Telephone Game

How to Play

Setup

1. Gather 8–20 participants and plan for about 5 minutes per round. Multiple rounds work best to see patterns.
2. Arrange people in a line or a tight circle so neighbors can whisper without being overheard by others.
3. Choose a facilitator to time rounds, provide phrases, and run the debrief. The facilitator should stand slightly apart to avoid influencing the chain.
4. Prepare 3–6 short, workplace-relevant phrases, 8–12 words long. Consider including numbers, names, acronyms, or light inside jokes. Keep content inclusive and non-sensitive.
5. Designate who starts and who will be the final announcer. Plan to rotate these roles each round so different people practice initiating and summarizing.
6. Optional: Predefine a quick scoring method for competition rounds, such as words matched or meaning accuracy.

How to Play

1. The facilitator silently shows the starting phrase to the first person on a card or phone, or whispers it once.
2. The timekeeper starts the timer. Person 1 leans in and whispers the phrase only once to Person 2. Everyone else looks away or covers ears.
3. Each person passes on exactly what they believe they heard, once, to the next person in order. No repeats or clarifying questions.
4. When the message reaches the last person, they say it aloud for the group to hear.
5. The facilitator or the first person reveals the original phrase. Enjoy the contrast and note specific changes.
6. Debrief briefly: What changed, where did it change, and why. Link observations to real communication habits such as assumptions, jargon, speed, and noise.
7. Rotate positions and start a new round with a fresh phrase. Aim for 2–4 rounds to surface consistent lessons.

Rules

1. One whisper per turn, no repeats or do-overs.
2. No clarifying questions, gestures, spelling, writing, or lip reading unless using a variation that allows it.
3. Speak softly but clearly so only the intended listener hears you.
4. If a player misses a word, they must pass on their best guess rather than stopping the chain.
5. Keep phrases professional, respectful, and free of sensitive content.
6. Target 60–90 seconds for the message to travel the line to keep energy high.
7. Observers remain quiet; avoid side conversations that could interfere.

Tips

• Start with an easier phrase, then increase complexity by adding numbers, similar-sounding words, or industry acronyms.
• Coach clear articulation and short, natural pauses to model effective chunking.
• For noisy rooms, move closer and ask participants not in the current whisper to face outward or cover ears.
• Rotate starters and finishers to vary perspectives and prevent one person from always anchoring the outcome.
• Capture quick takeaways after each round: repeat-back, closed-loop confirmation, and avoiding jargon can prevent distortion at work.
• Provide inclusive examples and be mindful of accents or hearing differences; invite people to swap positions if needed for comfort.

Variations

• Industry twist: Use project code names, client scenarios, or process steps to connect directly to daily work.
• Race mode: Split into two lines with the same starting phrase. Award points for closeness to the original by word count or meaning.
• Confirm and repeat: Allow each whisperer one yes-no confirmation to the sender to simulate closed-loop communication; compare accuracy to the baseline.
• Silent signal: Remove speaking and allow only lip reading to highlight nonverbal limits.
• Remote friendly: On a video call, set an order, send the phrase via private chat to Person 1, pass it along via DMs or breakout audio, and have the final person post the result in the main chat followed by the original.