Desk Item “Show and Tell”

Sitting at your desk with your laptop in front of you, mouse and keyboard, and little trinkets and sticky notes. It’s just what you presume to be a normal desk setup. That is until you have to pick one random item on your desk, within arm’s reach, and show it off to all of your coworkers. Now you have to look at these regular items and trinkets and present one of them with the energy and pizzazz of a middle schooler bringing their snake to show and tell! Find one item on your desk and present it to your coworkers by explaining why it’s on your desk, and no, you can’t pick standard desk items.

A desk item “show and tell” icebreaker engages everyone in a fun and extremely interactive game that gets everyone talking. Participants will pick a meaningful or unique object within arm’s reach of their workspace and share its story in 60-90 seconds. This will foster personal connections and break the monotony of virtual or in-person meetings. It encourages quick storytelling about hobbies, souvenirs, or personal milestones.

Here’s How to Run the Icebreaker:

Set the Stage: Ask everyone to find one item on their desk, in their drawer, or nearby. As long as the item is within arm’s reach it is fair game. Tell them to make sure the item they choose represents a hobby, a memory, or a fun fact about themselves.

Take Turns: Once everyone has their item, choose your order for show and tell. Then allow 1-2 minutes per person to show the item and explain why they felt this item is special or “show and tell” worthy. If your team is remote or hybrid, have everyone turn their cameras on and display their items via camera. This way everyone is engaged and participating in the icebreaker.

Interactive Discussion: Encourage team members to ask follow-up questions or comment on shared items. To ensure everyone can get an opportunity to respond, don’t pick people to comment or question. Instead, go down the line and let people speak once it gets to them. This will help to increase participation and build camaraderie.

Desk Item Ideas for Inspiration:

A Souvenir: A shell, rock, or item from a memorable vacation.
Personal Achievement: A trophy, a framed certificate, or a notebook.
Hobbies/Passions: A favorite book, a musical instrument, a sketch, or a plant.
Sentimental Item: A family photo, a pet (if nearby), or a childhood toy.
Functional/Quirky: A unique mug, a fidget toy, or a weird office supply.
Remote/Virtual Twist: Ask them to find something “smaller than their fingernail” or “older than they are”.

By the end of this icebreaker, your team will be thinking outside the box to find clever or humorous ways to explain their desk items. Imagine a team member picking up a rubber duck and no one has any idea why they have the duck or what it could even remotely mean. Then the person explains that they have Jeep and there’s a code amongst Jeep owners to place rubber ducks on Jeep’s they think look cool or cute called Jeep Ducking. Then they tell everyone that they didn’t think they did much to their Jeep yet, but someone still placed a duck on their car and that reminds them that even if they don’t think they’re making an impact, every little bit of effort counts.

Trading stories and asking questions opens up the floor to learning, creative thinking, and communicating with each other in a positive space. Exchanging stories, building relationships, and developing their storytelling and communication skills will close gaps between coworkers and lead to more productive and efficient teams. It’s also a great icebreaker to liven up the office from the standard monotony and get everyone laughing and having a good time, whether your team is in office or remote!