Unleash Team-Building Magic with Unique and Shared: A Game of Memorable Experiences!

What is Unique and Shared?

Let's talk about the Unique and Shared icebreaker activity, which is a great way to get to know more about your colleagues! This activity is perfect for team building or any situation where you have a group of people who don't know each other very well yet. The goal of this activity is to find things that are unique to you, but also to find things that you have in common with others in your group.

To play, gather everyone in a circle or at a table. Each person takes turns sharing two pieces of information about themselves: something unique about them, and something they have in common with others. For example, someone might say that they have a pet tarantula, which is unique, and that they love chocolate, which is a shared interest.

The goal of this game is to help people connect with each other by finding common ground and unique qualities. This activity should be played at the beginning of a new project or when a new team member joins the group. It is also great for parties or gatherings with friends and family.

One tip to make this activity more fun is to encourage people to be creative with their answers. For example, instead of sharing that they like pizza, encourage them to share their favorite pizza topping and why. Another tip is to make sure that everyone gets an equal amount of time to share, so that no one feels left out.

Overall, the Unique and Shared icebreaker activity is a great way to break the ice and get to know the people around you. It's a fun and easy way to build connections and start conversations, so give it a try at your next gathering!

Materials needed for Unique and Shared

Unique and Shared requires no materials or tools to play. Just bring yourself and a few others and you'll have a great time!

How to play Unique and Shared

• Gather the participants: Gather a group of participants who are ready to engage in an icebreaker activity.
• Explain the concept: Explain to the participants that the goal of the activity is to find unique and shared interests with others in the group.
• Form pairs: Ask the participants to form pairs with someone they don't know very well.
• Share unique interests: Instruct the pairs to take turns sharing one unique interest they have. This can be a hobby, favorite book, travel experience, or anything that is personal to them.
• Find shared interests: After each participant shares a unique interest, have the pairs search for any shared interests they might have. Encourage them to ask follow-up questions to explore common ground.
• Switch pairs: After a set amount of time, ask the pairs to switch partners and form new pairs with someone they haven't talked to yet.
• Repeat steps 4-6: Repeat steps 4-6 multiple times, allowing participants to interact with different individuals and discover more unique and shared interests.
• Debrief and discuss: After the activity, gather the participants together and facilitate a discussion about the interesting and unexpected things they learned about each other.
• Wrap up: Thank the participants for their participation and encourage them to stay connected and continue to explore their shared interests.

Benefits of Unique and Shared

Team building activities are far more than just fun and games. They pack a punch when it comes to the range of benefits they can deliver. Some of the benefits of Unique and Shared include:

• Breaks the ice: Playing Unique and Shared can help to break the ice among participants who may be meeting for the first time. By working together on a fun and engaging activity, individuals can start to form connections and feel more comfortable with each other.
• Encourages creativity: This icebreaker activity encourages individuals to flex their creativity muscles by coming up with unique characteristics that they have or share with others. This can help to boost confidence and promote self-expression.
• Builds teamwork: Unique and Shared is a collaborative activity that requires individuals to work together and communicate effectively. This can help to build teamwork skills that can be applied in other areas of life such as school, work, and personal relationships.
• Fosters inclusivity: By highlighting both unique and shared characteristics, this icebreaker activity sends a message that everyone is valued and important. This can help to foster inclusivity and create a welcoming environment for all participants.
• Can lead to further conversations: As individuals share information about themselves and discover similarities with others, it can spark further conversations and interactions that can help to build deeper connections and relationships.

Why we like Unique and Shared

We love this game because it's a fun and engaging way to learn more about each other's backgrounds, interests, and experiences.

Reflection questions for Unique and Shared

Reflection questions are a great way to help your team process their experience after playing Unique and Shared.

1. What surprised you the most about the group's unique and shared characteristics?
   This question encourages participants to reflect on their experience with the icebreaker activity and identify any unexpected aspects of the group's characteristics.
2. How did the activity help you to understand your peers better?
   This question prompts participants to consider how the icebreaker activity provided insight into the diverse perspectives and backgrounds of their peers.
3. Did you notice any similarities or differences between your unique characteristics and those of others in the group?
   Participants are encouraged to identify any commonalities or differences between their personal characteristics and those of other members in the group.
4. What did you learn from the activity about the importance of understanding and appreciating diversity?
   This question prompts participants to reflect on the broader significance of the icebreaker activity in the context of promoting acceptance and appreciation of differences.
5. How do you plan to incorporate what you learned from the icebreaker activity into your interactions with others?
   Participants can consider how the insights gained from the icebreaker activity can be applied to future interactions with peers, coworkers, or even in everyday life.

Which skills does Unique and Shared build?

• Self-reflection - Self-reflection skills are valuable in icebreakers and team building because they allow individuals to gain self-awareness, identify strengths and weaknesses, and foster personal growth, leading to stronger connections and more effective teamwork.
• Communication - Communication skills are essential for icebreakers and team building because they facilitate effective and open dialogue, allowing team members to connect and understand each other better, which leads to improved collaboration and problem-solving.
• Listening - Listening skills in icebreakers and team building promote effective communication, understanding, and empathy among participants, fostering a positive and cohesive team dynamic.
• Empathy - Empathy skills are incredibly valuable for icebreakers and team building because they help create a safe and inclusive environment where everyone feels heard and understood, fostering stronger connections and collaboration among team members.