Games to Play at Work
Run The Story Game, a quiet collaborative writing activity for work. This page adapts one activity from TeamBuilding.com's 17-game collection, linked in Sources and adaptation.
Choose a game for your work session
Choose a format that fits your purpose and available time. These are UWT suggested plans for 4 to 24 participants; each linked run sheet explains its group arrangement, materials and participation choices.
- For introductions and preferred pronunciation, choose Story of Your Name: 12 minutes in groups of two to four. Participants choose what to share about their name and may pass.
- To compare spoken instructions with what a listener draws, choose Back-to-Back Drawing: 20 minutes in pairs, using prepared reference cards, paper and pencils. The two rounds use different rules for clarifying questions.
- For quiet collaborative writing, use The Story Game run sheet below: 15 minutes in circles of four to eight, with optional sharing. Larger groups work in parallel circles. Open the complete instructions and prepare materials before the session.
This selection guide is UWT editorial guidance. The linked durations describe the current UWT run sheets, not established benefits or publisher-validated timings. The Story Game below adapts one activity from the publisher's 17-game collection; Sources and adaptation links the full collection.
Choose this exercise
Purpose: Collaborate sequentially to build short group narratives without advance planning or speaking.
Use it when: Use as a light opener or mental break when a team needs quick, quiet participation without physical exertion.
Skip it when: Skip when the session requires high-stakes decision making, deep strategic problem solving, or when participants face severe writing fatigue.
Group arrangement: Circles of 4 to 8 participants. Split larger groups into parallel circles.
Timing: UWT suggested 15-minute adaptation: 3 minutes to introduce and write, 6 for passing and writing, 2 to read, and 4 to debrief.
Materials and tools
- One sheet of blank paper per participant
- One pen or pencil per participant
- One countdown timer for the facilitator
Before participants arrive
- Arrange seating into circles or small tables of 4 to 8 people.
- Place one sheet of paper and one pen at each seat.
Say this to open
We are playing a quiet collaborative writing game. Write one opening sentence on your paper. When I call time, pass it to the person on your right. Read what is there and add one sentence. We will repeat until everyone has written on each story. Then pass once more to return each sheet to its original writer, without adding another sentence.
How to run it
Introduce and write opener 3 minutes
Read the opening script, check that everyone has materials, and prompt all participants to write a single opening sentence. Example: 'The elevator stopped abruptly between the fifth and sixth floors.'
Pass and add sentences 6 minutes
Set a 45-second interval for each round, including passing, reading and writing. Everyone passes to the right and adds one sentence. Run one fewer writing round than the number of people in the circle: 3 rounds for 4 people, up to 7 rounds for 8 people. Then make one final pass without writing so each story returns to its original writer. Seven rounds take 5 minutes 15 seconds, leaving 45 seconds for the final return and a brief pause. Let smaller circles finish early and read quietly.
Read completed stories 2 minutes
Give participants one minute to read their returned sheets silently. During the next minute, invite one volunteer per circle to read a short story or excerpt to their table. Reading aloud is optional.
Debrief handoffs 4 minutes
Have participants discuss the first debrief question inside their small circles for two minutes. Then ask two volunteers from the whole room to share brief observations on sequential handoffs.
Debrief questions
- What happened to your initial premise once other writers added their ideas?
- How easy or hard was it to build on an unexpected twist added right before your turn?
- Where do unannounced handoffs like this happen in our daily team workflow?
Finished output: A set of completed short collaborative stories, which authors may keep private or share aloud.
Remote
Use a shared document with one numbered page per person in a group of 4 to 8. Each person writes an opening sentence on their own page. At each 45-second signal, move to the next numbered page, wrapping from the last page to the first, and add one sentence. After one fewer writing round than the number of people, return to your own page without writing again. Use the same 6-minute limit, then read and debrief. Split larger groups into separate documents.
Hybrid
Seat in-person participants in physical circles with pen and paper. Place remote participants in breakout groups of 4 to 8 working in separate shared documents. Use the same writing rounds in parallel. During the 2-minute reading phase, allow 1 minute of silent reading, then share short excerpts within each group for at most 1 minute. If sharing across the whole room, cap all shared excerpts together at 1 minute. Reading aloud remains optional.
Access and participation choices
- Participants may use speech-to-text tools, type on a personal device, or pair with a colleague if handwriting is difficult.
- Reading aloud is completely optional; participants may pass or simply read their sheet silently.
If the session gets stuck
- A participant writes a long paragraph instead of one sentence, slowing down the circle.
- Remind the room firmly before passing that contributions must be strictly a single sentence.
- A participant gets stuck and cannot think of a sentence before time is called.
- Allow them to write a neutral filler sentence such as 'Then everyone waited' or pass the page along without adding.
Terms used here
- The Story Game: A group writing exercise where participants sequentially contribute single sentences to circulating pages.
