How to Play This Icebreaker Game
- 1Introduce the 8 Multiple Intelligences (see prompts below).
- 2Set the scene: scarce resources, must decide who stays longest.
- 3Debate as a group and justify the ranking.
Facilitator Guide
Opening Script:
Imagine: You are stranded on a deserted island. Resources are critically low—enough for only a few to thrive. We have 8 distinct 'Intelligences' here. Which ones are essential for survival? Who gets voted off? Debate with your team and rank them from 'Must Keep' to 'Sacrifice'.
Closing Script:
Look at your top choices. Did you prioritize immediate survival (Body/Nature) or long-term harmony (Interpersonal)? How does this mirror how we value roles in our actual work projects?
Why This Works
Why this icebreaker game works: Abstracting ‘strengths’ reduces ego while surfacing values and trade‑offs. It practices structured debate and criteria‑based decisions.
Best For
Ideal icebreaker situations for this game include:
- Team norms workshops
- Leadership offsites
- Hiring rubric discussions
Important Notes
- Keep tone exploratory, not personal judgements
- Capture criteria first; then rank to avoid anchoring
- Timebox and use dot‑vote if deadlocked
Ideas & Prompts
The 8 Multiple Intelligences
Linguistic: Word smart. (Survival: Negotiating with other tribes, keeping history/oral tradition)
Logical-Mathematical: Logic smart. (Survival: Calculating tides, rationing food, engineering traps)
Spatial: Picture smart. (Survival: Navigation, map making, shelter design)
Bodily-Kinesthetic: Body smart. (Survival: Hunting, gathering, building, climbing)
Musical: Music smart. (Survival: Warning signals, morale boosting, rhythm for rowing)
Interpersonal: People smart. (Survival: Conflict resolution, leadership, keeping group united)
Intrapersonal: Self smart. (Survival: Mental resilience, emotional regulation, avoiding panic)
Naturalist: Nature smart. (Survival: Identifying edible plants, reading weather patterns)
Game FAQ
Can we combine intelligences?
For this game, treat them as separate distinct personas to force difficult trade-offs.
Can we combine intelligences?
For this game, treat them as separate distinct personas to force difficult trade-offs.
Is there a 'right' answer?
No. The value comes from the debate and understanding different perspectives on what 'value' means.
Is there a 'right' answer?
No. The value comes from the debate and understanding different perspectives on what 'value' means.
What if the team reaches a deadlock?
Use a weighted vote. Everyone gets 3 dots to place on their top choices.
What if the team reaches a deadlock?
Use a weighted vote. Everyone gets 3 dots to place on their top choices.
