Icebreakers · Get-to-Know-You

One Minute Intros

Gives everyone equal airtime while allowing different personalities and expression styles to shine.

IcebreakerRapportPersonal Sharing

Duration: 1 min
Participants: 1–5, 5–10, 10–20, 20–50, 50+
Energy: Low
Difficulty: Beginner
Materials: Minimal
Prep time: 5 minutes

2 min read · Delivery: Offline · Virtual

Overview

Purpose. Gives everyone equal airtime while allowing different personalities and expression styles to shine.

When to use. In the first 15 minutes of a session, once names are known and the group is settling in.

Best for. Any group size, in person or virtual.

Facilitator preparation

Gather: a timer.
Decide before you start whether you or a participant will keep time, and plan to hold that line consistently. See Trainer's Reference below.

Room setup. Arrange seating so everyone can see and hear each other clearly.

Virtual setup. Run this over video call with a visible on-screen timer for each person's turn.

Hybrid setup. Give remote participants an equal way to take part, alternating turns with the room.

Materials. A timer

How to Conduct

Explain the format: each person gets exactly 60 seconds to introduce themselves however they like, talking, singing, a quick demonstration, anything goes.
Set a visible timer.
Go around the group, starting the timer fresh for each person.
Give a 10-second warning as each person's time runs low, then call time firmly once it's up.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE GROUP

Expect a little shyness in the first 30 seconds, followed by a quick warm-up once one or two people go first.

Trainer's Reference: keeping timing fair

A firm timekeeper is what makes this activity work. Without one, some people take 20 seconds and others take three minutes, which defeats the point of equal airtime. Decide before you start whether you will keep time yourself, or hand that job to a participant, and stick to it consistently for everyone, including yourself.

After the activity

DEBRIEF QUESTIONS

What part of “One Minute Intros” felt easy, and what part felt harder than expected?
Did 60 seconds feel like too little time, too much, or about right, once you were actually up?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS