open · Icebreaker · 10–15 min · 2-20 people · medium energy

Arm's Reach Show & Tell

A quick-fire version of show-and-tell where participants have 60 seconds to find and present an object within their immediate reach that has personal meaning.

When to use Arm's Reach Show & Tell

To humanize colleagues and spark spontaneous conversation through physical objects.

What it solves

The 'sterile' feeling of virtual meetings where you only see a person's head and shoulders.

How to run Arm's Reach Show & Tell, step by step

  1. Set a timer for 1 minute. Everyone must find an object within arm's reach (1 min).
  2. Go around the 'room' and give each person 1 minute to explain what the object is and why it's there (10 min).
  3. Facilitate a quick 'connection' round—does anyone else have something similar? (2 min).

Materials needed

  • Timer

Facilitator tips

  • If someone has a very 'boring' desk, encourage them to talk about why they prefer a minimalist space.
  • Use this to transition into a meeting about 'resources' or 'tools'.

Common pitfalls

  • People leaving their desks and disappearing for too long
  • One person taking 5 minutes to tell a story

Variations

  • Theme-based: 'Find something that represents a challenge you solved this week.'

Running it online or hybrid

Simple and effective for both environments; ensure everyone can see the object on camera.

What it produces

Personal stories that provide 'hooks' for future small talk.

Origin

Adapted from Museum Hack — source

Build a session around Arm's Reach Show & Tell

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