How many times have you been a participant in a course where you’ve had to participate in the same old icebreaker? It starts off, “My name is…, I work in.., I hope to learn…” and so on. As a participant, I know – I’ve been there too. I share your pain. However, I love it when the icebreaker relates to the course content.
Since content is king, I let it drive the way I start every course. I think about content as being one of three types. There is technical content that deals with equipment or a physical process. Then, there is interpersonal content which is all about how we relate to each other as people. Some people call it “soft skills” but that’s another story. Finally, there is conceptual, or what I like to call “Mental Gymnastics.” Yeah, it’s that brain activity where we think about things, but we may not be physically involved in a task or interacting with another person. Each type of content inspires me to create a unique icebreaker. I’d like to share some that I’ve used.
One type of technical training is related to software and system updates. An icebreaker that I’ve used in this type of training really helps the participants accept organizational and technological changes. In groups, have your participants pick one gadget they currently use that wasn’t around 20 years ago – like a cell phone for example. Have them write the name of the gadget on a chart. Next, have them list all the things they love about it. Once they have completed their lists, have them share their ideas with the large group. You will find that the ideas on the lists outline some of the great benefits of our changing technology. You can wrap up the activity by offering the perspective that the benefits they have listed are the same benefits driving the changes that will be talked about in class.
Unless we are all replaced by robots (HA HA!), we work with people. There are many skills required to do this well, so the key to success here is to identify what you are teaching the group to “do.” For example, in a team building course, have the participants introduce themselves in teams. Invite them to create a group resumé. Have each person on the team take responsibility for a different component. Let’s say you have four people on a team. Maybe you want them to share years of experience, areas of expertise, course expectations, and hobbies. I know what you’re thinking, “Hey, isn’t that the same old tired intro?” Nope. While the information may be similar, the technique used really drives home the team element allowing each of the four team members to collect information, document it, and share it with the large group. As an additional challenge, have each team create a team name that captures a common theme among the team members.
When it comes to conceptual content, it’s not as abstract as you may think (pun intended). When training sales people, for example, you will find that they will need to communicate product information to their customers. The conceptual opportunity comes from their ability to analyze a customer situation, and offer the right product for the right situation. One of my favorite icebreakers comes from my time in improvisational theater. It’s called, “The Prop Intro.” Find a unique prop such as a tennis racket. Have participants introduce themselves by name, and then use the prop to illustrate something about themselves. I might hold the racket like a guitar and tell the group that I play guitar. Someone else might hold it like a frying pan and say that they enjoy cooking. The icebreaker will get the group thinking creatively, and offer a subtle reminder that each customer is unique.
I suggest you check out some of our resources for more icebreaker ideas. You can also Google “icebreakers,” and after you sift through the mint pages of the candy websites, you’ll find many great sites for classroom icebreakers. The mints remind me of another technique. Get some packages of “Icebreaker Mints,” have each participant take as many as they would like, tell them not to eat them yet, let them count how many they have taken, and then invite them to share that many things about themselves with a small group or the entire group.
Selecting a variety of icebreakers related to course content can create unique training experiences. This will be a welcome and “refreshing” change in any classroom.
Jim
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Thanks, this has many great ideas.
Working at a bank, one of the most important classes I facilitate each year is on the Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering. As an icebreaker this year, I’ve instituted a game called “Six of One, Half-Dozen of Another”. I have six categories on the board and six clues inside each category, and I ask the participants to guess what the six clues have in common. One category deals with one-named singers (Beyonce, Madonna, Bjork, etc.); there’s another category where all the listed items (a can, a cup, the Woodsman from Oz!) are made of tin.
After we get through all six categories, I have the participants look at the results and try to figure out what they have to do with BSA/AML, but to hold the answer until the appropriate section of the course. What they eventually disover is that each of the six categories relates to a piece of information that must be obtained and verified at account opening, as required by the BSA. Tying one-named singers into the requirement to gather the customer’s name is fairly obvious, but the best responses come when I tie things made of tin into gathering the customer’s Taxpayer Identification Number…or T.I.N.! The response from the early classes has been very positive, with many participants stating that the game and other changes in my presentation (no more “death by PowerPoint”!, more fill-in-the-blanks, self-test questions, interactive exchanges) have made retention easier and greatly increased enjoyment of the training.
The best part is, the seeds for these changes were planted during a conversaton with a fellow participant at a Langevin class I attended last year with the wonderful Miss Marsha!! I’m now coming up with ways to use similar icebreakers in my other compliance courses.
Good post – and great idea from Paul! How cool is that for helping people retain important information.