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10 Fingers

OVERVIEW

10 Fingers is your team’s instant connection accelerator. It’s a bonding rocket disguised as a simple game. Good as an ice breaker or warmup it often appears in workshops focused on:


  • Confidence

  • Creativity

  • Team Building 

  • Trust

REQUIREMENTS

Number of Participants:

Minimum: 5 participants / Maximum: 16 participants


Time Required:

Minimum: 10 minutes / Maximum:  15 minutes


Materials Needed:

None

EXERCISE INSTRUCTIONS

The game is simple:

  • Everyone in a circle starts with 10 fingers up (yes, thumbs count).

  • One person says something they’ve done in life.

  • If you’ve done it — boom — put one finger down.

  • If you haven’t — fingers stay up.

  • Keep going until someone runs out of fingers. That person? They’re crowned our “10 Fingers” champion (but don't expect endorsement deals from that).


Step By Step Instructions

  1. Get everyone in a circle — standing is best. 

  2. Drop the rules:
    10 fingers up, always visible.
    Say something you’ve done. Example: “I’ve given a presentation with a coffee stain on my shirt.”
    If you have done it, one finger down.
    Next person goes. No dawdling, keep it moving.

  3. Keep it spicy but safe. Instruct the group to lean towards fun, relatable, and PG-rated experiences. Give examples:
    “I’ve worked from a coffee shop.”
    “I’ve had my internet drop mid-Zoom.”
    “I’ve sent an email to the wrong person.”
    “I’ve joined a meeting still on mute… for way too long.”

  4. Ride the wave of laughter. If a statement hits big (“Wait — you’ve done that too?!”), let people have their moment. That’s the good stuff.

  5. Know when to land it. Usually 8–12 minutes is perfect. Stop while energy’s high. 


Facilitator Tips

  • You set the tone. Your first example determines the vibe. Keep it upbeat, not awkward.

  • Celebrate experiences that many share. “Five of you have done that?!”

  • Don’t let it drag. Push for quick-fire turns.

  • Make it safe for the shy folks. Passes are okay until they feel ready.

  • End like a rock concert. Finish on a laugh, not a whimper. Best way to do that is end early. If it is going great and you get a big laugh after 9 minutes, call it.

INSTRUCTOR DISCUSSION POINTS / LEARNING TAKEAWAYS

TEAM BUILDING

The first brick in building a solid team foundation is knowing each other. When you share and you listen, you aren't just making small talk, you are building a stronger team.


COLLABORATION

Collaboration thrives when we ‘get’ each other. In this exewrcise that means more than just learning facts about each other. Ask yourself how your fact made others feel and the same question for the facts your teammates shared. Which ones worked best and why? Learning when your colleagues feel good or uncomfoprtable helps you create a p[ositive and effective working environment.


TRUST

Trust isn’t built in giant leaps. It’s built in tiny, ‘Here’s a bit of me’ moments. You just opened up, even if it was in a fun, goofy way. And every time we do that, trust inches up.


CONFIDENCE

Every time you took a turn, you practiced speaking up in front of a group. No pressure, no prep, just showing up. That’s confidence training in stealth mode — and it’s gold when the stakes are higher.


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