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Poker Face

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Two people with playing cards on their forehead, as seen in Poker Face team-building exercise

Poker Face

Trust exercise that focuses on inclusion & diversity.

  • Simple, yet powerful
  • Fosters communication
  • Multiple metaphors
  • Focus on cultural norms

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Randomly distribute one card from a playing deck of cards to each person. Instruct people to not look at their card.
  2. Ask each person to place this card on their forehead so that it faces other people.
  3. When ready, invite your group to mix and mingle.
  4. As they interact, instruct everyone to engage with and treat all others based on the face value of the card on that person’s forehead.
  5. All interaction must remain silent, ie no verbal forms of communication, but gestures are permitted.
  6. After 1 to 2 minutes of interaction, stop the activity and remind people to not look at their cards (yet.)
  7. Ask your group to divide and gather into one of three groups – low-value, middle-value and high-value cards.
  8. Divided into three groups, people may then look at their cards.
  9. Process this dynamic experience to explore topics of diversity, cultural norms, valuing others and inclusion.

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Add your Comments...

Have you played this activity? What worked, what didn't work? What type of group? Do you have useful advice for other users? Do you know a fun variation?

Comments (6)

  1. Dan

    These reflection questions are great- thank you and well done!

    Reply
    • Mark Collard

      So glad they are useful for you Dan. We try not to be too prescriptive about these questions, but when in the hands of a great facilitator (like yourself) I think they are super useful.

  2. samhui

    simple labelling game. good for communication game but not teambuilding, I can see.

    Reply
  3. Paul Welsh

    Make sure you play this game away from windows and other reflective surfaces.

    Reply
    • Mark Collard

      Excellent piece of advice Paul, thanks for noting this potential hazard.

  4. Denisse

    We used this activity with teachers to talk about the labels we sometimes put on students. It was related then to empathy and how we treat each student. Excellent activity!

    Reply

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