Three Questions

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Exchange curiosity questions to learn about colleagues' perspectives and experiences.

Use it when: Use during kickoff meetings, team onboarding, or after long breaks when a group needs a low-stakes conversational warmup.

Skip it when: Skip when team members already know each other well or when the group must start working on urgent agenda items immediately.

Group arrangement: Individual writing followed by whole-group sharing for 4 to 6 people, or parallel tables of 4 to 6 people for larger cohorts. Form groups of 4 to 6 people. If the total headcount does not divide evenly, form one group of 3 or 7, or have an extra person serve as timekeeper and slip mixer.

Timing: UWT suggested duration. 15 minutes accommodates writing, drawing, and sharing for small groups or parallel breakout tables.

Materials and tools

• 3 index cards or paper slips per person
• 1 pen per person
• 1 container or hat per group of 4 to 6 people
• 1 laptop or mobile device per hybrid pairing or facilitator (hybrid only)
• Extra paper slips and pen for hybrid facilitator transcription (hybrid only)

Before participants arrive

1. Place three slips of paper and a pen at each participant seat.
2. Place one empty container or hat in the center of the room (or one per table of 4 to 6 people).

Say this to open

Take three slips of paper. On each slip, write one question you would like to ask someone in this room. Avoid standard job questions like 'What is your title?' Instead, ask open curiosity questions, like 'What is a topic you could talk about for an hour without preparation?' or 'Where is the most interesting place you have visited?' You have three minutes.

How to run it

1. Write three questions 3 minutes

   Participants work individually. Each person writes one question per paper slip. Neutral example: 'What hobby would you pick up if you had unlimited free time?' Fold each slip once.

2. Collect and mix slips 2 minutes

   Participants place folded slips into their table container. The facilitator or a table volunteer gently mixes the slips.

3. Draw and answer 8 minutes

   Participants take turns drawing one slip from the container and answering it aloud. Aim for brief responses around 30 seconds. If someone draws their own question or prefers not to answer a question, they may return it to the container, shake it, and draw once more, or pass the turn to the next person. Run simultaneously at parallel tables for larger groups.

4. Reflect briefly 2 minutes

   Close the activity by inviting whole-room reflections. Take two or three quick voluntary observations on themes or surprising facts that emerged.

Debrief questions

• Which question sparked an answer that surprised you?
• What common interests or themes did you notice across the responses?
• How did answering a random pool question compare to being asked directly?

Finished output: A completed round of shared personal responses and a pool of participant-generated inquiry questions.

Remote

Use an anonymous digital form, digital whiteboard, or shared document with an inbox area. Participants submit three questions. The facilitator numbers the entries and uses a digital random picker to select questions. Participants take turns answering on mic or typing in chat, with full option to type 'pass'.

Hybrid

Remote participants submit three questions into a shared digital document. The facilitator or an in-person buddy copies them onto slips and adds them to the physical container. During turns, alternate between in-person and remote speakers. For a remote speaker turn, the facilitator or buddy draws a physical slip from the container, reads it aloud, and the remote participant answers on mic or in chat. If the remote speaker passes or draws their own question, the buddy draws another slip.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may write questions or choose to submit fewer or none.
• Anyone drawing a question may pass without explanation and hand the turn to the next person.
• Answers can be spoken aloud or submitted in written chat.

If the session gets stuck

A participant draws their own question.

They may answer it, or return it to the hat, shake the container, and draw a replacement slip.

Someone writes a question that is too personal or uncomfortable.

Remind the group before drawing that anyone can decline to answer any question and draw another or pass without comment.