Note From Beth: Having good openers (and closers) are essential to the success of your training workshop. I always incorporate an icebreaker, a short exercise that lets people introduce themselves and tap into existing knowledge. I have a repertoire of icebreakers and always like to discover new ones. I noticed that Jen Bokoff from the Foundation Center was re-tweeted a photo of an icebreaker she used at her conference session on facilitation techniques. She kindly offered to cross post her blog post about icebreakers here.
Icebreakers Can Be Fun! Guest Post by Jen Bokoff
Last week, Janice from Exponent Philanthropy and I led a conference session called Facilitation: Tools of the Trade. Before we shared our top 13 tips for effective meetings, we had the 100 attendees do some icebreakers in small groups to get to know each other and to prove that the beginnings of meetings don’t have to be boring or the same every time. Here are the ones we featured:
It’s (not) only a napkin:
- Share your name.
- Show an alternative use of the napkin by tearing or folding.
Materials: paper napkin for everyone
Feedback: Really encourages thinking outside the box and being creative. We saw a bunny and a boat as two favorites.
Selfie time:
- Share your name.
- Share what social media networks you use.
- Take a group selfie.
- Post to the Internet loud and proud!
Materials: at least one smart phone
Feedback: Very interesting, especially in a generationally mixed room. Also, fun results!
Group selfie ice breakers in our facilitation meeting! @GaimanFND @tdeghunter and others at #exponent14 pic.twitter.com/QiKUCXckIV
— Helen J. Serini Fndn (@hjsfoundation) October 31, 2014
And one more.
#exponent14 Purple Table pic.twitter.com/A2x5eUxubO — Maria Schwab (@musumecigirl) October 31, 2014
Pet peeves:
- Share your name.
- Share something that is a huge pet peeve for you, about meetings or otherwise.
Materials: none
Feedback: Mixed. Didn’t like negative framework, but also were able to bond over common ones, like conference nametags that hang too low!
Dance your name:
- Stand together in a circle.
- Share your name.
- Share a dance move to go with your name.
- Everybody together repeat the name and the dance move.
- At the end, go around and do them all together again.
Materials: noneFeedback: So much fun! Renee captured some of the letting loose on Twitter:
Having fun at the Facilitation: Tools of the Trade workshop. #Exponent14 pic.twitter.com/drvnHLv5ks — Renee Steffen (@renee_steffen) October 31, 2014
Standard intros:
- Say your name.
- Share where you’re from.
- Share your role at your organization.
- Share why you’re here.
Materials: none
Feedback: Great. Easy way to get context.
and, because you’re reading this post, here’s a bonus one that we left out.
Superpowers:
- Share your name.
- Share a skill you have that you’re proud of.
- Share a superpower you wish you had.
Materials: none
Even at the most standard of board meetings, a little connection at the beginning can go a long way, and going outside the comfort zone can lead to some good laughs and even better conversation. Can you commit to spicing up your meetings and improving connection with a good icebreaker?
And, if you have other good ones to share, please leave them in the comments!
Jen Bokoff is the Director of Grant Craft at the Foundation Center.
