Icebreaker Games for Meetings to Boost Engagement
When people hear the word “icebreaker” it tends to bring back memories of awkward school days. Standing up in front of the class and having to talk about yourself for 5 minutes is a moment that brings dread at the best of times. But icebreaker games for work and questions don’t have to be uncomfortable.
If you work in a company office environment, chances are you run or partake in meetings throughout the week. Why not use icebreakers as part of a workshop before a meeting to warm up staff and get their minds ready? These could be client meetings or just catching up on projects with other team members. Consider incorporating these into your routine, or send this blog to your manager and suggest trying something new.
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Team Meeting Ice Breakers
Icebreaker games for work can be incorporated into your meeting session on a number of levels. There are so many team meeting ice breakers to choose which require no equipment and can be completed in 5 minutes. Other activities are more elaborate and can span several meetings.
Think about your team dynamic and plan some games that complement the members of the team. Speak to other employees and ask their opinions. Is there something they’ve always wanted to try? Get everyone involved and make it a team effort. Working on having a strong bond and good communication within a team is vital in the workplace.
As well as creating a more harmonious environment, team meeting ice breakers can boost productivity and motivation, perfect for remote teams. If you are having a meeting which spans between departments and not everyone knows each other, taking time for icebreakers is important. Delegates may feel like they have to hold back with ideas if they are surrounded by people they don’t know. Trying a few icebreaker games for meetings before the discussion allows everyone to feel more comfortable.
2 Minute Ice Breakers
If you want to have a quick team meeting, why not try some of these 2 minute ice breakers beforehand. They are perfect for getting delegates thinking, particularly if the meeting is the first task of the day.
1. Desert Island
You can choose anything for this game, from games to films to books. Choose a category and ask each member of the team which entertainment they love and would take to a desert island with them.
2. Worst Careers
Ask everyone to describe their worst job and why. Could range from having to scrub the bins out to not getting on with the boss. Either way, it’s a fun way to get to know people and share a laugh.
3. Would You Rather?
This is a good one if you have more space in your meeting room and want to get people moving. Divide the room into two sections and give delegates the choice of two options, such a beach holiday or skiing holiday. Ask people to move to the side they’d prefer. If your delegates don’t know each other, this is a great way to find common connections.
4. Five Things
The ‘five things’ icebreaker activity is an effective tool for fostering engagement and creating a positive atmosphere in meetings. In this activity, participants take turns sharing five things about themselves. These could be anything from hobbies and interests to memorable experiences.
This simple 2-minute icebreaker activity not only helps team members get to know each other on a personal level but also encourages active listening and interaction. By sharing personal tidbits, participants break the ice, build connections, and establish a more comfortable environment for collaboration.
5. Encouragement Circle
This 2 minute ice breaker activity is great for enhancing positivity and team cohesion during meetings. In this activity, participants form a circle and take turns offering genuine words of encouragement or appreciation to the person on their right. This simple yet impactful gesture can boost morale, increase motivation, and create a supportive atmosphere within the team.
By actively acknowledging each other’s strengths and contributions, participants not only foster a sense of belonging but also build trust and rapport. This 2-minute ice breaker activity is particularly valuable for boosting team spirit, reducing stress, and reminding everyone of their collective goals.
6. Who am I?
This icebreaker activity is a dynamic way to promote engagement and critical thinking in meetings. In this 2 minute ice breaker, participants are given adhesive notes with the names of famous personalities, which they then stick onto their colleagues’ foreheads without seeing their own assigned name.
Through a series of yes-or-no icebreaker questions, participants deduce the identity written on their notes. This activity encourages active participation, creative questioning, and collaborative problem-solving. It not only sparks laughter and camaraderie but also enhances communication skills and builds a sense of camaraderie.
5 Minute Ice Breakers
These 5 minute icebreakers are slightly more in-depth and allow the team to get to know each other better. Have these on hand to warm your team up and get people talking.
1. Truth and Lie Quiz
Everyone has played this at least once. Go around the group and ask each person to share 2 truths and a lie, and allow everyone to guess which is the lie. A good way to get to know team members and have some fun.
2. Guess Who
When delegates arrive, ask them to write down 5 words to describe themselves. Once this is complete, shuffle the papers and allow everyone to guess which sheet of paper belongs to which person. It’s always interesting to see what people think of themselves and a good icebreaker.
3. Subscription Challenge
Ask everyone to write down a few media sources they subscribe to. This could be magazines, podcasts or newspapers. Invite each person to put their answer in a bowl and take turns reading them out. The rest of the team must then guess which media source belongs to which person. This is an interesting one because it shows interests and hobbies which the team might not know about based on what people subscribe to.
4. What Was Your Worst Job?
This 5 minute icebreaker activity offers a lighthearted and relatable way to energise meetings. In this brief, five-minute activity, participants take turns sharing their most memorable and challenging job experiences.
This exercise not only injects a sense of humour into the meeting but also encourages openness and vulnerability among team members. By recounting their less-than-ideal work situations, participants create a shared space for empathy and understanding. This activity effectively breaks the ice, encourages active participation, and fosters a more relaxed atmosphere for the rest of the meeting.
