Wheel of Common Interests

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Map personal affinities across a cohort and produce small-group collaborative outputs based on shared non-work interests.

Use it when: Use during team kickoffs, retreat openings, or cross-functional onboardings where colleagues need to form new working pairs or small networks.

Skip it when: Skip when a group has strict work-only constraints, significant interpersonal friction that makes non-professional sharing awkward, or fewer than 6 participants.

Group arrangement: Whole room in a single circle, then subgroups of 3 to 5 people.

Timing: Source suggests 10 to 60 minutes depending on group size. This 30-minute version balances rapid circle clustering with a tight small-group creative sprint and full-room reporting.

Materials and tools

• Index cards (1 per person)
• Blank paper (2 sheets per subgroup)
• Dark felt-tip markers (1 per person)
• Chart paper or whiteboard space for subgroup clustering
• Digital whiteboard (Miro, Mural, or Padlet) if running online

Before participants arrive

1. Clear a central open floor area large enough for all participants to stand or sit in a single open circle.
2. Place index cards, blank paper, and markers at seats or along a perimeter table.
3. Post category prompts on a wall chart as optional inspiration.

Say this to open

We are going to map our common interests and build small creative projects around them. Take an index card and marker. Write down one specific hobby, practice, or interest you enjoy outside of work. In a moment, we will share these around our circle and find common threads.

How to run it

1. Write and announce interest 5 minutes

   Each person writes one specific interest on an index card in large lettering. The facilitator begins and models the share in under 5 seconds (for example, 'Long-distance trail running'). Move sequentially around the circle. Each person states their name and reads their card aloud. If someone shares a matching or related interest, listeners raise their cards to signal overlap. A participant may pass by writing and saying 'General conversation'.

2. Cluster into interest groups 5 minutes

   Invite participants to move across the floor to cluster with 2 to 4 other people who share their interest or an adjacent theme (such as food, outdoors, or music). Anyone whose topic had no direct match joins an existing cluster that sparks their curiosity, or combines with at least two other solo participants to form a cluster of 3. Cap group sizes at 5. Form clusters of 3 to 5 participants.

3. Complete interest task 10 minutes

   Each subgroup takes blank paper and develops a quick collaborative artifact based on their shared topic. Examples include: a 5-song collaborative playlist (music), a weekend itinerary (travel), a menu concept (cooking), or a three-book reading list (reading). The group selects one person to state their topic and result.

4. Share out and reflect 10 minutes

   Call attention back to the full group. Give each subgroup 45 seconds to state their interest category and read their artifact. Then pose one debrief question to the room, taking 2 or 3 quick comments before closing.

Debrief questions

• What surprised you about the distribution of interests in this room?
• How did finding common personal ground change the way you worked together on the quick task?
• Which shared topic revealed an unexpected resource or connection you can consult later?

Finished output: Small-group collaborative artifacts (such as curated lists, itineraries, or playlists) posted on room charts or a shared digital board.

Remote

Use gallery view on video conference. Participants write their name and interest on digital sticky notes on a shared digital board. In step two, participants move their sticky notes into thematic clusters of 3 to 5 people directly on the board. The facilitator names open breakout rooms matching the emergent clusters, and participants enter their chosen room for 10 minutes to draft their collaborative artifact. Everyone returns to the main room for share-outs.

Hybrid

Remote participants cluster in dedicated online breakout rooms, while in-person participants form floor clusters. Both groups post card topics and final artifacts onto a single shared digital board. Project the shared digital board onto a screen in the physical room so both cohorts see all groups. Allocate alternating share-out slots between in-person clusters and virtual groups.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may select passive interests (such as watching films, listening to podcasts, or resting) rather than physical hobbies.
• Anyone wishing not to share personal hobbies may write a broad topic like 'Current affairs' or 'Pop culture'.
• Provide chairs within the circle so no one is required to stand.
• Participants can contribute to group writing or drawing rather than speaking aloud during the report-out.

If the session gets stuck

Multiple people choose completely unique, non-overlapping interests and stand alone.

Direct people with unique topics to choose an umbrella category (for example, combining solo gardening and home renovation under 'Hands-on projects') or join any group whose topic they want to learn about.

One interest (such as cooking or travel) attracts half the room, making a huge subgroup.

Split large affinities into parallel tables of 4 people, giving each table a distinct angle (for example, sweet baking versus weekday dinners).

Terms used here

• Subgroup cluster: A small working group formed organically around a shared topic rather than by random assignment.