Two Truths and a Lie
Time for the team building activity: 10–15 minutes
Setup effort: Very easy (no materials)
Estimated cost: Free
Business value: Builds trust quickly, humanizes colleagues beyond job titles, accelerates onboarding and team integration
What is Two Truths and a Lie?
Two Truths and a Lie is straightforward: each person shares three statements about themselves—two true, one false. The group guesses which is the lie. It's one of the fastest ways to break the ice with a new team.
How do you play Two Truths and a Lie?
Give everyone 2–3 minutes to prepare three statements. Keep them workplace-appropriate, but genuine and interesting. The lie works better when it's believable.
Then go person by person:
Each person reads their three statements aloud (in any order).
The group votes on which one is the lie (hands, poll, or "1 / 2 / 3" in chat).
The person reveals the lie and, if time allows, shares a quick backstory about one of the true statements.
Aim for roughly one minute per person.
Why it's great for a team
People often work together without actually knowing each other. That creates distance, slows collaboration, and limits the casual conversation that makes teams work better.
Two Truths and a Lie compresses that gap. In a few minutes, it:
breaks the ice in new groups
gets people talking naturally after the session
helps people remember names and faces
makes subsequent meetings feel less stiff
softens hierarchy and encourages more open interaction
How to organize it effectively
Success depends on clear rules and solid pacing.
Explain upfront: two true statements, one lie, all professional or neutral. Set the boundary early to avoid uncomfortable moments.
Give 2–3 minutes of prep time in silence. This prevents awkward pauses and raises the quality of what people share.
Run it as a quick round-robin. One person shares, the group votes, they reveal the lie. If you want to build on it, ask for a short anecdote—but keep it brief.
The facilitator maintains rhythm (about one minute per person), keeps the tone respectful, and cuts off tangents before they derail the session.
For groups larger than 15–20 people, split into smaller breakout groups so everyone gets a turn without the session dragging.
In remote settings, it works well via chat or polls. Just keep the pace tight and the instructions clear.