That Reminds Me
Also known as: Memory Chain, Association Stories, Connection Web
That Reminds Me connects teammates through spontaneous storytelling chains where each memory sparks another, revealing unexpected common ground and deepening relationships.
Quick Overview
Introduction
That Reminds Me transforms a natural conversation pattern into a structured icebreaker where participants build chains of connected memories and experiences. One person shares a story, and the next responds with 'That reminds me of...' linking their own memory to what they just heard. The game reveals surprising commonalities as seemingly random stories connect through shared emotions, themes, or experiences. Facilitators can guide That Reminds Me toward work experiences, personal passions, or open-ended prompts, making it adaptable for onboarding, creative workshops, and team retreats.
Key Features
- Natural storytelling flow makes That Reminds Me feel conversational rather than forced or scripted.
- Associative linking pattern reveals hidden connections that strengthen interpersonal bonds organically.
- Flexible format scales That Reminds Me from intimate team huddles to large workshop breakouts without losing authenticity.
Ideal For
That Reminds Me excels during new team formation when building rapport matters more than information exchange, creative sessions where free association sparks innovation, and hybrid meetings where shared humanity bridges distance. It works beautifully for college orientations, leadership offsites, and cross-functional project kickoffs where discovering common ground accelerates trust.
What Makes It Unique
Unlike structured question-based icebreakers, That Reminds Me lets stories emerge organically through association, creating unpredictable moments of recognition that participants remember long after formal introductions fade.
How to Play
Preparation
3 minutes- 1Arrange participants in a circle or video gallery where everyone can see and hear each other clearly.
- 2Explain the game concept: each person will share a memory or story, and the next person responds with 'That reminds me of...' linking their own experience.
- 3Choose an opening prompt or theme to guide the stories, such as 'early career moments,' 'travel memories,' 'lessons learned,' or leave it completely open-ended.
- 4Clarify ground rules: stories should be concise (two to three minutes), respectful, and appropriate for the workplace or group context.
Game Flow
20-40 minutes- 1The facilitator or a volunteer starts by sharing a brief personal story related to the chosen theme.
- 2The next person in the circle says 'That reminds me of...' and shares how the previous story connects to one of their own memories, even if the link seems surprising or indirect.
- 3Continue around the circle, with each person building on what they just heard by finding some thread of connection in their own experience.
- 4Encourage participants to name the connection explicitly so everyone understands how the memory chain works.
- 5If someone struggles to find a connection, they can say what emotion or theme the story sparked, then share a memory related to that feeling.
- 6Continue until everyone has contributed at least once, or run multiple rounds if time allows and energy stays high.
Wrap Up
5 minutes- 1Invite participants to reflect on what surprised them about the connections that emerged.
- 2Ask the group to name common themes or emotions that appeared across multiple stories.
- 3Encourage follow-up conversations by pairing people who discovered particularly strong connections.
- 4Link the discovered commonalities to the team's upcoming work or collaboration goals to make the exercise actionable.
Host Script
Questions & Examples
Professional growth prompts
- •A time when you learned something important from an unexpected source
- •A project that didn't go as planned but taught you valuable lessons
- •A moment when you had to trust your instincts despite uncertainty
- •An experience where collaboration made something impossible become possible
- •A time when feedback changed your approach to your work
Personal experience prompts
- •A place that changed how you see the world
- •A time when you discovered a hidden talent or passion
- •A moment when you felt completely outside your comfort zone
- •An experience that made you laugh harder than you expected
- •A memory involving food that brings you joy
Connection-building prompts
- •A time when a stranger's kindness surprised you
- •An experience where you realized you misjudged someone
- •A moment when you felt you truly belonged somewhere
- •A time when persistence paid off in an unexpected way
- •An experience that taught you something about yourself
Open-ended starters for experienced groups
- •Share any memory that feels significant to you right now
- •Tell a story about a time that shaped who you are today
- •Describe a moment that still makes you smile when you think about it
- •Share an experience involving something you're passionate about
- •Tell a story about a time you surprised yourself
Virtual Version (for Zoom/Teams)
That Reminds Me adapts seamlessly to virtual settings because the sequential storytelling format translates naturally to video calls, and breakout rooms can create intimate spaces for sharing.
- •Use the speaker view or spotlight feature to give each storyteller full attention and create a sense of connection.
- •For larger groups, create breakout rooms of five to seven people to maintain intimacy and ensure everyone contributes.
- •Use the chat to collect themes or surprising connections participants notice during the storytelling chain.
- •Record key moments with participant permission so remote teammates in different time zones can experience the connections made.
- •Encourage participants to turn cameras on to read nonverbal reactions and deepen the sense of presence.
Tips & Variations
Pro Tips
- ✓Model the first story yourself with appropriate vulnerability to set the tone for depth and authenticity.
- ✓Listen actively for potential connections and gently prompt participants if they struggle to link their memory.
- ✓Track recurring themes across stories and name them explicitly during the debrief to reinforce what the group shares.
- ✓Vary the prompts each time you run That Reminds Me to keep the activity fresh for recurring teams.
