Networking Games People Play

Since this entire week is all about networking, I decided to share some of my favorite networking games I’ve talked about recently.

Some of these I used as a teacher for first-lesson icebreakers, but these days, I use them to start courses or programs that include multiple sessions where participants don’t know each other, or for sessions where the idea is that participants get to know each other as much as possible.

However, these games can be easily adapted to any networking or similar events.

They are my favorites because they are highly adaptable, don’t require any special resources or props, and prep time is minimal. They can be easily scaled to accommodate various group sizes, profiles, or purposes. They are also flexible in terms of duration, as they can be reduced to well under half an hour or stretched to fit the entire session if needed.

Bear in mind that when it comes to networking games, the point is not necessarily to “complete the task” (if applicable), but to get to know as many people as possible. Which is logical because, even if people haven’t met certain individuals, they will still have met many others, which is exactly the whole idea behind networking. Therefore, the game is just a framework; conversation is the goal.

So here we go.

Speed Networking

Similar to speed dating, participants have, for example, a minute to meet other people and find out what they have in common before they rotate. Depending on the situation, the game can be played in pairs or groups, and time slots should be allocated accordingly to fit the available time. The pairs or groups (in this case, half of the group rotates) make a full circle, and everyone has met everyone. In the worst-case scenario, everyone knows everyone’s name and what they do, which makes a good start.

If you want to keep it spicy, make a short quiz or a who-is game for a follow-up.

Find Someone Who

This well-known activity is easy to adapt to virtually any networking situation. Study the participants and make a quick overview. The easiest way to play is with these two simple tasks. The first one is “find as many people who are in your industry,” or “find as many people who do something no one else does.” Of course, if the circumstances allow, you can include more tasks. Set a time limit so the participants can keep up with the desired pace.

You can prepare sheets for taking notes, or if you like playful twists, you can also play a memory game in parallel.

Profile Bingo

Participants get grid cards with 3 – 5 details they need to complete about themselves. After that, they mingle until they find someone or more people with the same profile. Depending on the event and the purpose, the information may include professional, personal, or quirky details.

For example, the card can include only business information, like Mary Peterson / Mary & Co. / Education, or a mix of details like Mary / Dog / Piercing, and so on.

Again, include a time limit if needed.

Please note that the difference between Find Someone Who and Profile Bingo is that the first one is done task by task, and the latter is a grid where all items must check off.

Skill Swap

This game can be played with or without cards, with or without a time limit, and it’s based on reciprocity.

The participants offer their strongest skills, knowledge, or edge in return for the one that they’d like to learn, improve, or know more of.

This game is especially useful for events or situations where participants have different profiles, but it can also be adapted to specialized fields.

For example, someone with excellent content creation skills might look for a person with a specific editing background, or alternatively, a front-end developer might look for insights from a back-end developer, and vice versa.

Promenade

Ideally, you need space for participants to present themselves, but they can also do it while seated. They get parameters to introduce themselves, which are related to a certain topic such as, for example, the event theme.

The key thing here is to limit the parameters to strike a balance so that the talkers don’t hijack the show, and the shy ones don’t fall through the cracks.

For example, parameters may include a name, profession, and fun fact, as in Daisy / florist / allergic to daisies. Okay, a bit far-fetched, but you get the idea.

And don’t forget the time limit.

Bonus: Jumbled Tags

Or, as I sometimes call this game: That’s Not My Name, which is also my absolute favorite.

Basically, you give out jumbled name tags, and participants need to find the right person. An extra fun twist is if the participants assume the identity of the person whose identity they’ve swapped, and then just continue looking for their own as the new person.

A time limit is advisable, and you can also give out longer tags with pens so that participants can scribble down who they’ve been.

Of course, there are numerous additional twists you can introduce such as seating order, or entrance order, or even hidden tasks. As I like to say, possibilities are endless.

Among those endless possibilities, here’s one thing I like to do. Like everyone else in Croatia, I know a thing or two about… ahem… creative incentives, so I like to step up the game with small prizes, such as chocolates or candies. Those who are competitive like to be rewarded for their success, and we all, overall, like to be appreciated, so a small token of affection boosts an already warm atmosphere and personal satisfaction.

Whatever your strategy may be, make sure everyone has a laugh and meets as many people as possible.

Do you play these games, and what are your favorites? Let’s swap experiences!