Icebreakers · Get-to-Know-You

Show and Tell

Reveals personal stories that build connection beyond job titles.

IcebreakerRapportPersonal Sharing

Duration: 20 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

Overview

Purpose. Reveals personal stories that build connection beyond job titles.

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.

Facilitator preparation

Ask participants in advance to bring a personal object they love, a prized possession or something nostalgic. This needs a heads-up before the session, not a same-day ask.
Have a backup plan ready for anyone who forgets or doesn't have an object handy. See Trainer's Reference below.

Room setup. Cluster seating into small islands of 3–6 people, spaced enough apart that groups don't overhear each other.

Virtual setup. This works best in person. If you must run it virtually, have participants hold their object up to the camera instead.

Hybrid setup. Give remote participants the same option to hold their object up on camera during their turn.

Materials. A personal object per participant

How to Conduct

Before the session, ask participants to bring (or think of) a personal object they love, a prized possession or something nostalgic.
Split into small groups of 3–6 (skip this step if the whole group is already that size).
Ask each person to show their object and share its story with their small group.
If time allows, invite one or two of the best stories to be shared with the whole room.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE GROUP

A few participants may hang back at first; let them opt in when they're ready rather than forcing a turn.

Trainer's Reference: if someone forgets their object

Not everyone will remember to bring something, and that's fine. Let anyone without a physical object simply describe one from memory instead, a childhood toy, a gift from someone important, anything they can picture clearly. The story matters more than the object being physically present.

After the activity

DEBRIEF QUESTIONS

What part of “Show and Tell” felt easy, and what part felt harder than expected?
Did anyone's object reveal something about them you wouldn't have guessed?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS