Icebreakers: Short activities designed to build a positive climate. They allow teams to have fun and they promote collaboration.
We all know what icebreakers are, we’ve all used them and I bet we’ve all had situations where the icebreaker did not achieve the intended result of “breaking the ice.” As Instructors, we often go to our book of training games and pick a favourite icebreaker sometimes without much thought. Then we may blame the activity when something awkward or embarrassing happens during the icebreaker.
Over the years I’ve seen people become embarrassed during “Remember that Name,” a person recalling a hurtful situation while doing “Dreams and Nightmares” that made group members uncomfortable, and a person revealing very personal and private information during “Two Truths and a Lie,” again causing discomfort within the group. Keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with these icebreakers, but they have to be carefully set up and administered. I’ve seen people become upset, insulted, and angry as a result of activities that were intended to build climate and rapport. So let’s agree that any old icebreaker won’t do. We need to keep in mind that there is a strategy to selecting and conducting the right icebreaker at the right time.
Here are some tips:
Know your audience
What is their comfort level? What is their organizational level and what is the corporate culture? Is this a group that is in the forming stage, where an introduction activity is required, or has the group already formed and need a team-building icebreaker to get them to the next stage of group development?
Start off safe
The first icebreaker of the course should be very safe. Avoid asking participants to reveal very personal information too early. If people feel pressured early in the workshop it might have a negative effect.
Build gradually
Save activities that ask people to give up very personal information until later in the course when they feel more comfortable. On a multi-day course begin each day with an icebreaker to maintain climate and rapport.
Keep it simple
The instructions for the activity should be brief and clear. Keep the activity itself simple or it will be viewed as a time waster.
Make it relevant
If you can relate the icebreaker to the course content it becomes more meaningful.
So the next time you are planning a workshop, choose the icebreakers carefully. Selecting the right icebreaker for your group will assist you in building rapport among the learners and setting them up to work together to maximize their learning. If you would like to learn more about icebreakers, creativity, and fun in training, check out our 55 Creative Tools for Trainers book.
Langevin Team
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Great training reminders about proper & improper use of these tools.
thanks!