How to Run a Successful Icebreaker Exercise at Work
No matter what industry you are in, when you reach a leadership role in your career, you’ll likely need to organize some kind of staff discussion, client meeting, professional development workshop, management training, networking event, or all of the above. Icebreakers are a great way to effectively kick off these group interactions, allowing people to get to know each other on a personal level to foster teamwork and form new connections.
Here are our icebreaker tips that will help set you up for success before and during your meeting or event.
Put your time management skills to work
No one ever wants to be in a meeting that runs over, but especially not because the icebreaker went on for too long. Block off enough time for the exercise well beforehand, based on the number of participants and length of the meeting. For instance, an all-day workshop with your whole team could warrant 30-60 minutes, while you’d want to limit it to more like 15 minutes of a two-hour meeting. Once the meeting begins, help moderate the activity so that you stick to the schedule as planned.
Identify some out-of-the-box questions
The sky is the limit when it comes to deciding on a good icebreaker question. The trick is to go with something that will help people connect and share what makes them unique. Three favorite examples of mine are: what’s the brand that best represents your personality, what was the best day of your life so far (excluding obvious milestones such as your wedding or birth of your child), and what is one thing you haven’t done yet on your bucket list. Career Contessa has an amazing list of 100+ other icebreaker ideas to check out.
Emphasize quality thinking over spontaneity
Share your icebreaker question with the group when you circulate the meeting or event agenda (either the day prior or at least a few hours before), so people can give it real thought and be prepared. Icebreaker exercises in professional settings can by nature feel a little awkward, and it’s hard for people to devote energy to critical thinking in that kind of environment. Help alleviate the extra pressure that comes with being put on the spot last minute by allowing people to mull over what they’ll contribute.
Make it fun
For a more informal icebreaker, bring some interactive engagement into the mix by using props. To keep people on their toes, you could have participants toss around a small object to determine who will speak next, instead of simply going around the table. Or for another fun twist, write out questions (such as what do you prefer, Dunkin or Starbucks?) on a beach ball and pass it around the group. Wherever your hand lands on the ball, you have to ask the question aloud and give an answer.
Consider the outcomes
In networking situations, bingo or scavenger hunt activities are great icebreakers that allow participants to engage with a slew of people in a short amount of time and learn fun facts about each other (like who’s traveled to more than five countries and who played a sport in college). To make this most valuable, make sure people are given the chance to have real conversations and collect contact information from those they are meeting – don’t make it all about the competition to fill out their sheet first.
To improve your people management skills and leave a positive impression on your team or community, try out some of these icebreaker ideas the next time you’re running a work meeting or professional event.
Erin Cornell is a twenty-something communications professional and blogger living in Boston, still trying to figure out this whole “adulting” thing. Follow along at www.abrowneyedberry.com and @abrowneyedberry to read more of her wellness, style, and career advice geared towards millennial women.