Holding meetings can be difficult if the people around you are familiar with each other. Most people are shy and don’t have the urge to talk to strangers when seated at a meeting or event. So getting people to either mingle or participate is an area as a leader you will have to get used to. If you are having trouble breaking the ice in the room here are a few ideas.
Two Truths and a Lie:
Go around the room and get each person to make three statements, two that are true and one that is a lie. Then get others to try and decide which is the lie.
End the sentence:
Write the beginning of a sentence (i.e My favorite movie is…, My hobby is…, I like my job because…,) Then go around the room to each person and get them to finish the sentence.
Something New:
If your meeting or event lasts more than one day get each person to share one thing they either liked or learned the previous day.
Lucky Coin:
If you are trying to get your group to use their brainpower, get each person to bring a coin with them. Go around to each person and read the date imprinted on the coin and recall something spectacular that happened that year.
The Four Cs:
Get each person to name a cartoon character, type of car, colour and cuisine to best describe themself. Then have them explain why.
Take Turns:
If your event is of a larger scale just ask each person where they are from and move on. This will give people an easy outlet when it comes to networking.
Virtual Networking:
People are less likely to attend social events if they don’t know anyone. If you collected registration information, try starting a Facebook page or Twitter chat and invite everyone coming to your event. This will give people a way to network before getting to the event and cut down the anxiety of not knowing anyone.
Icebreakers don’t have to be long or difficult, as long as it helps to create conversation and people interacting, that’s all that matters.
