What's in a Name? (nickname share)

Purpose. Builds rapport and often surfaces fun shared history within existing teams.

When to use. Works especially well with a team that already knows each other somewhat, rather than a brand- new group of strangers.

Best for. Existing teams, in person.

• Gather: flipchart paper (one large sheet, or one per small group) and markers.

Room setup. Cluster seating into small groups of 3–6.

Virtual setup. Use a shared document or virtual whiteboard where participants type their name and nickname instead of writing on paper.

Hybrid setup. Give remote participants the same shared document to contribute to.

Materials. Flipchart paper

1. Split participants into small groups of 3–6 (skip this step if your whole group is already 6 or fewer).
2. Give each group a sheet of flipchart paper.
3. Ask each participant to write their first name on the paper, then add a nickname they've had at some point in their life, whether from childhood, school, sports, or work.
4. Ask each participant to briefly explain where their nickname came from.
5. If time allows, invite one or two favorite nickname stories to be shared with the whole room.

Learning outcome. Participants leave having shared a small piece of personal history, often surfacing connections the team didn't know it had.

• Flipchart paper
• Markers
• Timer set for 10–15 min
• Groups of 3–6 planned if needed Get-to-Know-You