Let Me Introduce

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Help participants learn and practice each other's names through repeated third-party introductions.

Use it when: At the start of a meeting or workshop when group members do not yet know one another's names.

Skip it when: When all participants already know each other well or when the physical room is too crowded for safe, easy movement.

Group arrangement: Mingle in shifting pairs and triads

Timing: Playmeo sources suggest several minutes; UWT structures 10 minutes including setup and a brief name review.

Materials and tools

• No special materials required.
• Optional: name tags or sticky labels and markers if participants want visual support.

Before participants arrive

1. Clear central floor space so participants can walk freely and safely.
2. Ensure aisles between tables or chairs are unobstructed.

Say this to open

We are going to learn names by introducing each other. Find one person you do not know yet, ask their name, and walk with them to someone else. Then introduce your partner to that new person using both of their names. Once introduced, you can split up or invite others in. You can also accept an introduction from someone walking up to you.

How to run it

1. Demonstrate the mechanic 2 minutes

   Deliver the opening script. Demonstrate the flow with two volunteers: ask Person A their name, walk together to Person B, ask Person B their name, and say: 'Simon, this is Vijay. Vijay, meet Simon.' Answer quick questions and check that everyone understands the greeting rule.

2. Initiate first wave of introductions 3 minutes

   Invite everyone to stand and begin mingling. Each person finds someone nearby, asks their name, and leads them over to a third person to perform the two-way introduction. Participants who are approached simply state their name when asked.

3. Continue mixing and re-introducing 3 minutes

   After an introduction finishes, participants can separate to start a new pair, remain briefly in a triad to greet another newcomer, or accept an approach from another participant. Ring a chime or call out half-way through to encourage people to seek out anyone they have not yet met.

4. Conclude and review names 2 minutes

   Call the room back to a standing circle or their seats. Ask two or three volunteers to name someone they were introduced to during the mingle. Close the activity.

Debrief questions

• Who heard their own name introduced by someone else, and how did that feel?
• What helped you remember names when you were introducing two other people?
• How many new names did you hear and repeat during the mingle?

Finished output: Every participant has introduced at least two peers and heard their own name spoken aloud by peers multiple times.

Remote

Run in main room or rapid breakout rooms. In the main room, Facilitator calls on Person A. Person A calls on Person B to state their name, then Person A calls on Person C and says: 'Person B, meet Person C. Person C, this is Person B.' Person C then takes the active role, picks Person D, and introduces Person D to Person E. Continue the chain until everyone has introduced a pair.

Hybrid

Keep in-person and remote cohorts in parallel greeting tracks to avoid sound feedback. Remote participants run the video chain while in-person participants mingle on the room floor. At step 4, bring both cohorts together on the main screen for two volunteer name checks.

Access and participation choices

• Participants with mobility restrictions may remain seated; active minglers walk to them so they can serve as anchor stations for introductions.
• Participants who prefer not to speak aloud may point to a pre-written name tag or pass their introduction turn to a partner.

If the session gets stuck

A participant forgets the name of the person they are escorting before reaching the third person.

Remind everyone that asking twice is completely fine and part of the game; simply ask 'Remind me of your name again?' before making the introduction.

Uneven numbers leave a single participant standing alone while pairs form.

Remind the room that triads can join an individual or another triad at any time, or step in personally as a partner.

Terms used here

• Third-party introduction: Introducing two other people to each other by stating both of their names, rather than introducing yourself directly.