Why well-chosen icebreakers matter
Some people are always up for a bit of fun, whilst others approach “team building exercises” with dread. They find the forced participation, requirement to “share” or general rowdiness just horrible.
In fact, a recent thread for suggestions for icebreakers included comments like “kill me now”, “just don’t do any”, “there’s a special place in hell for people that think these are a good idea” and “I just point blank refuse to do anything like this”.
As a team building professional, these comments are like a stab to the heart. Whilst I acknowledge that some people despise team activities, if you can overcome this resistance, investing time in building rapport pays off tenfold. However, as leaders, let’s be considerate and identify some activities that are not objectionable to introverts and sceptics.
Well-chosen icebreakers and games accelerate your efforts to build a positive culture by stimulating cooperation, participation and comfort within the group. Plus, they can be a lot of fun.
Why take time out from a heavy agenda for some “game time”?
Veering from a dry agenda can yield an impressive list of benefits, but how will you protect your introverts and surprise your sceptics?
How to Make Team Building Better for Introverts
These suggestions are extracted from my longer post that delves into how leaders can harness the full potential of their introverts in a team environment. I talk about how to build a culture that is “introvert considerate” and empowers them to overcome their social unease and participate to full capacity.
Five aspects of team building games create unease in some introverts and need to be managed with a light touch: noise and chaos, feeling forced to reveal personal information, being put on the spot, physical touching and dealing with the energy of a large group of people. Let’s consider an approach to manage each of these:
Noise and chaos
With their lower threshold for stimulation, some of your introverts will not enjoy rowdy, chaotic activities. To manage this, balance your program and build up to games that are more exuberant. Don’t force this kind of energy on a “cold” room.
Personal information
Many people do not like being asked to reveal information about their personal lives to their workmates. Whilst one person can regale the room with their story of a recent heartbreak or bereavement, many more prefer to keep a strong boundary around their personal lives with workmates. When you choose an introduction game below, consider giving permission to keep people on safe ground.
Planning time
Following on from this point, also allow for planning. If you are planning a simple introduction-style icebreaker, perhaps warn people ahead of time so they can plan their response.
Physical contact
Some introverts won’t like tasks where people touch each other. I have found that with a warmed-up group, holding or touching hands for short periods is okay, but some people resist touching beyond that. Take great care planning breaks like group massages, being in close personal space or games where more than hands need to touch.
Large-group energy
Large groups are overwhelming for introverts, but smaller groups are okay. Split a large group into subgroups and encourage those small groups to build rapport and relationships, rather than expecting a large group to connect.
How to Deal with Sceptics
Congratulations. Once you’ve considered the needs of all your teammates in your choice of activity, you will get a better result.
Introduction Phase / Icebreakers for Small Seated Groups
These are suitable for groups who need to rapidly build rapport because they have a team deliverable.
- The length of time you expect each person to speak.
- The vulnerability or intensity of the comment. Early stages are not the time to encourage vulnerable sharing.
1. Ask a question that yields a simple, short story
Tell everyone something about yourself that not many people here would know. Tell everyone the best thing that happened to you this week. A twist on this is: what is your “secret skill”, or what superpower would you choose to have? Kind of like this idea but not sure? See a variation below.
2. Ask people to bring an item
Ask people to bring an item along, which is good for those who like notice, or source an item from their desk, wallet, handbag and so on. You can tie the direction into the goals of the workshop or meeting.
- Bring an item that represents motivation to you.
- Bring an item that represents inspiration for you.
- Bring an item that represents creative thinking for you.
- Bring an item that represents problem-solving for you.
3. Gamify the Introduction
Game 1: Two Truths and One Lie, variation
Two Truths and One Lie is a popular game, but it has a couple of drawbacks for individuals, as some people feel put on the spot and it can take a long time. A variation that overcomes both issues is to put people into groups of three and give the trio five minutes to come up with their two truths and one lie.
When ready, go trio by trio, with each person calmly stating either their truth or lie. The rest of the group has to figure out who is telling the truth and who is lying. Depending on time, you can allow each person to be asked one additional question by the other teams. This is great for the original trio to laugh and bond whilst deciding on their truths and lies. You will need to allow 20+ minutes for this game, but it can be a lot of fun.
Game 2: Boss of the World
Give each person a card to write on and three minutes. You are boss of the world today and get to make one law for perpetuity. What do you decide? Everyone reads theirs out.
Game 3: Matching Task / Team Quiz
If you have a little bit of time to prepare, do a matching task or quiz. You can do one question or use a few questions in and out of the breaks. Send them out in advance and put in a bit of preparation. Make a quick slide with the answers or stick sheets of paper to the wall. Then ask everyone to match answers with team members.
- What animal would you be?
- What superpower would you choose?
- What is your secret skill or party trick?
- Your best-ever brush with fame.
- What is the first TV show you got hooked on?
- What song would you play to get everyone on the dance floor?
