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Exercises/Relationship Mapping/Conversation Starter Activity Sparks Connections - Poker Swap
Relationship Mapping

Conversation Starter Activity Sparks Connections - Poker Swap

Conversation Starter Activity Sparks Connections - Poker Swap is a relationship mapping exercise that helps participants build useful connections and understand how people, roles, or ideas relate.

5 to 15 minutesTIME
Medium group (9-25), PairsGROUP SIZE
ActiveENERGY
In person, RemoteSETTING
High cognitive loadCOGNITIVE LOAD
Strengthens Network Design This relationship mapping exercise strengthens Network Design, one of the eight Gathering Effectiveness pillars.

How to run it

  1. Distribute three random cards from a We Connect Cards deck to each person (or create your own set of conversation starters.)
  2. Invite each person to mingle with everyone else to compare and exchange cards - one for one - until they have three interesting questions in their hands.
  3. Please note that each card exchange must be mutual, and only one card can be traded with any one person.
  4. After several minutes, invite each person to partner with someone they would like to get to know better.
  5. Allow ample time for the pairs to use their cards to spark a great conversation.
  6. Poker Swap Conversation starter activity to spark meaningful connections.
  7. Poker Swap is both a fun conversation starter and an interactive get-to-know-you exercise, allowing people to select questions that interest them most.
  8. Participants actively choose their conversation topics whilst engaging in social exchanges that break down initial barriers.
Live facilitator

Run this exercise live

The facilitator console stays in this browser. Its QR handoff is a short-lived participant snapshot containing only public exercise instructions, phase, prompt, and timer state.

Prompts to use +

Distribute three random cards from a We Connect Cards deck to each person (or create your own set of conversation starters.)

Invite each person to mingle with everyone else to compare and exchange cards - one for one - until they have three interesting questions in their hands.

Please note that each card exchange must be mutual, and only one card can be traded with any one person.

After several minutes, invite each person to partner with someone they would like to get to know better.

Allow ample time for the pairs to use their cards to spark a great conversation.

Run this with your AI assistant +

Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.

Adapt this exercise for my exact room. Exercise: Conversation Starter Activity Sparks Connections - Poker Swap. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: Distribute three random cards from a We Connect Cards deck to each person (or create your own set of conversation starters.); Invite each person to mingle with everyone else to compare and exchange cards - one for one - until they have three interesting questions in their hands.; Please note that each card exchange must be mutual, and only one card can be traded with any one person.; After several minutes, invite each person to partner with someone they would like to get to know better.. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.

Origin unverified

  • Where we observed it: The strongest current observations come from Playmeo; aggregators are listed as additional observations, not origin proof. (1 source observed, including Playmeo.)
  • What that means: we track where an exercise has been observed in public sources. We do not claim to know who created it, or how popular it is.
  • No efficacy claims: appearing in this library is not a claim that the exercise is proven effective. Facilitator judgment and context decide whether it works for a given room.
  • Corrections: if you have evidence of an earlier or more accurate source, read our methodology and trust boundary and tell us.

Pairs well with