IPEC Domain/Competency 

Communication

Sub-Competency

C2 Use communication tools, techniques, and technologies to enhance team function, well-being, and outcomes.

Goals and objectives

Enrich communication vocabulary

Materials

• None

Activity description

One participant starts the round by saying a phrase. The other participants volunteer similar sayings until out of options. For example, if the starting sentence is “the end of the workday,” suggestions might include “quitting time,” “time to punch the clock,” “happy hour,” “overtime,” after-hours,” “rush hour,” “commute home,” and so on.

Debrief Questions

1. What did this activity reveal about the variety of ways people communicate the same idea?
2. How can differences in language or terminology affect understanding within a team?
3. Were there phrases that meant different things to different participants? What does that suggest about communication in team settings?
4. How might using alternative words or explanations help when communicating with people from different professions, disciplines, or backgrounds?
5. What strategies can help ensure that a message is understood as intended by all team members?
6. How can being aware of language differences improve collaboration and communication outcomes in interprofessional or interdisciplinary teams?

Optional Closing Reflection:

What is one communication habit you can adopt to make your messages clearer and more accessible to others

Source

https://teambuilding.com/blog/communication-games By: Angela Robinson

Suggested Citation: CHBS IPE and IDE Council. (2026). Another Way to Say. CHBS IPE & IDE Instructional Toolkit. James Madison University.