Run this exercise live
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What participants need now
Materials:
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Help me prepare and run the exercise below. First ask for my participant count, time, setting, access needs and intended result. Check these against the stated limits. Use the supplied rules and materials. Explain any proposed changes before using them, and label them as adaptations. Do not invent source claims or require personal disclosure. Give me one step at a time when I say start. I manage the people, physical activity and clock; do not claim to observe the room. Ask me what happened before choosing a next step. Reference revision: e5f5a91ddd661e87ea459d122bd3315b545708e255b16fe594f76413ccc7b381 # Games to Play at Work Run The Story Game, a quiet collaborative writing activity for work. This page adapts one activity from TeamBuilding.com's 17-game collection, linked in Sources and adaptation. **Time:** 15 minutes. UWT suggested 15-minute adaptation: 3 minutes to introduce and write, 6 for passing and writing, 2 to read, and 4 to debrief. **People:** 4 to 24. Circles of 4 to 8 participants. Split larger groups into parallel circles. ## Choose this exercise **Purpose:** Collaborate sequentially to build short group narratives without advance planning or speaking. **Use it when:** Use as a light opener or mental break when a team needs quick, quiet participation without physical exertion. **Skip it when:** Skip when the session requires high-stakes decision making, deep strategic problem solving, or when participants face severe writing fatigue. ## Materials and tools - One sheet of blank paper per participant - One pen or pencil per participant - One countdown timer for the facilitator ## Before participants arrive 1. Arrange seating into circles or small tables of 4 to 8 people. 2. Place one sheet of paper and one pen at each seat. ## Say this to open We are playing a quiet collaborative writing game. Write one opening sentence on your paper. When I call time, pass it to the person on your right. Read what is there and add one sentence. We will repeat until everyone has written on each story. Then pass once more to return each sheet to its original writer, without adding another sentence. ## How to run it ### 1. Introduce and write opener (3 minutes) Read the opening script, check that everyone has materials, and prompt all participants to write a single opening sentence. Example: 'The elevator stopped abruptly between the fifth and sixth floors.' ### 2. Pass and add sentences (6 minutes) Set a 45-second interval for each round, including passing, reading and writing. Everyone passes to the right and adds one sentence. Run one fewer writing round than the number of people in the circle: 3 rounds for 4 people, up to 7 rounds for 8 people. Then make one final pass without writing so each story returns to its original writer. Seven rounds take 5 minutes 15 seconds, leaving 45 seconds for the final return and a brief pause. Let smaller circles finish early and read quietly. ### 3. Read completed stories (2 minutes) Give participants one minute to read their returned sheets silently. During the next minute, invite one volunteer per circle to read a short story or excerpt to their table. Reading aloud is optional. ### 4. Debrief handoffs (4 minutes) Have participants discuss the first debrief question inside their small circles for two minutes. Then ask two volunteers from the whole room to share brief observations on sequential handoffs. ## Debrief questions - What happened to your initial premise once other writers added their ideas? - How easy or hard was it to build on an unexpected twist added right before your turn? - Where do unannounced handoffs like this happen in our daily team workflow? **Finished output:** A set of completed short collaborative stories, which authors may keep private or share aloud. ## Remote Use a shared document with one numbered page per person in a group of 4 to 8. Each person writes an opening sentence on their own page. At each 45-second signal, move to the next numbered page, wrapping from the last page to the first, and add one sentence. After one fewer writing round than the number of people, return to your own page without writing again. Use the same 6-minute limit, then read and debrief. Split larger groups into separate documents. ## Hybrid Seat in-person participants in physical circles with pen and paper. Place remote participants in breakout groups of 4 to 8 working in separate shared documents. Use the same writing rounds in parallel. During the 2-minute reading phase, allow 1 minute of silent reading, then share short excerpts within each group for at most 1 minute. If sharing across the whole room, cap all shared excerpts together at 1 minute. Reading aloud remains optional. ## Access and participation choices - Participants may use speech-to-text tools, type on a personal device, or pair with a colleague if handwriting is difficult. - Reading aloud is completely optional; participants may pass or simply read their sheet silently. ## If the session gets stuck **A participant writes a long paragraph instead of one sentence, slowing down the circle.** Remind the room firmly before passing that contributions must be strictly a single sentence. **A participant gets stuck and cannot think of a sentence before time is called.** Allow them to write a neutral filler sentence such as 'Then everyone waited' or pass the page along without adding. ## Terms used here - The Story Game: A group writing exercise where participants sequentially contribute single sentences to circulating pages. ## Sources and adaptation Observed in the TeamBuilding.com collection by Grace He, first published in November 2022. The original author of the activity is not established by that collection. The source provides 17 distinct activities. This page develops Item 8, The Story Game, into one run sheet. Use the publisher link below for the full collection. The 45-second rounds, 6-minute passing block, final hand-back, debrief, script and participation choices are UWT adaptations. They are not timings or outcome claims established by the publisher. [TeamBuilding.com: the original 17-game collection](https://teambuilding.com/blog/games-at-work) Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/17-games-to-play-at-work-with-coworkers/
Sources and adaptation
Observed in the TeamBuilding.com collection by Grace He, first published in November 2022. The original author of the activity is not established by that collection.
The source provides 17 distinct activities. This page develops Item 8, The Story Game, into one run sheet. Use the publisher link below for the full collection. The 45-second rounds, 6-minute passing block, final hand-back, debrief, script and participation choices are UWT adaptations. They are not timings or outcome claims established by the publisher.
See our editorial policy for AI use, sourcing and corrections.