What if the conversations you have today could literally change what happens tomorrow?
That’s the question behind this reflective and energizing icebreaker for meetings and team building activity for adults. In this exercise, rooted in the idea that “a choice of words is a choice of worlds” participants explore how language shapes their future, not just their present.
It’s an easy, thoughtful way to open any meeting, retreat, or workshop with purpose and connection.
Note: The brand new Future Focused We! Connect Cards featured in this video are free (and only available*) to attendees of the 2025 Connectors Summit.
The Origin: A Mentor’s Challenge
This idea began with my mentor, Mark Levy. Mark, who once helped a broke, frustrated Simon Sinek clarify his now world-famous idea behind Start With Why posed a powerful question:
“What is something you want to do more of?”
That question started a journey. After the passing of his co-founder and close collaborator, Will Wise, Chad realized he needed a new “thinking partner”, someone to help stretch his thinking and refine his “big, sexy idea.”
Mark Levy became that mentor. Together, they spent a year digging deep into every corner of Chad’s life and work to uncover an idea so relevant and compelling that even a skeptical audience arms crossed and uninterested would lean in and say:
“Well, that’s actually pretty interesting.”
The Discovery: We Talk Our Way Into Tomorrow
After months of reflection, Mark helped Chad uncover the thread that ran through everything he’d been doing for over a decade:
- Helping people connect and build trust
- Creating environments where people are fully present
- Guiding meaningful conversations that shift perspective
But Mark noticed something missing: the future.
He pointed out that questions and conversations aren’t just about connection they’re an edit button for what happens next.
“We have the ability to literally, not figuratively, talk our way into tomorrow.”
That became the spark for this next exercise.
The Exercise: “Talk Your Way Into Tomorrow”
This is a simple, yet deeply meaningful activity that blends reflection, language, and intention.
Step 1: Choose a Word
Spread out a deck of We! Connect Cards or We! Engage Cards on your table. Then, invite each participant to choose one word that completes this sentence:
“We are here to talk our way into a tomorrow filled with ______.”
That blank becomes your intention, your “word for tomorrow.”
Step 2: Share Your Intention
Invite participants to share their word with one other person or small group. Encourage them to go beyond the word itself and share what it means:
- Why did you choose that word?
- What would a “tomorrow filled with” that look like for you or your team?
- How could you live that word out in your next project, meeting, or conversation?
This quick reflection transforms a simple conversation starter into a shared commitment to the future.
Step 3: Reflect and Set the Intention Together
To deepen the exercise, invite a few volunteers to share their words aloud. You can also weave them into a collective statement, such as:
“Today, we are talking our way into a tomorrow filled with connection, courage, and creativity.”
Even a brief conversation like this changes the energy of a meeting, it moves people from passive participants to intentional contributors.
And as Chad reminds us, the research is clear: when you name your intention, it’s more likely to happen. Especially when you share that intention with others who are part of it.
Why This Exercise Works
This activity works because it blends three key ingredients of effective team building:
- Language: Words create focus and shape perception.
- Intention: Clear intention directs action and mindset.
- Connection: Sharing intentions builds relational trust and alignment.
It’s ideal for:
- Setting the tone at the start of a retreat or strategy session
- Closing a workshop with a sense of forward motion
- Virtual meetings where you want to build shared purpose
Use it anywhere you want to turn dialogue into direction.
Try It with Your Team
Next time you meet, don’t just start with logistics, start with language. Ask your team:
“What kind of tomorrow do we want to talk our way into?”
You’ll be amazed at how quickly that simple question reframes the entire conversation.
To explore more tools like this, check out our Connection Before Content Masterclass or grab a deck of DIY Printable Cards to make facilitation easy anywhere.
And for free printable tools, book excerpts, and exclusive bonuses, visit weand.me/tools.
