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GREAT 15 MINUTE ICEBREAKERS

Here are some fun icebreakers to open a meeting, begin a


training, or have a group of new people meet.

GO FISH - a fun game of non-threatening self disclosure.


You can make this exercise as intimate or generic as you like. Time frame
depending on the size of the group at each table
Create your own set of Go Fish cards that you put on each table at a
meeting. You can create them on the computer with fun graphics, or for
the quick and easy version, handwrite them on index cards and rubber
stamp the front. Ask a question on the back of each card, and leave
them face down on the table. The questions can range from the funny and
interesting to the more revealing and meaningful. Each person at the
table picks a random card and gets to share their answer with the group
in turn. If time allows, return the cards to the middle of the table and
pick another. Some question suggestions:
• What was the weirdest job you’ve ever had?
• What do you consider your biggest achievement to date?
• Who was your s/hero growing up and why?
• What is your favorite way to spend a leisurely day?
• What is your favorite stress reliever?
• What was your favorite TV show growing up?
• What is your favorite hobby or pastime?
• Who had the greatest positive influence in your life?

ROOM MIXER - Great for a group of strangers in a room or to open up


a training session.
Time Frame: 15-20 minutes
Create a list of 8-12 fun and interesting questions that people in the
group are going to need to find the answers to. Make a copy for each
person entering the room or have one sheet for every group of three
persons. Have everyone pick up a list as they enter the room or have
three people work in teams in the allotted time frame with the people in
the room.
Sample questions:
• Find someone in the room who has more than four siblings
• Find someone who is a middle child
• Find someone whose birthday is the same month as yours
• Find someone who has traveled to more than five countries
• Find someone who speaks more than one language
• Find someone who volunteers for a charity
• Find someone who has won something in a contest
The object is to get as many answers as you can by interacting with as
many people as you can. This is a non-threatening and fun way to meet
people. Questions can be slanted more to the topics at hand.
Interesting addition - have an attached sheet that includes a space
asking for each person’s proudest accomplishment. Have everyone ask
each other for that information. That creates an environment of respect
and allows people to tap into feeling good about themselves.
Give a prize for the most successful completion of the hunt.

STANDING POKER - Large or small group size


Time Frame: 10-15 minutes
Depending on the size of the crowd, have a few decks of cards on hand.
Hand each person a playing card from the deck as they walk in the room.
Their task is to assemble other people and combine their cards for the
best poker hand in the room. The winning team gets a small prize. You can
vary it for certain types of hands (i.e. all clubs in a row, all Kings.)

TABLE MIXER - Good for groups of six or so persons at a table.


While sitting at the table, ask each participant to write down two true
statements about their life and one thing that is false. Have each person
read each of their three things aloud and then have everyone guess and
write down which is the thing that is not true. You can also have the rest
of the people in the group ask one question each before the guessing is
done. This creates lots of fun and lively discussion. You can award a prize
for the person at the table with the most correct answers.

STANDING ROOM MIXER


Time Frame: 15-30 minutes
Tell people to get in random groups of 3-4 persons with those they do not
know in the room. Once they are in groups, ask them to see how quickly
they can find out three interesting things they all have in common (make
sure to leave out the obvious such as gender, physical similarities, same
career, etc.) Give a prize for the group that comes up with the most
creative or funny similarities.
Alternative - see how long a list the group can create of everything that
they found they have in common. Give a prize for the most extensive lists
of similarities. If you have time, you can have them switch to new groups.

COME ON UP
This is a fun icebreaker for a meeting or an event.
The facilitator stands in the front of the group and asks any person in
the room to come up if they can answer in the affirmative to any question
they ask.

Some Suggested questions:


Who plays an instrument in a group or a band?
Who volunteers on a regular basis for a charity.
Who has been on a television or a radio show?
Who has more than four siblings?
Who has an unusual hobby?
Who is a twin or a triplet?

Award a small prize for the first person to come up for each category.
This is a wonderful way to find out interesting things about the people in
your team or training group.
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