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Brilliant BINGO!

A low-threshold invitation to meaningful connections through deep conversations

Adventurer with a torch and whip stands next to a pyramid, ready to enter.

Why It Works

This game challenges participants to show genuine curiosity and get to know others better. By seeking out what you find Brilliant, you help others feel valued. It creates an atmosphere of safety and connection, even in large groups.

  • Group size: 10+ participants
  • Duration: 20-30 minutes (including debriefing)
  • Objective:
    • Primary: Foster collaboration through introductions and mutual appreciation.
    • Secondary: Create a safe and inclusive environment for sharing personal stories.

Materials Needed

Facilitator Checklist

Ensure you have the following prepared:

  • ✅ Brilliant people (the more, the better)
  • ✅ Open space where people can easily walk around
  • ✅ Bingo cards (see template below)
  • ✅ Pencils/pens/markers
  • ✅ Optional: Dice to determine the next question
  • ✅ Optional: Whiteboard or flip chart for debriefing
  • ✅ Brilliant people (the more, the better)
  • ✅ Online meeting space with breakout rooms (Zoom, Teams, Discord, etc.)
  • ✅ Digital Bingo card (see template below): PDF or interactive whiteboard like Miro or Mural
  • ✅ Laptop/tablet/phone
  • ✅ Optional: Online "wheel of fortune" for selecting questions

Accessibility Tips

  • Ensure the space is wheelchair accessible.
  • Arrange chairs in pairs to accommodate people who cannot stand for long.
  • Use large print on Bingo cards for visually impaired participants.
  • Enable closed captioning in the meeting tool.
  • Share the Bingo card digitally for use with screen readers.

Preparation

1. Prepare Bingo Cards

Use the template below to create Bingo cards.

Tip

Customize the squares based on your audience (e.g., replace "collection" with "favorite influencer" for a younger audience).

Use Canva, Word, or Excel to design and print the cards.

Use Miro, Mural, or a PDF editor to create digital cards.

2. Prepare the Space

  • Ensure there is enough space to move around.
  • Create themed tables or sections using signs: For example, "Lifestyle," "Background," or "Professional" from the template. This gives people the freedom to choose whether or not to discuss a specific theme, contributing to a sense of safety.
  • Test breakout rooms and the digital whiteboard beforehand.
  • Provide clear instructions on how participants can use the whiteboard.
  • Create breakout rooms by theme: For example, "Lifestyle," "Background," or "Professional" from the template. This gives people the freedom to choose whether or not to discuss a specific theme, contributing to a sense of safety.

Steps and Facilitation

1. Introduction (3 minutes)

Goal: Put participants at ease and explain the activity.

Imagine: people are like pyramids. From the outside, they may seem simple, but inside, they are full of hidden treasures. Today, we are going treasure hunting like Indiana Jones!

Everyone will receive a Bingo card with characteristics. You will search for people who have experienced or can share something Brilliant about one of these characteristics.

2. Explain the Rules (2 minutes)

Instructions:

  1. We play in rounds until time runs out:
    1. Single row or column
    2. Double row and/or column
    3. Full card
  2. If you have Bingo, shout it out!
  3. Raise your hand as a sign that you are free for a conversation.
  4. Find someone else with their hand raised.

  5. Ask each other a question about one of the squares on your card. For example: Pat asks: ‘Can you tell me something about your collection?’ Mat answers: ‘I have a collection of paperclips.’

    Tip

    Depending on the group, you can replace "How Brilliant!" with "How interesting!" or "How fun!".

  6. Listen carefully to the answer and ask follow-up questions. If you hear something you find Brilliant, say: ‘How Brilliant!’ and write the other person’s name in the corresponding square.

  7. Switch roles: the other person now asks you a question. For example: Mat asks: ‘Can you tell me something about your useless skill?’ Pat answers: ‘I can imitate a peacock really well.’
  8. Thank each other and find a new partner.

Tip

Depending on the group, you can replace "How Brilliant!" with "How interesting!" or "How fun!".

Agreements:

  • Difficult question? Just adjust it and ask for another: Answering is not mandatory. If someone prefers not to share, respect that.
  • Brilliant is subjective: what is Brilliant to you may not be to someone else.
  • Let yourself be surprised by the stories of others!

3. Start the Activity (10-15 minutes)

Give participants 10-15 minutes to walk around and have conversations.

Facilitator Tips

  • Walk around and help maintain flow: Don’t stay too long with one person, but also not too short.
    • Use a round timer (2 minutes).
  • Use a timer to keep track of time.

4. Debriefing (5 minutes)

Goal: Reflect on the experience and strengthen connections.

Example Questions:

  1. "What was the most surprising thing you heard today?"
  2. "How did it feel to be found Brilliant?"
  3. "Which story made the biggest impression on you and why?"
  4. "How can we carry this curiosity and appreciation into our daily work?"

5. Closing

Thank the participants for their openness and curiosity. Remind them that making connections is important not only during workshops but also in daily life and work.

Bingo Card

Copy the section below into your own design or use a ready-made card:

This template Bingo card consists of 4 items in 4 categories. These categories are mixed up on the Bingo card, so you must ask about each category to get Bingo, even if you only complete one row or column.

Lifestyle Background Talent Professional
Outlet Hometown Useless knowledge/skill Side Hustle
Mode of transport Role model Superpower Aha moment
Bucket-list item Travel story Course (Former) classmate
Collection Student job DIY Professional knowledge

Brilliant BINGO!

How it works:

  1. Ask: "Can you tell me something about your [square]?"
  2. Response: Ask follow-up questions and say: "How Brilliant!"
  3. Switch & Thank: Do the same for the other person and find a new partner.
Mode of transport Hometown Useless knowledge Aha moment
Course Professional knowledge Outlet Role model
Travel story DIY Side Hustle Bucket-list
(Former) colleague Collection Student job Superpower

Rounds

  1. First BINGO: One full row or column
  2. Double BINGO: Two rows or columns
  3. Full card: All 16 squares filled

Tips

  • Done? ➡️ Raise your hand!
  • Difficult question? ➡️ "Pass!"

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What if someone doesn’t want to share?

  • Respect their choice.
  • Encourage with: "No problem! Is there something else you would like to share?"

2. How do I keep track of time?

  • Use a timer on your phone or a visible clock in the room.
  • Give a signal every 2 minutes that it’s time for the next conversation.
  • After 10 minutes, signal that participants have 5 minutes left.

3. What if the group is too large?

  • Create larger Bingo cards and extend the timebox.
  • Divide the group into smaller groups of 20-30 people.
  • Play until multiple people have Bingo.

4. Can I adapt this game for a specific theme?

  • Yes! Customize the squares based on the theme of your workshop or audience.
  • Make it easier for yourself by dividing items into a "Category X Items" table: If your Bingo card is 5x5, create 5 categories with 5 items each.