Icebreakers in Workshops and Meetings

• Purpose of Icebreakers
  • Enhance relationships
  • Boost creativity
  • Warm up participants
  • Set the tone for workshops
  • Facilitate understanding of workshop process

Top Three Icebreakers

1. My First Job

• Materials Needed: Sticky notes, Sharpies
• Steps:
  1. Participants write down their name, their first job, and what they learned from that job.
  2. Participants share their responses with the group.
  3. Optional: For a group that knows each other, anonymize responses and guess who belongs to which job.

2. Pointless Questions

• Materials Needed: None
• Steps:
  1. Prepare at least three non-work related, fun, inclusive questions.
  2. Set a timer for responses to each question.
  3. Go around the room and read responses.
  4. Repeat with more questions if time allows.
• Example Questions:
  • If you could invite any celebrity over for dinner, who would it be and why?
  • What is your most prized possession and why?
  • If you could have an unlimited supply of one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

3. Pictionary

• Materials Needed: Whiteboard or drawing surface, prompts (words to draw)
• Steps:
  1. Prepare prompts ahead of time (write on cards or use a generator).
  2. Pick a name for who will draw first.
  3. Give the person a prompt and allow 30 seconds to draw while the group guesses.
  4. Ensure everyone gets a turn to draw.

Bonus Icebreaker: Draw a Duck

• Materials Needed: Sticky notes, Sharpies
• Steps:
  1. Give each participant sticky notes and a Sharpie.
  2. Set a timer for one minute to draw a duck.
  3. Place drawings on the whiteboard.
  4. Briefly introduce and review the drawings.

Additional Notes

• Icebreakers ease participants into the workshop environment.
• Useful for warming up and getting creative juices flowing.
• Familiar games can make participants more comfortable.

Resources

• Facilitator Club: More icebreaker ideas and facilitation tips available in the description below the original video.
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