3 Things in Common

Apr 1
2 min read

What This Game Teaches

This game builds connection quickly by helping participants move beyond surface-level conversation and find meaningful common ground.

Group Size

Pairs or small groups

Time

5–10 minutes

Energy Level

Medium

How to Play

Put participants into pairs or groups of three.
Give them two to three minutes to find three things they all have in common.
The rule: they cannot use obvious or surface-level answers (no “we are all human” or “we all work here”) or any prior information (you have to talk to discover commonalities)
After time is up, each group shares their three things.

Variations

Increase the number to five things

Find commonalities without talking (acting out or using charades to communicate)

Have groups turn one shared trait into a short story

Why It Works

Connection is built on shared experience, but most people stay at the surface.

This exercise forces participants to dig deeper, ask better questions, and reveal more about themselves. That shift from surface to substance is where real connection happens.

In storytelling, this is critical. The more specific and human your story is, the more universal it becomes. Finding common ground is the foundation of making your story resonate.

Pro Tips

Encourage curiosity: good questions lead to better discoveries
If groups get stuck, prompt them to go more specific (childhood, fears, habits, etc.)
Celebrate unique or surprising answers.

Origins / References

-Commonly used in team-building and improv environments, including workshops at BATS Improv

Try This In Real Life

Use this as an opening activity in meetings or workshops to quickly build rapport and shift the tone from transactional to human.

Looking for ways to create deeper connection on your team? Bring these exercises to life with a customized storytelling workshop from Your Story, Well Told.