Next level: Play excerpts of the songs or make a slideshow of the TV shows. You could even make a playlist of the songs to play during breaks.
Game 4: Inflatable Beach Ball Questions
Using a permanent marker, write very simple questions on an inflatable beach ball and throw it around a circle, answering fast questions.
- Favourite place
- Best pet
- Worst job
- Best band
- Star sign
- First car
- Favourite food
- Middle name
- Best podcast
- Postcode
- Number of siblings
- Best comedian
Not a Game: An Injection of Motivation
For a very different approach, suitable for teams who’ve worked together for some time and perhaps have external, not internal, obstacles, try the Positivity Game.
Tape a sheet of paper to everyone’s back and give everyone sticky notes. Ask everyone to write a positive word or phrase for every teammate and stick it onto their back. You will be amazed at the intensity of the comments. It is marvellous for building confidence and a sense of belonging in the team. Many teams, even sceptics, find this the most rewarding team exercise ever.
Energizer Games to Break Up an Agenda and Promote Teamwork
For smaller, seated groups.
Game 1: Australia
Give everyone a piece of paper and ask them to quickly tear a map of Australia, then vote on whose is best.
Game 2: Things in Common
Pose a series of questions where everybody has to find an answer in common. These need to be transferred to a sheet of paper.
- A movie you’ve all liked in the past five years.
- A world leader you all admire.
- A band you would all pay to see.
- A modern luxury you could all live without, or not live without.
- A musician from the past you all miss.
- Something you would all buy if you won $1 million, or a charity you would all support.
- A TV show you are embarrassed to admit that you have watched.
Game 3: Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower Challenge
A simple team building exercise that is enjoyable but has implications for innovation, design thinking, inclusiveness, leadership process, agility and other valuable attributes. There is a separate post on this activity and an excellent YouTube video about the exercise.
Game 4: Bad Stock Images Caption Contest
This is a purely fun and creative game. Find three or four bad stock images, download and paste them onto a sheet of paper, and hand them out. Ask participants to caption the ridiculous images, collect them and then read some aloud. There is a Facebook group for bad stock images with some hilarious ones you can download.
Game 5: Minute to Win It Games
If you have some space in the room, Minute to Win It games are generally popular. Choose those with easy props that you can test beforehand. We use several of the cup games in our events.
Knocking over bottles with a tennis ball in pantyhose on your head is quite hilarious.
Games to Break Up an Agenda and Foster Teamwork
For larger groups.
Game 1: Human Bingo
Create a 4 × 5 or 5 × 5 grid filled with interesting attributes.
- Bilingual
- Loves ice hockey
- Has two or more pets
- Is a twin
- Is left-handed
- Is a youngest child
- Has been more than 10 years at the company
- Has a master’s degree
- Loves heavy metal
There are many more examples on the separate Human Bingo post. Let it inspire you to create a fun bingo grid.
Game 2: Evolution Using Rock, Paper, Scissors
A simple, quick and fun energizer is Evolution. Starting as “eggs”, only 50% of people advance to the next level by winning a round of rock, paper, scissors. This game can be played outdoors or in a large cleared space. If indoors, tape off the sections with masking tape. There is also a PDF containing instructions for this easy, fun game.
Game 3: Would You Rather…
Another fun, energizing game. Ask a simple question and have people run, or scamper, either north or south, east or west in a cleared space. It’s all about making quick decisions.
Use simple questions that should be hard to decide:
- Chocolate or cheese?
- Elvis or the Beatles?
- Harry Potter or Game of Thrones?
- Spring or autumn?
- Coffee or alcohol?
- Live on a spaceship or a submarine?
- Meet your great-great-grandparents or great-great-grandchildren?
- Back to life: Princess Diana or Prince?
- Scrunch or fold toilet paper?
- Dancing or watching?
- Who would win in a fight: shark or crocodile?
- Window seat or aisle seat?
- Beach or mountains?
Game 4: All That We Share
This one is “deeper” and could work well for a session about mission. Based on a groundbreaking experiment run in Denmark to build a more cohesive society, this can be used as inspiration for your own activity. Watch the All That We Share YouTube clip first.
The format is so arresting that it could easily be adapted to suit a large group and a work culture. Think carefully about the questions. Start with light questions so you don’t intrude on people’s personal lives, but build into passion, purpose and values.
You could use potentially common life experiences, beginning with positive experiences like travel, study, learning music and playing sport, then moving into topics with more depth, such as having ageing parents, losing a beloved pet, moving away from friends or struggling with an illness or injury.
It is meant to be profound and there is an element of courage required, but steer clear of highly personal or sensitive topics. This is potentially very powerful for building empathy in your team and recognising the common humanity of everyone.
There is another example of All That We Share for a school and another example that starts with “Class Clown”, as that is often the person most equipped to step forward.
I’ve enjoyed sharing some ideas on creating inclusive, enjoyable team building games. Let me know how you go.