Three Things in Common

Purpose

Three Things in Common is a fast-paced connection exercise. Pairs race to find three shared traits or experiences, then split to find new partners. It generates energy, reveals surprising connections, and ensures everyone interacts with multiple people.

At a glance

• Group size: 8–40
• Duration: 10 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Facilitation style: Timed pair work
• Setting: In-person or virtual (breakout rooms)

How to run

1. Everyone pairs up.
2. Set a timer for 2 minutes.
3. Each pair must discover three things they have in common (beyond the obvious like "we're both in this room").
4. When the timer rings, find a new partner and repeat.
5. Run 3–4 rounds.
6. Debrief: "What was the most surprising commonality?"

Materials needed

• Timer

Pitfalls & common mistakes

• Too-obvious commonalities: Set the bar that "we both work here" doesn't count.
• Not enough rounds: 3–4 rounds builds meaningful connections.
• No debrief: The sharing at the end is where insights spread to the whole group.
• Uneven numbers: Have the facilitator join in or create one trio.

Inclusion & accessibility

• Works virtually with breakout rooms.
• No physical activity required.
• Simple enough for non-native speakers.
• Accessible for all mobility levels.

Variations

• Three uncommon things: Only count surprising or unusual commonalities.
• Three differences: Flip the exercise to celebrate diversity.
• Speed increase: Each round gets 30 seconds less.

When NOT to use this

• In very small groups (under 6) where pair variety is limited.
• When time is extremely tight.
• When interpersonal tension is high and forced pairing may be uncomfortable.

Source & further reading

• A staple of networking and team-building events.
• Related to "Common Ground" but done in pairs for faster pace.