When I am out and about training, I often have to improvise with the name plates, and they end up as a piece of card folded in half. However, this is excellent for running this activity.

I ask the group to write their name on their name card. Then I ask them to open it out, and on the reverse, to note the answer to 5 questions (keeping them secret from the person sitting next to them).

I then pick 5 random questions from the questionnaire (or from my own library) – but I do choose those that require short answers.

I collect in the cards, and then read out the 5 answers, leaving the group to guess who it is. When they guess correctly I hand back the name plate to the individual.

It is great to run this exercise with a team who work together, as they are often amazed at what they find out about each other. I also find that it opens their mind up to the learning, as they have already identified that they don’t know their colleagues as much as they thought. Questions that work particularly well are those that go back in time, such as favourite subject at school, and first car/record.

An added benefit for the trainer in running this exercise…it is a great way of remembering people!