The Secret Key Game
The Secret Key is a fun and clever game to inspire the imagination, exercise lateral thinking, and strengthen relationships.
Announce the context of the game is to challenge one person to ask a series of questions in an attempt to identify a secret key. Ask a volunteer to leave the room so that they can not hear the discussion of the rest of the group.
However, before the volunteer leaves, you are best to describe what happens for the benefit of all involved. Explain that after the volunteer leaves the space, the rest of your group will decide on a specific rule (a secret key) to follow when answering all of the volunteer’s questions.
Then, instruct your group to decide on a specific rule to follow when answering questions. For example:
- Answer all questions in five words
- Begin all sentences with a vowel
- Begin all sentences with the last letter of the question
- Subtly clear one’s throat just before speaking
- Answer without blinking
When ready, the volunteer re-enters the room and will start asking a series of questions, one person at a time. Instruct the volunteer to listen carefully to every response in an effort to identify one consistent rule that applies to all responses.
Allow several minutes of questions and answers. If you note that the volunteer is losing enthusiasm or interest, invite your group to start giving a few clues, ie by making the rule more obvious.
As soon as the first rule has been identified, invite a new volunteer and start a new round.
And remember, this game is not a test, it’s supposed to be fun. Volunteers must not suffer, they must also have fun while trying to discover the key.
The topics of this publication: lateral thinking, observation skills, interactions, imagination, active listening, adaptation, foster relationships
