One of the most powerful ways to connect with others and with yourself is to pause and explore how your values have shown up across time.
In this exercise, inspired by my live facilitation and the wisdom of my business coach Dan Sullivan, you’ll learn how to “time travel” in conversation. It’s a beautifully simple way to create reflection, perspective, and deeper connection in just a few minutes.
This is a wonderful team building activity, icebreaker for small groups, or coaching exercise that helps people integrate their past experiences, current realities, and future intentions.
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 Three Tools: Past, Present, and Future
Chad introduces this exercise with a concept he learned from Dan Sullivan:
“The past, the present, and the future aren’t just periods of time, they’re tools.”
Each of these “tools” offers a different kind of insight:
- The past provides lessons and roots.
- The present reveals where we stand right now.
- The future helps us focus our intention and imagination.
When we consciously “time travel” across all three, we build a richer understanding of ourselves and others.
Step 1: Choose a Word That Speaks to You
Start by spreading a deck of We! Connect Cards or any set of values- or theme-based cards in the center of your table.
Invite everyone to:
“Choose a word that feels interesting to you.”
Maybe it’s courage, balance, connection, or curiosity. There’s no right answer, just pick a word that stands out.
Step 2: Find a Partner (or Small Group)
Split your table in half so everyone’s in pairs. (If you’ve got an odd number, a group of three works perfectly.)
Each person will take turns sharing, about one minute per reflection.
Step 3: Time Travel Through Three Questions
Use your chosen word as a lens to explore three time frames:
- Past: How has this word or value shown up in your past?
- Present: How is it showing up in your life right now?
- Future: How would you like it to show up moving forward?
This sequence helps people connect the dots between experience, awareness, and aspiration. It’s fast, simple, and incredibly grounding.
Step 4: Debrief (Optional)
After both partners have shared, invite a short group reflection:
- What did you notice when reflecting across time?
- Did anything surprise you about how this value evolved?
- How might you intentionally bring that value into your future?
This can lead to powerful insights about growth, resilience, and alignment.
Why This Exercise Works
“Time traveling” conversations do more than spark good dialogue, they strengthen perspective and empathy. They:
- Encourage storytelling and meaning-making
- Highlight progress and growth
- Build trust through authentic sharing
- Help individuals set clear, intentional direction
Even just three minutes of guided reflection can reframe how someone sees their journey and where they want to go next.
Try It With Your Team
Next time you’re facilitating a meeting, training, or retreat, try this:
- Lay out a deck of We! Connect Cards.
- Ask everyone to pick one word that resonates.
- Have them share how that word shows up in their past, present, and future.
You’ll be amazed how quickly the conversation deepens and energy shifts in the room.
For more exercises like this, explore Chad Littlefield’s book Ask Powerful Questions or grab the We! Engage Cards—perfect tools for leading engaging, reflective dialogue.
And don’t forget: you can download free printable tools and facilitation guides at weand.me/tools.
