Introduction
Think about your first Office Ice Breaker. When I think back to my earliest professional experiences, one thing stands out: how uncomfortable I was. Not just because I wasn’t very good at what I did (yet), but also because there was this sense of “fear” when meeting new people or being in unfamiliar places. This lack of confidence made it hard to be myself around others–and that made it difficult to connect with them in any meaningful way. Fast forward a few years and today, I’m so much more comfortable in my own skin that meeting new people hardly fazes me anymore. But what about those early days? Those first moments when you don’t know anyone else in your department well enough to start talking about anything beyond work? That’s where ice breakers come into play!
Office Ice breakers … You have to get to know each other…
As a new employee, you want to make a good impression. You want your coworkers to like you, and you want them to trust that you can do your job well. A great way to accomplish both of these things is by getting to know each other.
- Getting to know each other is important
In any workplace situation, it’s important for people on different teams—or even in different departments—to get together at least once a month or so. This will help build trust between employees, which helps everyone feel more comfortable working together as a team when they need to pull off some big project or just collaborate on something small and quick.
- Getting to know each other is a process
Getting-to-know-each-other meetings aren’t meant as formal networking events; they’re not going anywhere anytime soon! They’re designed specifically so that each person has an opportunity every time they go (or send someone else) into get one step closer toward forming meaningful relationships with their coworkers beyond just name tags and titles associated with positions within an organization.”
Office Ice breakers … in a way that builds trust and respect.
One of the best ways to get to know someone is by asking them questions. In fact, we’ve written an entire article about how to ask great questions—and it’s a must-read if you’re looking for some great ideas.
But what kind of questions should you ask? You could ask something personal like “What are your hobbies and interests?” or maybe even more fun, “If you could be any animal in the world, which one would it be?” The answers will give you insight into their personality and interests, which could help when building a rapport with them later on down the road.
Another option is asking them about themselves: “How did you end up working here?” or “What do you think makes this company so successful?” These kinds of questions give people an opportunity to talk about themselves without feeling like they’re bragging or being self-centered–and it gives everyone else listening an opportunity to learn something new!
Ice breakers … are about learning about the people around you–about themselves, their lives, their interests.
As you can see, there are many ways to make icebreakers fun for your employees. They’re a great way to get people together and help them learn about each other. But more than that, they’re an opportunity for you to learn about the people who work for you–about their interests, their work style, and even their personalities.
You should also encourage your employees to use this time as an opportunity to share some of their own stories with each other. You’ll get a chance to hear about their families and hobbies as well as what makes them tick professionally and personally. By learning how each person is different from one another, not only will it help build camaraderie among co-workers but it will also make them better at doing their jobs because they’ll be able to adapt new strategies based on these differences rather than relying on tried-and-true methods every single time they interact with others in similar situations without knowing anything else about those individuals except perhaps whether or not they look good wearing blue jeans (which isn’t always necessarily true).
Ice breakers … in a way that gives you insight into their work style and potential contributions.
Ice breakers are a great way to learn about the people around you. You can learn about their work style and potential contributions, their interests, the families they support, even their hobbies and personal lives. It’s all just right there on the surface!
Ice breakers … We are social animals…
You are a social animal. You like to be around people, you like to talk to them, and you like to connect with those who share your interests. So does everyone else! This is why we have things such as sports teams and book clubs: so that we can find others with similar interests as us and enjoy time together in a friendly atmosphere.
Ice breakers … should be fun!
Here are some ice breaker activities that are sure to be fun:
- Take turns telling a joke or funny story. (The person who laughs first loses!)
- Have everyone stand up, and one by one say something positive about themselves or another person in the group. Try not to repeat what someone else said before you had a chance to add your own idea!
- In groups of 2 or 3, take turns telling each other something personal about yourself that no one knows yet. You might surprise each other with how much you have in common!
Ice breakers … If you’re working on a new team, it can help you learn more about one another.
An icebreaker can help you get to know each other, learn about each other’s interests, families and hobbies. Learn about their work style and potential contributions to the team. Learn about past work experience, work ethic and work habits. Icebreakers can work well in a
remote setting.
Ice breakers … If it’s a large group, try having smaller groups and connect them later.
If the group is large, it might be difficult to get everyone to meet and get to know each other. If this is the case, try breaking into smaller groups. As you assign people into their respective teams, make sure to ensure that you have one or two people (or more) who are in each group so that every person has someone else they can talk with if they want. The smaller groups allow everyone in them more opportunity for interaction, which helps foster a sense of togetherness amongst your employees.
If you want even more opportunities for interaction between coworkers and management, consider having multiple ice breakers running at once! This can give employees who may not feel comfortable participating in the first event–or those who are shy–another option where they won’t feel put on edge by being singled out as new or unknown faces in an unfamiliar environment.
Ice breakers… People who’ve worked together for a long time need ice breakers too.
Ice breakers can be a fun, informal way to learn more about one another. They don’t have to be just for new hires, either—those who have worked together for a long time need ice breakers too. Ice breakers can help you learn more about each other’s work style and potential contributions. You may discover that one person has an amazing ability to stay calm under pressure or that another has an encyclopedic knowledge of some topic relevant to your business (perhaps even one outside your industry). Or maybe everyone is interested in something unexpected—like a shared hobby or passion project!
The best part? It doesn’t matter if anyone has a stellar personality; even if they don’t say much at first, ice breakers will help them feel comfortable enough to speak up later on so that you get real-world results from your team members instead of missed opportunities.
Ice breakers… You can find common ground through shared activities that are neither about work or jobs.
As a leader, it’s important to be able to relate to your team. In this section of the course, we’ll discuss how you can use common ground as an ice breaker.
You might be surprised by what your employees have in common in their personal lives. You could learn that they all love hockey or music, or they’re all avid runners or travelers. It turns out that people often have more in common than they think!
By bringing up these similarities, you’re helping them feel more connected to each other as well as to you.
Even when casual, ice breakers can be professional.
But don’t let that put you off. While icebreakers can be fun and help you get to know your co-workers, they can also be used in a way that builds trust and respect among the people who participate.
This article will explain how to use icebreakers effectively as a professional tool in your
workplace.
Ice breakers … lead to better teamwork.
Icebreakers are a great way to get to know your coworkers. They can help build trust, as you learn about your co-workers’ interests, work styles, and personalities. You also can learn what makes each person unique and how he or she approaches the workday.
Icebreakers also help you work together better as a team. By getting everyone talking, they encourage collaboration and open communication—which are important when it comes time for team projects or big decisions!
Conclusion
At the end of the day, ice breakers can be a great way to feel comfortable with new people. They’re also a great way for groups of workers who have been together for a long time to get back into their groove and reconnect as teammates or friends. You don’t need any special training or equipment.
