Icebreaker

Speed Networking

Also called Speed Friending, Speed Meeting, Inside-Outside Circle

Two lines face each other, chat for two minutes on a set question, then one line shifts so everyone meets someone new.

Kids-safeHR-safeChurch-safe

Watch it played

What you need3

How to play4

Before you start

Set two long rows of chairs facing each other, or have people form an inner and outer circle. Put the first question on the screen.

1Each pair gets two minutes on the question shown, one minute each.
2At the bell, the outer row or circle moves one seat to the left; the inner row stays put.
3A new question goes up each round.
4Run 6–8 rounds, then ask a few people to share the most surprising thing they learned.

Cards for this game30

Edit them now. Host mode deals them one at a time, big enough for the room.

30 cards

What to say3

Host tips3

Without a fixed question people default to “so what department are you in?” and stall. Put a fun question on screen every round (“What did you want to be at seven?”).
People start talking before the bell and nobody hears the move signal. Use something much louder than voices — a whistle or a bell, not a phone beep.
With an odd number one person sits alone each round. Fill the gap yourself or make one seat a trio.

Variants2

Cross-team
Seat one department per row so every conversation crosses a silo. Good for new mergers or big offices.
Online
Use breakout rooms of two with auto-shuffle every three minutes.

Good for

Occasions

Team buildingRetreatReunionSchool

Venues

Indoor, largeOfficeChurch hallOnline