Rapid Fire Questions — Fast Round of Getting to Know

About Rapid Fire Questions

Short questions answered quickly with no time to overthink. It covers a lot of ground in a few minutes and suits groups that find longer formats uncomfortable.

Speed is the mechanism. Answering without deliberation produces more honest and more interesting responses than giving people time to construct something.

How to run it

1Explain that answers should be immediate and short.
2Ask a question and take quick answers round the group.
3Move to the next question without dwelling.
4Stop while energy is still high.

Keeping the pace up

Use questions answerable in a few words. Anything needing explanation breaks the rhythm.
Do not let discussion develop mid-round. Note interesting answers and come back at the end.
Keep the whole activity under five minutes. It is an energiser, not a main event.
Have more questions ready than you need, so you can stop at the right moment rather than the last question.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of questions work for rapid fire?

Anything answerable in a few words: coffee or tea, beach or mountains, early bird or night owl. Questions needing explanation break the pace the format depends on.

How long should it run?

Under five minutes. It works as an energiser and loses its effect if extended into a longer discussion activity.

Why not give people time to think?

Because immediate answers are more honest and more interesting. Time to deliberate produces considered answers, which is the opposite of what this format is for.