Ice breaker games that you don't hate??

[pastypirate]

I'm doing a session at a team building event tomorrow. What do you not all loathe? I'm doing two truths and a lie so far. It's only for about half an hour and essentially as a team we get on great.

One of the best activities I've done as an icebreaker is "lost at sea": insight.typepad.co.uk/insight/2009/02/lost-at-sea-a-team-building-game.html

This works well if you have a large group that you can split into two or more teams.

Hate 2 truths and a lie and any kind of 'surprising facts about me' type things. The only ice breaker I've ever done that didn't make me want to crawl out my own skin was when they went round the room and we were asked how/why we got our name. I have an uncommon name and a bit of a story but others were just because their mum/dad liked it etc... in our age group a lot of folk were named for someone and everyone seemed to enjoy talking about that.
But, a half hour early finish is defo preferable lol!

Ice breakers are no fun unless you know everyone well enough to be comfortable with them-and then they're pointless.

I think the only ones that aren't just cringing myself inside out are where it's something bland which you can say anything like "it's your last breakfast what do you choose?" Still don't like them.

I'd go for the packet of chocolate biscuits and let people continue chatting.
Alternatively you could do something like bingo which takes no thought process nor skill.

I'm work we have two which are fine :

Pineapple on pizza - yes/no?

Favorite desert/breakfast/way to cook eggs.

I actually really like this one

Won't you think of us introverts?!!! There's really nothing worse than introverts to have to think of a hilarious or interesting fact about ourselves and share it with a bunch of randoms it's just cringetastic. Just an introduction with name and job role is plenty.

OP - still looks for ideas.

😂

I've messaged the team and asked if they even want the games!

I like the Pictionary idea too. I might steal that for when the need arises.

The thing is, sessions generally go better when people join in, but asking a group to share personal or interesting things about them won't make it happen. I'm an introvert and always feel really inadequate when the first 2 people talk about their time as Olympic athletes / formula one drivers and the best I can do is that once won a library competition.

Things that are fun and a bit silly - like the Pictionary - shouldn't make anyone feel uncomfortable and are more likely to warm the group up. Ponders why an ice-breaker is the default term for a preparation activity to get people working together. Surely you want to warm them up...

Instead of each person saying something about themselves (boak); get them to tell a lie about themselves

@Poppins2016 - we did that one once. Boss said 'use the gun first to shoot iklboo then we won't have to worry about having no food for a while'. I was extremely humiliated, even though other colleagues called her out on it.

So, no. Not that one.

A round of articulate
someone volunteers (hopefully) or gets nominated! And others call out answers. It's fun and not intrusive

Don't give them choice !!!

Absolutely not. That would make me so stressed.

Mo icebreakers at all. Perhaps only a pub -quiz type game with people in teams . Absolutely nothing on an individual basis. There’s a game called bus stop that might do as a team game.

Can I also add how much I hate the creeping death of "Let's all go around the room and introduce ourselves". I occasionally permit myself to be coerced into compliance* but generally it's a firm refusal but with a promise to participate actively in the discussion ;)

*"Hi I'm Jo" <looks expectantly at next victim person>

Jo

Wink murder. Always a good 'un

Oh hell, I thought I'd mentioned my worst icebreaker but I've just come out in a cold sweat remembering one from 10 years ago.
30 people. Two lines of 15 standing facing each other about 6 feet apart. Focus on the opposite person and gradually walk towards each other until your noses touch. Why?????

I absolutely HATE all ice breakers.
The most I'd do is a quiz, something that's not personal.

I hate them all, they're embarrassing and pointless.

All rubbish unless you do snog, marry, avoid within the group and each person MIST select three!

Stand in line and pass the orange without using your hands -

Alternate each person boy, girl, boy, girl. 😬

https://youtube.com/shorts/aamFA8_ZJ3s

Boiled egg eating competition

None of them.

I had an actually great fun one at the last team day I went to.

The organiser put bags of sweets, chocolate bars and Pringles tubes in various people's hands as we all sat in a large circle (on chairs!)

She then read a story where each time she said the word "left" we had to pass the item left and when she said "right" we passed it right.
In whatever context right or left were used. She based the story on our boss. So it was sort of

"Right", said boss's name, as he left his car and turned left towards the corridor, "We must ensure none of our customers are left out of this promotion. I am sure it's the right thing to do". He left his coffee to go cold as he sat right down to write his plan".

One I used to do and which went down well was for everyone in turn to write their name on flipchart paper and talk about it. Everyone has something to say about their name e.g named after great aunt, I shorten it etc etc. It also helps you to remember everyone's name too.😀