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.

Alphabet order for names is fine. Birth date isn’t - if you include the year. No one wants identify themselves as the oldest in the group, for example. That wouldn’t be on. It could have all sorts of repercussions.

Obviously, which is why I didn’t suggest it

You did. “Line up … in birthdate”.

Ask them if they have a bog brush? At least then you know if they are Mumsnetters.

Seriously, I had a "character building" childhood and currently have a relative at the end of life. As someone else said you never know what is going on in someone's life or what they may have been through. Tell me something positive that has happened to you in the last week isn't ok for everyone. And for me personally, tell me about your name, or anything from childhood is potentially triggering.

I understand that sometimes facilitators need to raise energy levels and get people thinking and working together, but please don't ever make it personal.

I absolutely hate this one. I can never think of anything good to say and have to sit on my hands to not say anything inappropriate. I had a very challenging childhood and 20s due to various traumas and then I had my kids and a full on job and so my life has always been quite serious with a shitty past and I don’t have hobbies or fun trivia facts.

Agreed. If something major and shit is going on in your life it’s very hard to focus on minor positive things and makes you feel other and apart from everyone else in the room.

basically, the icebreaker shouldn’t involve ANYTHING personal. Whatsoever. I feel very strongly about this.

I hate these sort of things.

None of the suggestions on this thread, other than extend chat/finish early would sit comfortably with me.

People often forget that sometimes life isn't smooth sailing and being forced to take part in these kinds of things and talking about yourself can be painful.

If your attendees do not know each other, I like the one where you get into pairs and introduce yourselves as your name with an alliterative adjective ("Skiing Suzan", "Funky Fred", etc), and have a brief chat as to why, then move on. This has the effect of making it easier to remember names, which is why I like it, because I am crap at remembering names.

I Wouk still hate these and feel under pressure to think of something fun and exciting when that's not me.

God no

My mind would go blank

This is actually quite a nice one

Completely agree in this age of supposedly better understanding of mental health and kindness this should be understood

I actually think ice breakers can be quite useful, although also hate the 2 truths and a lie one (too much pressure to "be interesting"!) I did a nice one the other day where everyone had to go round the room and talk about the origins of their name (eg why they are called what they're called). It was quick, everyone had something to say, and despite knowing my team already I do feel like I learned something. My workplaces loves a workshop session though, maybe we're in the minority

I'm autistic and they all sound dreadful.
What actually is the point of them?
Why can't people just chat naturally?
Do other countries do these weird 'games' too?

What sort of workplaces do these types of workshops or events? I’m in my mid-50s and have never done one. Nor has my DH or my grownup DD. Everywhere I have worked would have regarded them as a waste of time, money and resources, and staff would be too busy to waste a day on them. How would the work get done if all the staff are away?

I've mostly encountered them on training courses and workshops, I have been on many, many of these over the course of my working life. If they are external courses usually there are only one or two attendees from each company, for internal courses they are again either only one or two attendees per department, or done in several sessions so not everyone is there at once. I work in research and development, it's not a case of "no one being there to do the work" but factored in as part of the work.

Two truths and a lie is pretty much the worst one! Anything where you have to reveal personal things is cringe-y.

Icebreakers seem designed to make everyone as uncomfortable as possible, it is such outdated practice. I can't tell you how much I lose respect for any manager who still does this in 2022, when we all know it is counterproductive. It is not 1982.

I remember doing them at some jobs in the early 2000s. The companies had 'away days' where we got forced to do this shit. Just painful.
The last time I did one was when I started a course in 2018 and it was the 2 truths and a lie one. Awful.

Yes, completely agree

Isn't the answer to that "because that's what my parents called me"? Or at least for the majority?
How does that help know someone?

I would honestly hate all of these "ice break" things.

I would hate the name one too. I would have nothing to say. My parents just picked it. My name is one that’s dated terribly - think Sharon/Tracey - and places me firmly in a class and era. I would hate to bring attention to it.

I’ll make up my name, but to illustrate why I don’t want to share the reason, the reason is the truth:

“I’m Eve. My mother had loved the name Niamh since she was a girl herself. Then she moved from Belfast to England in the 70s and suffered a lot of IRA related comments at work, and suspicion socially. She didn’t think it was wife to give me a very Irish name, so chose Eve as it sounds similar. And regretted it thereafter.”

Even the “place in the U.K.” one… it doesn’t have to be personal and it’s easy.
I might say, “London because I love west end musicals.”
That’d do.
But some people don’t think on their feet so easily.
And some people feel intimidated that they’re dull, if they person before has a lovely tale about their granny’s Cornish cottage for holidays.
Some people feel embarrassed that they’ve “copied” if it’s the same - e.g. that Cornish beach. If you’re confident you may not understand why you wouldn’t happy say, “John said mine!” and end up besties with him.

Some people on this thread don’t have any understanding of this.

Hate two truths and a lie, don't know anyone who likes it. Childish games make me cringe too. Only one I have found bearable recently was when we had to say the most recent thing we'd enjoyed watching on TV and our favourite holiday destination.

Never have, never would, like any ice breaker games of any sort at work or social gatherings.Looks like a lot of people feel the same as me looking at comments.