Getting your team to learn to work together and collaborate on their solution is key. It may seem like it will never happen—but it really does! Here are some icebreakers, fun exercises that practice Instant Challenge skills and also build teamwork and creativity.
Whether your team has never met each other before your first meeting, or has worked together for years, these are some great activities to help them get to know each other better. The goal of these activities is to make them feel comfortable around each other, to learn more about each individual team member, and to have some fun!
- Icebreaker: Two Truths and a Lie - Have every team member write down two things that are true about themselves and one lie. Make sure they do not reveal to anyone what they have written down...
- Icebreaker: Draw, Caption, Draw, Caption - This is similar to the game “Telephone,” where you sit in a circle and pass along a phrase by whispering it in the ear of the person next to you. In this game, instead of whispering phrases, you draw pictures and write captions...
- Icebreaker: A Cold Wind Blows - Have team members form a circle, with one person standing in the middle. The team member in the center says, “A cold wind blows for anyone who __________.” They fill in the blank with something that is true about them (is left handed, went to the beach this summer, etc.)...
- Icebreaker: Toilet Paper - Explain to the team that they are going camping and need to take as much toilet paper as they think they may need for a two-day trip. Pass the role of toilet paper around the table...
- Icebreaker: Human Machines - Tell the team that they will become different machines, using only their own bodies. Tell them that every team member must be a part of the machine...
- Icebreaker: Team-Created Team Building Activity - This part of the meeting was going to be spent completing an ice breaker/team building activity, but as the Team Manager, you don’t have any ideas. The team will then design their own team building activity...
- Icebreaker: Silent Introductions - Have team members get into pairs. If there’s an odd number, you can have a group of three. Each team member should introduce him/herself, but speaking is not allowed...
- Icebreaker: Similar & Unique - Have the team identify three things that everyone on the team has in common. Tell them that the more interesting similarities they come up with, the better...
- Icebreaker: Beach Ball Blast - Write at least 10-15 questions in permanent marker on a beach ball...Toss the ball to a team member. The team member should answer the question closet to his or her left thumb, then toss the ball to another team member...
- Icebreaker: It Could Have Been Worse - The Team Manager starts off by stating something bad that could happen (but not too bad) such as, “I forgot my homework.” The next team member says, “It could have been worse, you could have...
- Icebreaker: What’s On My Back? - Tape an image to each team member’s back. Team members should walk around the room, asking each other questions to figure out what is taped on their backs...
- Icebreaker: Storytelling - Tell each team member to write down a food, the name of someone in the room, a favorite place, a profession, something you’d buy in a store, an animal. Tell the team they will be using their lists to create a story together...
- Icebreaker: Drawing Back-to-Back - Have each team member draw 2-3 pictures. Have each sit back-to-back with another team member. Designate one in each pair as the instructor and one as the artist. Each instructor should describe to the artist one of the pictures they drew without identifying what it is...
- Icebreaker: The Machine Game - The object of this game is to create a machine out of the each team member (for example, a ceiling fan, hot air balloon, watch, etc.). Each person is accountable for one noise and one motion of the machine...
- Icebreaker: The Progressive Story - The Team Manager begins the story by setting the initial scene and mood. In no particular order, members of the team take over the story&emdash;one sentence at a time...