Desert Island Picks
Desert island picks is a 10-15 minute team building icebreaker that works with zero prep and no materials. Ask people what three items they'd bring to a desert island, listen to their answers, and you'll spark genuine conversation while learning how your team thinks through priorities and tradeoffs.
What is Desert Island Picks?
Desert Island Picks is straightforward: participants answer a single question: "If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you bring?"
Each person shares their choices and explains why. That's it. The activity works because it forces real prioritization and reveals personality without feeling intrusive.
How do you play Desert Island Picks?
Present the scenario: "You're stranded on a desert island. You can bring three items. What do you choose?"
Give people 1–2 minutes to think. Then go around and have each person share their three items and a brief explanation — 20-30 seconds per person keeps momentum.
Optional constraint: ask for one practical item, one luxury item, and one piece of media. This usually sparks better answers.
Why it's great for a team
This sits in the sweet spot between surface-level small talk and forced vulnerability. It invites personal storytelling without demanding it. You learn how people prioritize, what they actually care about, and where unexpected common ground exists.
The game format also means equal participation happens naturally. Nobody dominates. Nobody gets singled out.
How to organize it effectively
Frame the prompt clearly and give people a quiet moment to think. Bad pacing kills this activity — keep answers moving at about 20-30 seconds each.
For groups larger than 15, split into breakout rooms or pair people up first, then have a few share back to the whole group.
You can theme it if you want: "remote work survival edition" or "leadership version" both work. For remote sessions, have people share in chat first, then discuss a few live.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Desert Island Picks icebreaker?
It's a team-building activity where participants choose items they'd bring to a desert island and explain why. It reveals priorities and values in a low-pressure way.
How do you facilitate the Desert Island Picks activity?
Ask each participant to select three items and explain their reasoning. Encourage follow-up questions from other team members to deepen the conversation.
What are some good items to pick for a desert island?
Practical tools like a multi-tool, sentimental objects like photos, or entertainment like a book. Pick whatever leads to an honest answer about what matters to you.
Why is Desert Island Picks effective for team building?
It creates space for authentic sharing without pressure. When you understand how colleagues think through constraints and what they prioritize, you build real rapport.
Can Desert Island Picks be adapted for different groups or situations?
Yes. Change the number of items, swap the scenario (moon base instead of desert island), or add constraints. It works for new teams, remote settings, and established groups.