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#18 Medium

Question Swap

Everyone gets a question card, pairs up to ask and answer, then swaps cards and finds someone new. Keeps people moving and meeting new partners without forcing small talk.

movement networking questions scalable energizer cards dynamic

Group Size:

10-200 people

Duration:

5-20 minutes

Difficulty:

Medium

How to Play:

Question Swap - How to Play
  1. 1

    Hand out one question card to each person (one question per card, written on paper or index cards)

  2. 2

    They pair up: Person A asks their question, Person B answers (2-3 minutes)

  3. 3

    Then they flip it: Person B asks theirs, Person A answers (2-3 minutes)

  4. 4

    Swap cards when done

  5. 5

    Find a new partner and start over

  6. 6

    Keep going for 5-20 minutes depending on group size and energy

Question Swap

Everyone gets one question card. They pair up, ask their question, listen to the answer, then swap cards and find someone new. The beauty of this game is in the swap mechanic. It creates movement, autonomy, and a constant flow of fresh connections.

Example Questions

Getting to Know You:

  • What is taking up a lot of your mental space lately?
  • What hobby or interest would you pursue if you had unlimited time?
  • What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

Work & Growth:

  • What book, podcast, or idea changed the way you work?
  • What skill are you currently developing and why?
  • What project are you most excited about right now?

Reflection & Values:

  • What small habit has improved your life the most?
  • What advice would you give someone entering your field?
  • What do you want to be known for?

Why It Works

People control how deep they go. Some conversations fly by in 2 minutes, others naturally sink deeper over 5+. The swap mechanic does the heavy lifting—it keeps people moving and energy high without you having to manage every pairing.

Perfect For

  • Large Conferences: Scales to 100+ people effortlessly
  • Networking Events: Creates structured mingling
  • Team Off-Sites: Helps people across departments connect
  • Training Sessions: Energizes mid-session when energy dips

Facilitation Tips

Card Prep: One question per card. Use sturdy index cards. Make extras—cards get lost.

Demo It First: Show the whole flow with a volunteer before you start. Make it crystal clear: ask, listen, swap, find someone new.

Sound Signals: A bell or song clip beats shouting. It naturally draws people together for the transition.

Clear the Room: Move tables to the perimeter. People need space to move around easily. For huge groups, define zones so people don’t all cluster in one area.

Manage the Energy: Start with just 5 minutes to build momentum. If people are having fun, add more rounds. It’s way easier to keep going than to kill the momentum by ending early.

Virtual Adaptation

This game thrives on in-person movement, but you can make it work remotely:

  • Assign pairs to breakout rooms
  • Paste questions in the chat before pairing
  • Manually shuffle pairs every 3-4 minutes to keep the freshness
  • Fair warning: You lose some of the organic energy. Consider “Powerful Question” if you’re going fully virtual

Best For:

Large gatherings, networking events, energizing groups, conference mixers

Pro Tips

  • Print 10-20% extra question cards. Some always go missing

  • Use a bell or music to signal when to wrap up and swap. Keeps the momentum steady

  • Mix question types—some light, some deeper. People need options

  • Encourage mingling. Tell people to move around the room and meet new folks, not just the person next to them

Variations

  • Themed Swaps: All questions focused on one topic (work, hobbies, values)

  • Progressive Depth: Start with light questions, gradually introduce deeper ones

  • Speed Swap: Use 2-minute exchanges for high energy and more connections

FAQ

How many question cards should I prepare?
Prepare one card per person plus 10-20% extra since some cards always get lost during the activity.
What's the ideal time per pairing?
Start with 4-5 minutes total per pair allowing 2-3 minutes for each person to ask and answer.
Can this work for virtual events?
It loses energy online since the movement is key. Consider using Powerful Question instead for virtual settings.
How do I signal when to swap partners?
Use a bell, music clip, or timer sound that everyone can hear without you having to shout.

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One team studies the other, turns around, and the other team makes small changes like rolling up sleeves or swapping positions. Tests how observant people really are.

Either Or

Call out two options and students move to different sides of the room to show their choice. Visually shows who shares your preferences and gets bodies moving.

Rock Paper Scissors Tournament

A high-energy elimination tournament where losers become cheerleaders for winners. Two final teams face off with massive cheering crowds. Perfect for large groups.

Swap Variations

Use the swap mechanic but exchange ideas for feedback, problems for coaching, or meaningful quotes instead of questions. Adapts to whatever your group actually needs.

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