Icebreaker

Desert Island

What would you bring to an island?

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About Desert Island

Everyone names the three things they would take to a desert island and explains why. The reasoning is more revealing than the objects, which is why the explanation matters more than the list.

It is a low-risk question. Nobody has to disclose anything personal unless they choose to, which makes it suitable for groups meeting for the first time.

How to run it

  1. 1Ask everyone for three items and a brief reason for each.
  2. 2Give a moment to think before starting.
  3. 3Go round, keeping each person to a minute or so.
  4. 4Note the interesting choices and let brief discussion follow.

Getting more from it

  • Ask for the reasoning explicitly. A list of three objects tells you almost nothing on its own.
  • Set the constraints clearly, such as whether other people count as items, or the answers will vary wildly in scope.
  • Follow up on unusual choices with a question. That is where the actual conversation is.
  • Keep it moving. Once several people have answered, the format runs out of novelty fairly quickly.

Frequently asked questions

Is this suitable for a group that has just met?

Yes, it is one of the better options. Nobody has to disclose anything personal, but the reasoning still reveals something about how people think.

Should I set rules about what counts as an item?

Yes. Clarify whether people count, and whether practical survival items are in scope, or answers will vary so widely that comparison becomes pointless.

How long does it take?

About a minute per person, so ten minutes for a group of eight including brief follow-up discussion.