5. Paper Aeroplane Game
The paper aeroplane game serves as an interactive and dynamic 5-minute icebreaker activity for meetings, offering a five-minute burst of energy and collaboration. In this icebreaker activity, participants create paper aeroplanes and then take turns throwing them towards a target.
The distance or accuracy of each throw can determine the level of engagement, fun, and friendly competition. This activity not only breaks the ice but also encourages a playful atmosphere, fostering team bonding and reducing any initial meeting tensions. By physically participating in the creation and flight of paper aeroplanes, colleagues quickly form connections and engage with each other in a memorable way.
6. Rapid Fire Questions
This 5-minute icebreaker is an ideal addition to meetings as it swiftly sparks engagement and cultivates a dynamic atmosphere. By challenging participants to think on their feet and come up with creative questions within a limited time, the activity breaks down initial barriers and encourages active participation.
It not only prompts spontaneous conversations but also prompts colleagues to learn more about each other’s interests and perspectives. The quick rotations between asking and answering questions ensure that everyone has a chance to interact, fostering a sense of inclusivity.
Meeting Warm Up Games
If you have a little bit more time, these icebreakers are great for a more in-depth game. Consider making time once a week for everyone to engage in a little team building activity before a staff meeting. See how doing this can change the dynamic of the meeting session and improve engagement.
1. Scavenger Hunt
This is a great one for before a meeting on a Friday. Split employees into teams and give each team clues to find prizes which you’ve hidden strategically around the office or even the car park. Prepare a little prize for the team which wins. You can go as simple or as complicated as you like with this one. If you want to encourage new bonds, split the teams so that delegates are working with people they don’t know well. This can encourage new connections in the workplace.
2. Build a Tower
Split your team into 3 small groups and give them 3 feet of tape, 3 feet of string, 20 pieces of dry spaghetti and a marshmallow. Ask each team to try and build the highest possible tower without it falling over. Give them ten minutes to complete this and award a prize to the best project.
3. Speed Dating
This one is ideal for a meeting which involves different departments within the company and you want people to mingle and ask questions. Split everyone into pairs and set a timer allowing 3 minutes per pair for them to quiz each other and find out as much about their professional life, skills and hobbies as possible.
After the 3 minutes, sound a timer and get people to move to the next person. The aim of speed dating is for everyone to have had a good conversation with each delegate. When the meeting begins, ideas and conversation will flow much better.
4. Show and Tell
The “show and tell” meeting warm-up game is a valuable activity that not only energises participants but also promotes creativity and connection. In this game, each participant takes a few minutes to present an object of their choice, explaining its significance, relevance, or story.
This encourages personal expression and builds a bridge between colleagues’ professional and personal lives. Through visual aids and storytelling, participants engage with each other on a deeper level, fostering empathy and understanding.
5. Icebreaker Bingo
This meeting warm up game is excellent for facilitating interaction and networking among participants. The icebreaker bingo game involves distributing bingo cards with various characteristics, experiences, or interests typically found among the group members.
As participants mingle, they aim to find individuals who match these descriptions and mark off the corresponding squares on their cards. This game effectively encourages participants to initiate conversations and learn more about their colleagues. By actively seeking commonalities and engaging in lighthearted discussions, attendees break the ice and create connections.
6. Pictionary
Pictionary is a dynamic and entertaining meeting warm-up game that encourages creativity, teamwork, and a sense of camaraderie. In this game, participants are divided into teams. Each team takes turns selecting a word or phrase and then attempting to convey it to their teammates through drawings, without using any words.
This game sparks laughter and excitement as participants interpret and sketch out concepts in a limited time frame.
Fun Icebreakers for Meetings
The word “icebreaker” causes so much shuffling and eye-rolling, so it’s important you find games that your team actually like doing. Meeting new people can be a little awkward at first, whether this be at a conference or workshops, which is why these games are so important.
Ask your team to review the icebreaker games for work meetings afterwards and see what they liked or what could be improved on. Use software such as TINYpulse to encourage feedback from the whole team. If you continue this as a regular thing, team members will become accustomed to them and will be willing to try new things.
Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day, so don’t expect to get it right every time. Experiment with simple team building activities to find techniques that work for your team dynamic that people will love.
Meeting Rooms in Oxford
If you want to take your meeting offsite and benefit from high spec equipment, why not book a meeting room with Milton Hill House. We have all the facilities you need to have an engaging, successful meeting.
Whether you’re meeting an important client, or want to show your team the benefit of offsite meetings, we have somewhere for you. Choose from one of our 20 modern meeting spaces which have space for up to 170 guests. Each room can be adapted to your needs and arranged in a range of styles from boardroom to classroom.
For longer meetings, our team can provide a range of catering options to keep delegates refreshed throughout. We also boast 120 double and twin rooms for anyone travelling from afar. Choose from one of our meeting packages to enable you to get the most from our facilities. If you want to revolutionise your meeting, contact our team today to book your meeting room.
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