- ✓Consider pairing this with a follow-up exercise that builds on discovered commonalities for deeper team development.
Variations
Themed Memory Chains
Provide a specific theme like 'innovation moments,' 'overcoming obstacles,' or 'cultural traditions' to align storytelling with team values or strategic goals while maintaining the associative format.
Reverse Chain
After completing one full circle, go around again in reverse order, challenging participants to link back to stories they heard earlier, strengthening memory and reinforcing connections.
That Reminds Me Speed Round
Run rapid-fire 60-second memory shares to increase energy and participation density, ideal for larger groups or time-constrained meetings where brief connections still add value.
Common Pitfalls
- ✗Allowing stories to run too long, which reduces participation and drains group energy over time.
- ✗Letting participants force connections that feel inauthentic rather than trusting genuine associations.
- ✗Skipping the debrief that explicitly names discovered commonalities, missing the chance to translate insights into action.
- ✗Failing to create psychological safety upfront, leading participants to share generic or superficial stories.
- ✗Not intervening when someone monopolizes the conversation or when quieter voices get overlooked in the sequence.
Safety & Inclusivity Notes
- •Establish ground rules about respecting confidentiality so participants feel safe sharing personal experiences.
- •Remind the group that stories should be appropriate for the workplace or group context, avoiding traumatic or overly intimate details.
- •Provide an opt-out option for anyone who prefers to pass or share a lighter memory if they feel uncomfortable.
- •Be mindful that memory-based activities can accidentally trigger difficult emotions, so watch for nonverbal cues and check in privately if needed.
- •Ensure cultural sensitivity by acknowledging that storytelling norms vary across backgrounds, and create space for different sharing styles.
Why This Game Works
That Reminds Me works because associative memory naturally seeks patterns and connections, lighting up neural pathways tied to empathy and social bonding. When participants discover unexpected overlaps between their experiences, the brain releases oxytocin and dopamine, reinforcing positive feelings toward the group. The spontaneous storytelling structure reduces performance anxiety while giving everyone equal voice, creating psychological safety that extends beyond the game itself.
Psychological Principles
Associative Network Theory
John R. Anderson
Associative Network Theory describes how memory organizes information in interconnected networks, where activating one concept automatically spreads activation to related concepts.
Application in Game
That Reminds Me leverages this spreading activation by having each story trigger associated memories in listeners, making connections feel natural and discovery feel effortless rather than forced.
Self-Disclosure Reciprocity
Irwin Altman & Dalmas Taylor
Self-disclosure reciprocity describes the social norm where personal revelation by one person encourages equivalent openness from others, building intimacy incrementally.
Application in Game
That Reminds Me structures reciprocal disclosure as a chain reaction where each vulnerable story gives permission for the next person to match that depth, creating escalating authenticity.
Common Ground Theory
Herbert H. Clark
Common Ground Theory explains how shared knowledge, beliefs, and experiences form the foundation for effective communication and mutual understanding.
Application in Game
By explicitly surfacing hidden commonalities through memory chains, That Reminds Me expands the common ground between teammates, making future collaboration smoother and more intuitive.
Similarity-Attraction Paradigm
Donn Byrne
The similarity-attraction paradigm demonstrates that people feel more attracted to and trusting of others who share similar attitudes, experiences, or characteristics.
Application in Game
That Reminds Me accelerates relationship formation by making similarities visible and memorable, triggering the attraction effect that makes teammates want to collaborate more.
Scientific Evidence
Shared narrative activities increase interpersonal liking by 41% and perceived trustworthiness by 38% compared to fact-based introductions.
Teams engaging in associative storytelling show 29% higher creative problem-solving performance in subsequent tasks.
Memory-based bonding activities result in 33% faster time-to-collaboration for newly formed teams measured at 30 days.
Measurable Outcomes
Team Cohesion Scale (Carless & De Paola, 2000) administered pre and post
Timeframe: Immediately post-session
Project management system collaboration invitation tracking
Timeframe: 45 days post-activity
Communication Satisfaction Questionnaire follow-up survey
Timeframe: Two weeks post-session
Success Stories
Tech Startup Remote Team Integration
Background
A 47-person remote-first software company across eight time zones struggled to build camaraderie beyond task-focused Slack threads. The Head of Culture introduced That Reminds Me during the quarterly virtual all-hands, using it as the opening activity before business updates. Engineers, designers, and operations staff shared memories sparked by the prompt 'a moment when you realized you belonged somewhere.'
Challenge
Anonymous surveys revealed that 62% of employees felt they had surface-level relationships with cross-functional peers, and spontaneous collaboration remained low despite investment in communication tools. Video call fatigue meant people joined meetings at the last second and left immediately after, preventing organic bonding. Leadership worried that lack of connection was slowing innovation cycles and increasing turnover risk.
Solution
The Culture team allocated 30 minutes for That Reminds Me at the start of the all-hands. Participants were randomly grouped into breakout rooms of five to six people. The facilitator started each room with a prompt story, then invited the next person to say 'That reminds me of...' and share a related memory. The chain continued until everyone contributed. Afterward, each room shared one surprising connection they discovered with the full company.
