We’ve all been there: the mandatory team-building session
where the facilitator asks everyone to share a fun fact about themselves. The
resulting silence is usually punctuated by forced smiles and facts so generic
("I like hiking!") that they offer zero genuine insight.
But what if a simple communication game could instantly
bypass those introductory formalities and force genuine connection, active
listening, and critical analysis?
Enter TRUTH, TRUTH, LIE (or Two Truths and a Lie). While
often dismissed as a mere icebreaker, when executed properly, this game is a
powerful tool for unlocking team dynamics and accelerating trust.
Here is a professional breakdown of the conditions,
details, and the deep purpose behind this deceptively simple exercise.
1. The Conditions: Mastering the Mechanics
To elevate "Truth, Truth, Lie" beyond simple
parlor games, certain conditions must be met. Success hinges entirely on the
quality of the statements and the seriousness of the participants.
Condition 1: The Plausibility Factor
For the game to be effective, participants must be
encouraged to avoid extreme, unbelievable statements—both true and false.
Bad Truth: "I have a nose." (Too obvious.)
Bad Lie: "I once rode a unicorn to the moon."
(Too obviously false.)
The goal is to craft truths that are surprisingly
interesting but wholly believable, and lies that sound completely plausible
within the context of the person's personality or profession. The line between
truth and deception must be razor-thin.
Condition 2: Random Delivery is Key
Participants should write their three statements on a
piece of paper (or simply memorize them) but never reveal which is which until
after the guessing is done. When presenting their three items, they should mix
up the internal order.
If a person always states their lie last, the group will
quickly figure out the pattern, rendering the exercise pointless.
The condition is to deliver all three with the exact same
level of confidence, pausing slightly between each one.
Condition 3: Active Observation (The "Why")
The core condition for the guessers is active listening.
Before speaking, the group should be instructed to focus on non-verbal cues:
Does the speaker's voice pitch change?
Do they make good eye contact when delivering all three
facts?
Do they fidget only during one statement?
The guessing process should involve discussion, requiring
the team to articulate why they suspect a certain statement is false, moving
beyond intuition to observable data.
2. The Details: Preparation and Variations
While the basic rules are simple, professionals running
this exercise can leverage specific variations to meet different goals.
Detail 1: The Thematic Focus
If your goal is to help a newly formed project team find
common ground, you might theme the game:
Professional TTL: Statements must relate to career
history, skills, or professional achievements ("I once accidentally
deleted a major client database," "I have a patent pending").
Values TTL: Statements must relate to personal drivers or
core beliefs ("My greatest fear is mediocrity," "I volunteer 10
hours a week").
Detail 2: Time and Scarcity
Limit the time for both preparation and presentation. A
strict two-minute preparation window forces participants to avoid overthinking
and go with their initial, most revealing ideas. Limit the discussion time
(45–60 seconds per person) to keep the pace moving and maintain energy.
Detail 3: The Stakes (Optional)
While the intrinsic reward should be connection,
providing small, low-stakes stakes can heighten engagement, especially in
remote settings. The person who successfully fools the most people (or the
person who correctly identifies the most lies) could win a virtual coffee
voucher.
3. The Deep Purpose: Why This Isn't Just a Game
The true value of "Truth, Truth, Lie" is found
in the psychological and relational benefits it provides to a working group.
It’s an investment in relational due diligence.
Purpose 1: Building a Baseline of Trust
In the corporate world, trust often scales slowly. It
requires shared stress and repeated positive interactions. TTL accelerates this
process.
By requiring participants to share genuine, mildly
vulnerable facts about themselves (e.g., "I spent a year living in
Argentina," "I used to be a competitive baker"), you create
shared knowledge quickly. These surprising details humanize colleagues,
breaking down professional facades and proving that everyone has a rich,
complex life outside of Q3 earnings reports.
Purpose 2: Sharpening Observational Skills
In communication, only a small percentage of information
is conveyed through words; the majority comes from tone, body language, and
context.
TTL is a safe training ground for observation. When your
job is to detect deception (or, more accurately, inconsistency), you are forced
to pay attention to subtle cues—critical skills for negotiation, client
management, and effective conflict resolution. The exercise teaches the team:
How well do we really see each other?
Purpose 3: Challenging Assumptions
We often mentally categorize our colleagues based on
initial impressions or job titles. The stoic accountant must be boring. The
bubbly marketing manager is probably shallow.
TTL demolishes these stereotypes. When the seemingly
quiet software engineer reveals, "I once appeared on a national game
show," or the CEO confesses, "I secretly love competitive video
gaming," it forces everyone to re-evaluate their mental models of their
teammates. This paradigm shift leads to greater empathy and a more inclusive
environment where hidden talents are more likely to be utilized.
Conclusion: The Investment in Human Connection
"Truth, Truth, Lie" is more than filler; it is
a rapid-fire diagnostic tool for team cohesion.
When facilitated correctly—with an emphasis on plausibility,
active listening, and focused themes—it delivers disproportionately high
returns on investment for the time spent. It teaches your team to look deeper,
listen sharper, and recognize the rich, surprising complexity that lies beneath
every professional exterior.
Next time you need an icebreaker, skip the generic
"fun fact." Challenge your team to play a serious, insightful round
of "Truth, Truth, Lie," and watch how quickly true connection begins
to form.
