game finale. Split the group in half. Have two volunteers hold a blanket or groundsheet between the two groups. Group members gather together, to plan and avoid being seen by the other group. The group sends one member to crouch close to the blanket and be involved in the shoot-out. The holders count "1, 2, 3" aloud then drop the blanket. Each contestant tries to say the other person's name first. Whoever is the winner "captures" his/her combatant for the winner's team. The blanket goes up again -- continue until one team captures all of the other team. Hilarious.
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Nicknames
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Try any of the above with nicknames! Nicknames from the past can be used, but it can be more fun to create new ones. e.g., Give take the name of the first pet you ever owned and add it to your mother's maiden name
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Hammer or a Nail?
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Asks people a series of wacky "Are you X or Y?" questions, e.g., hammer or nail, sun or moon, present or future, etc.
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The Signature Game
(or People Bingo)
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Gets strangers talking to one another and asking odd, fun questions. Helps to loosen people up, moving around, and getting to know one another.
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Name Tag
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In a circle, 1 person in the middle says someone's name. The named person has to say another person's name before getting tagged by person in middle. Fun way to put people on the spot with learning names.]
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