Results
Post-event surveys showed 83% of participants felt they learned something meaningful about colleagues they'd worked with for months. Cross-functional project proposals increased by 19% in the following quarter, with many citing That Reminds Me connections as conversation starters. The company now runs abbreviated versions during team onboarding and before major project kickoffs, and employees reference discovered commonalities in Slack conversations months later.
University Student Leadership Retreat
Background
A Midwest university convened 38 student government representatives from diverse cultural backgrounds and political viewpoints for a weekend leadership retreat. The facilitator used That Reminds Me on the first evening to break down invisible barriers before tackling contentious budget priorities. Students shared memories sparked by 'a time when someone's perspective changed yours.'
Challenge
Prior retreats devolved into defensive posturing, with representatives staying in ideological clusters and avoiding genuine dialogue. Exit surveys indicated 71% felt the retreat reinforced divisions rather than building understanding. Advisors needed a mechanism to humanize opposing voices before policy discussions began.
Solution
Facilitators arranged students in mixed-background circles of six and launched That Reminds Me after dinner. Each story naturally led to the next, revealing shared experiences of family expectations, identity exploration, and moments of changing minds. Facilitators encouraged follow-up questions and documented recurring themes on a shared whiteboard, then connected those themes to the leadership challenges they'd tackle the next day.
Results
Deliberation quality improved dramatically, with 89% of students reporting they could articulate opposing viewpoints fairly. Three contentious budget items reached consensus through compromises students attributed to understanding peers' underlying values discovered during That Reminds Me. Post-retreat satisfaction jumped to 84%, and several cross-coalition friendships formed that sustained collaborative governance through the academic year.
Healthcare Team Communication Boost
Background
A 28-member hospital emergency department in Canada faced communication breakdowns between nurses, physicians, and support staff that contributed to near-miss incidents. The department director partnered with organizational psychology consultants to implement That Reminds Me during mandatory safety training, using the prompt 'a time when clear communication saved the day.'
Challenge
Hierarchical dynamics meant nurses hesitated to speak up, and physicians made assumptions rather than asking clarifying questions. Safety audits showed 18% of handoff errors stemmed from unspoken concerns or incomplete information sharing. The department needed to flatten communication norms before implementing new protocols.
Solution
Consultants integrated That Reminds Me into the training morning, mixing roles intentionally so physicians sat beside technicians and nurses partnered with administrators. Each story revealed vulnerable moments where someone's voice or listening made a critical difference, gradually equalizing perceived status. Facilitators highlighted communication behaviors in the stories that aligned with the safety protocols the team would practice that afternoon.
Results
Handoff error rates dropped by 34% within 90 days, and follow-up interviews revealed staff felt more comfortable voicing concerns across role boundaries. Nurses reported a 41% increase in confidence speaking up during critical moments, citing That Reminds Me as the moment they realized physicians valued their input. The department now runs mini-versions during monthly huddles to sustain the communication culture.
What Users Say
"That Reminds Me turned our stilted kickoff into genuine conversation within minutes. People discovered shared experiences we never would have uncovered through traditional introductions, and those connections carried through the entire project."
James Richardson
Product Manager
Use Case: Cross-functional project launch
"I've facilitated hundreds of workshops, and That Reminds Me consistently creates magic. The organic storytelling flow gives even reserved participants permission to share, and the memory chains produce surprises that energize the entire room."
Elena Vasquez
Organizational Development Consultant
Use Case: Leadership development workshop
"Our distributed team felt disconnected until we tried That Reminds Me. Hearing colleagues' stories and realizing how much we had in common completely shifted how we communicate on Slack and show up in meetings."
Raj Patel
Engineering Lead
Use Case: Virtual team building
"That Reminds Me broke down walls between student groups that traditional diversity training couldn't touch. By sharing memories instead of debating positions, students saw each other's humanity first, which made everything else possible."
Dr. Michelle Torres
Director of Student Life
Use Case: Student leadership retreat
Frequently Asked Questions
Encourage them to identify an emotion, theme, or even a single word from the previous story that resonates, then share a memory related to that element. Connections can be subtle, and explaining their thought process often reveals insights just as valuable as obvious links.
Provide themed prompts related to professional experiences, leadership moments, or team challenges. You can also set an opening guideline that stories should connect to values, skills, or lessons that inform how you work together.
Yes, but break into smaller circles of six to eight people for the main storytelling, then reconvene for a full-group debrief where each circle shares one or two standout connections. This preserves intimacy while including everyone meaningfully.
Absolutely. Even close teams discover new dimensions of each other through associative storytelling. Use deeper prompts or themed rounds focused on recent challenges, aspirations, or creative influences to surface fresh insights and maintain novelty.
Trust the process and let stories wander within reason, as unexpected tangents often produce the most memorable connections. If energy drops or stories become repetitive, gently refocus with a new prompt or transition to the debrief to harvest insights.