Ice Breaker Warm Up Activities - Suggestions for Meetings?

[Anonymous]

Pennies.

Give everyone a penny. Tell them to look at the date on said penny. Then have each person announce where they were/what happened to them that year (birth year, HS, got married, kids, covid, whatever) - small groups or in front of everyone.
I've done it both ways.

[Anonymous]

If you can have them do it in a small group (like with the people at their table), that's so much better than having everyone go around the room. And you might have a fighting chance of it not taking all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pennies.

Give everyone a penny. Tell them to look at the date on said penny. Then have each person announce where they were/what happened to them that year (birth year, HS, got married, kids, covid, whatever) - small groups or in front of everyone.
I've done it both ways.

I like this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pennies.

Give everyone a penny. Tell them to look at the date on said penny. Then have each person announce where they were/what happened to them that year (birth year, HS, got married, kids, covid, whatever) - small groups or in front of everyone.
I've done it both ways.

I like this one.

I (extrovert) prefer to not share too much about my generation / age in a public setting.

I have liked ice breaker we’ve done where people wrote “6 word life stories” and then could choose to share their 6 words. At a luncheon once we were told to introduce ourselves to someone we didn’t know and ask them about someone who had influenced them. The person I met ended up having formerly been an ambassador and that was fascinating. Finally, I did a listening exercise where one person spoke for 2 mins about “what’s been on your mind recently” (in a work context this was things like problems or ideas) while the other person wasn’t allowed to say anything. Then the listener repeated back the main points they thought they heard and shared their impressions about context / things that were left unsaid. We then switched roles. That was one activity during a larger ice breaker but obviously required small groups. It was also a little hard to hear given all the groups in the room.

[Anonymous]

The last time work had one of these stupid icebreakers they asked everyone who their quidditch team they were on or whatever and I said sorry im a muggle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you must, just ask them to introduce themselves. Please don't ask for a fun fact.

Ask for favorite movie, book, or food - something neutral that everyone has.

[Anonymous]

Might take too long but "2 Truths and a Lie" can be bearable and fun if people are in the mood to be lightly funny. Basically people have to guess which thing about a person is incorrect. Each person supplied their own 3 statements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for new or creative ice breaker activities to warm up a board of trustees. 30 minutes or less. Google and AI have not been much help. The board is comprised of men and women, ages 40-70, diverse backgrounds, introverts and extroverts, some of whom are new, some on the board for 6+ years. Group size is 25 people. Everyone appreciates efficient use of time while also being able to connect new members with the more seasoned members as quickly as possible. What has worked for your group?

Don't do that. Just don't do that. Nobody likes that kind of Pre-K stuff.

[Anonymous]

We did 2 truths and a lie at my last job. It ended up being really interesting and led to a lot of discussions between people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pennies.

Give everyone a penny. Tell them to look at the date on said penny. Then have each person announce where they were/what happened to them that year (birth year, HS, got married, kids, covid, whatever) - small groups or in front of everyone.
I've done it both ways.

I like this idea but I don't think something that would date someone is a good idea for work.

[Anonymous]

My advice is don’t be a loser.

[Anonymous]

Everyone hates the forced work ice breakers.

[Anonymous]

Don't do anything fun fact. Perhaps let people choose to share either an Interesting fact about themselves, a motto or saying they live by, or a favorite vacation spot.

[Anonymous]

AI Overview
Icebreaker ideas for a work conference should be engaging and promote interaction. Options include "Two Truths and a Lie," "Would You Rather," "Human Bingo," or a "Team Trivia" game. For a more creative approach, consider activities like "Dream Vacation," "Bucket List," or "If I were a Superhero." These activities encourage participants to share personal details, fostering connections and a more relaxed atmosphere.
Here are some specific icebreaker ideas:

Quick and Easy:
"Two Truths and a Lie":
Each person shares three "facts" about themselves – two true and one false – and the group guesses the lie.

"Would You Rather":
Ask participants to choose between two options, encouraging quick responses and sparking conversation.

"Human Bingo":
Create bingo cards with squares like "Has traveled to 3 continents," "Speaks more than 2 languages," etc., and have people mingle to find individuals who match the descriptions.

More Engaging:
"Dream Vacation":
Have participants share their dream vacation and why they chose it.

"Bucket List":
Participants share one item on their bucket list, promoting shared aspirations.

"If I Were a Superhero":
Ask participants to share what superpower they would choose and why, linking it to their professional strengths.

"Team Trivia":
Create a quiz about the company, its products, or even pop culture to test knowledge and spark friendly competition.

"Meet Three People":
Encourage attendees to meet and briefly chat with three other participants, promoting networking.

"Snowball Fight":
Write down a question or topic on a piece of paper, crumple it into a "snowball," and have a lighthearted "snowball fight" to encourage interaction and discussion.

Creative & Collaborative:
"The Alphabet of Ideas":
Use a letter from the alphabet to inspire ideas related to a specific topic.

"Puzzle":
Provide a puzzle for participants to assemble, fostering teamwork and communication.

"Word and Image Association":
Encourage participants to connect words and images, stimulating creativity and collaboration.

Tips for Success:
Keep it short and sweet: Don't let icebreakers drag on; aim for quick activities that get people talking.

Choose appropriate questions: Select questions that align with the conference theme and the participants' interests.

Be inclusive: Ensure that all participants feel comfortable participating and sharing their thoughts.

Encourage interaction:Facilitate movement and conversation among attendees.

Set the tone: Encourage a positive and relaxed atmosphere.

By incorporating these ideas, you can create a welcoming and engaging environment for your work conference, fostering connections and setting the stage for a successful event.

[Anonymous]

Here's an icebreaker..."Do you find AI useful or useless? Discuss".