7 Communication Games for Small Teams

1. Directions with a question break

People: 2–6 · Allow: 7–9 minutes · You need: paper or a blank note

Each responder draws a three-by-three grid. Label columns A, B and C from left to right, and rows 1, 2 and 3 from top to bottom. A text list of visited cells also works.

1. The reader states the starting cell, then describes the first route one move at a time using words such as “up” and “right”. Do not show the route yet.
2. After the four moves, responders may ask one clarification question. Show the card and compare paths, including intermediate cells.
3. Change reader. Use the second route, this time allowing a short question after any move. A responder might ask, “Does up mean towards row one?”
4. Show the second card and discuss the wording. Do not compare participants' scores.

Debrief: “Which question removed an uncertainty, and where would it have been useful to ask it?” The two rounds are examples to discuss, not a controlled test of anybody's listening ability.

2. The missing detail desk

People: 2–6 · Allow: 6–8 minutes · You need: the request and reader's card

Give the responder this request: “Please take the blue folder to the desk before the session.” The responder has three questions to make the task actionable.

1. The responder asks a question; the reader answers only that question using the facts. If the card does not contain an answer, say “The card does not tell us.”
2. After up to three questions, the responder writes a revised request. It should identify the item, destination and deadline.
3. Reveal the card. Check those three details against the revised message, rather than judging whether the questions sounded confident.
4. If time remains, try a combined question: “Which folder, which desk and what time?” Discuss when one combined question is easy to answer and when it needs separating.

Possible result: “Take the blue folder labelled Saturday Book Club to upstairs reception by 13:40.”

Debrief: “Which missing detail would have made the action hardest to complete?”

3. Jargon swap

People: 2–6 · Allow: 5–7 minutes · You need: chat or a shared note

Start with this fictional message: “Can you action the signage refresh and close the loop before launch?”

Supply the facts: the task is to replace the opening-hours sign in the café window; the new sign is attached to the message; the deadline is Thursday at 10:00; the requester wants a reply when it is in place.

1. Give everyone 60 seconds to write a version that a new volunteer could follow. Use ordinary words and include the requested reply.
2. Share two or three versions. If there are more writers, invite a second batch or let someone choose one sentence to read.
3. Ask a willing person to state what they would do after receiving one version.
4. Make one final edit if the action, deadline or reply is missing.

Possible result: “Please replace the café window's opening-hours sign with the attached version by Thursday at 10:00. Reply here when it is in place.”

Debrief: “Which phrase asked the reader to guess what an action meant?” Keep the examples fictional rather than collecting a colleague's least favourite phrases.

4. The sequence check

People: 2–6 · Allow: 6–8 minutes · You need: these five cards on screen

A fictional reading room needs to be prepared. Display the cards in this order:

• A. Put the READY card on the door after the table has been checked.
• B. Arrange the chairs before cleaning the table.
• C. Place the name cards on the table after it has been cleaned.
• D. Clean the table after the chairs have been arranged.
• E. Check the table after the name cards are in place.

1. Allow one minute of quiet reading. Each participant can note an order or a question.
2. Invite one proposed order. Ask the next willing person to explain one dependency using “before” or “after”. Continue until the group has checked all five steps.
3. Compare the proposed order with the answer below.
4. Rewrite the cards as a short numbered instruction list. Remove repeated wording while keeping the order clear.

Debrief: “Which was easier to use: the dependency cards or the numbered list? When might the explanation of a dependency still matter?” This is a discussion of the instructions, not a speed contest.

5. One update, two readers

People: 2–6 · Allow: 7–9 minutes · You need: this short source note

“Saturday's library workshop starts at 14:00 and has moved from Room A to Room C. Visitors use the main entrance. Booking remains valid. The front-desk volunteer needs six chairs in Room C by 13:40. The organiser will bring the materials.”

1. Give everyone a minute to read. Assign two audiences: a booked visitor and the front-desk volunteer. With two people, take one audience each; larger groups can work in pairs.
2. Write a message of no more than three sentences for that audience. Use only the source note.
3. Read both messages. The group identifies which details were included in both, which differed and why.
4. Check that neither message accidentally changes the time, location or responsibility.

Example for a visitor: “Your Saturday workshop starts at 14:00 in Room C, rather than Room A. Please use the main entrance. Your booking remains valid.”

Debrief: “What would this reader need to do next, and did the message make that clear?” A shorter message is not automatically better if it removes information the reader needs.

6. The text-only help desk

People: 2–6 · Allow: 8–10 minutes · You need: a chat channel

One person plays a requester. Another is the helper. Up to four others can observe the questions or join a second round. Send the requester's card privately if you want an information gap.

1. The requester posts only the opening message. The helper may ask up to four short questions in chat before suggesting an action.
2. The requester answers from the card. Do not invent a second problem or hide a fact that was directly requested.
3. The helper proposes a next step. The requester replies with the filename and time they would check, rather than just “OK”.
4. Reveal the card. Review the questions in order and identify which first distinguished the saved copy from the current file.

Debrief: “Which question gave you useful evidence before you offered a solution?” You are simulating the exchange; nobody needs to download, delete or edit a real file.

7. The 25-word edit

People: 2–6 · Allow: 6–8 minutes · You need: a place to write

Source note: Tuesday's evening reading club starts at 18:00, rather than 18:30. It is in the main room, not the study. Bring a library card. Reply by Monday noon only if you cannot attend.

1. Give everyone 90 seconds to produce an update of 25 words or fewer. Count words separated by spaces; a time such as 18:00 counts as one word.
2. Share the drafts. Check five details: Tuesday, 18:00, main room, library card and the conditional reply deadline.
3. If a message changes or loses a detail, identify the words responsible. Make one revision together.
4. Discuss whether the old time and room were necessary for this particular update. The 25-word limit is part of the game, not a rule for all work messages.

Debrief: “Which small word carried important meaning?” In this example, removing “only” changes who is being asked to reply.