True True False

For Employees Anywhere

You know the scenario. There is a company meeting with your colleagues - groan. Let's face it; corporate meetings and retreats are typically not fun times. It can be a challenge to get and keep everyone's attention and interest.

What if you could send everyone back to their jobs with a renewed perspective about their fellow employees? What if you could send people back to work after you have helped them build stronger bonds with each other?

Welcome to the icebreaker and team building exercise called True True False.

Everyone is given paper and pen and is asked to sit in a circle (chairs alone or at a table). The assignment is for each person to privately write down three statements about themselves. Two of those statements must be verifiably fact-based true. The third statement will be an outright lie. Yes, a false statement. Let their imaginations take over on this one.

When everyone has finished writing down their three statements, you will take turns going around the table to let each employee read their three statements. They are to jumble the order so that the rest of you have no idea if the one False statement is read first, second or third.

When an individual has read all 3 statements, the rest of you must select the statement that you believe is False. If you think one of the statements is False, you must state your reasons why. This means everyone must also state reasons why they believe the other 2 statements must be True.

You will find out so much about your colleagues. People will be able to reveal a hidden fact about themselves that others can now learn. The results will bond employees to each other based on this enhanced information they get to learn.

If you are the leader of the group, you should begin by presenting your statements first (gives others a chance to think) or give an example. Here's what I have used for myself:

1. As a teenager, I was picked up by the police for juvenile delinquency

2. I majored in Anthropology at college

3. I played the French Horn throughout high school and college

People who know me always assumed #1 above was my False fact. They couldn't believe I had ever been a law offender. That means they were more apt to believe or were more comfortable believing I could have majored in Anthropology and also played the French Horn. The discussions that take place while people are guessing are priceless. I always learn a lot about what others perceive of me. Once the guessing is over, the stories behind the facts get a chance to be shared and discovered. It's helpful for teams of employees who frequently work together to learn new tidbits about their colleagues.

Every time I have facilitated this game, the participants develop better and stronger bonds with each other. And it's so easy to do.

Okay, these are the results of my personal statements:

1. As a teenager, I was picked up by the police for juvenile delinquency TRUE STATEMENT! (You should hear the details!)

2. I majored in Anthropology at college TRUE STATEMENT!

3. I played the French Horn throughout high school and college FALSE STATEMENT! No way!

This team building activity works very well over food times - breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Game and Activity Ideas for: