Energisers for conference - ideas???

[Phos]

I've been given the unenviable task of coming up with and running 2 energisers for a conference next week. There will be 30-40 delegates, reasonably senior finance professionals (so no passing the balloon between your legs type things) but does anyone have any good ideas that are not too naff? I'm struggling to come up with anything original!

Bingo conversation cards? E.g.

• been to Egypt
• has hazel eyes
• has a dog

etc Then people need to stand up and go around asking other people questions.

It’s naff, but a lot less anger-inducing than the standard fare.

Whats the anger-inducing standard fare? I thought human bingo was quite standard but I'm intrigued now.

A random one I've experienced that worked quite well was split the room into two teams and ask them to stand away from their seats.

Try and make the teams reasonably balanced for male/female because of pockets and accessories.

The task is to make as long a continuous line as possible using only items on their person. They can turn corners or whatever else is needed and be as creative or conservative as they want in 5 minutes.

When we did it people started with pens, wallets, lanyards etc (the pocket thing) then moved into ties, shoelaces, belts etc and it was interesting to see how competitive and far each team was willing to take it.

The winning team for ours was the one that removed socks, shoes, cardigans, jackets and laid on the floor to create the continuous line.

As your delegates are pretty senior I can't imagine they'd resort to laying on the floor - however it brings up interesting discussion points about teamwork, cooperation, communication (persuasive and demanding) going too far and pushing what the team isn't comfortable with, not going far enough and leaving the team disappointed etc.

Oh OP, I don't envy you. This stuff is excruciating

I don't know if you need to get them up and moving, or just chatting. Heres some ideas

Moving - Would you rather...?
Get everyone up and all stand in middle of room. Leader asks a series of questions e.g. 'would you rather have a private chauffeur or a private chef?'. People who choose option 1, go stand on the left side of the room. Option 2, go stand on right side of room. No 'wrong' answers in this one, and relatively cringe free. Just make sure all the questions are all inclusive

Not moving
2 truths, 1 lie
If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where and why? The why part is optional

Good luck!

Corporate Top trumps. I’ve done it and it was great fun. (And I hate stuff like this)

How do you do that? Sounds fun - I have played top trumps of course but wondering how it works for this situation.

Some kind of build the tallest tower with newspaper or tin foil type of thing?

God, this all sounds awful.

I'd be energised by a nice location and good food and drink.

Rock paper scissors. Everyone starts with the person next to them, loser sits back down. Winners find another partner. Fast, easy, impersonal. Best of three for the last two standing

Can’t you give them a half hour break with something tasty to eat and drink, and open a door so everyone can get some fresh air?

Given networking is usually a key objective at conferences and there is rarely enough time for it, and your event is relatively small, two sessions like this will likely go down a lot better than anything else you can come up with.

Do this.

A mixture of sweet and savoury snacks, decent tea and coffee.

Nobody likes this forced fun shit

'Can’t you give them a half hour break with something tasty to eat and drink, and open a door so everyone can get some fresh air?

Given networking is usually a key objective at conferences and there is rarely enough time for it, and your event is relatively small, two sessions like this will likely go down a lot better than anything else you can come up with.'

This is about a thousand times better than any stupid game, including the ones I suggested!

This x 1000

Nobody wants to play party games when they have taken a day out of their schedule to attend a works conference.

Oh, god, I've got to go to one of these next week and it's bringing it all back about how excruciating this stuff is.

Is energisers the new name for "ice breakers"?

I hate them and I have to run them in some groups I'd run. For staff completely agree the 30mins with food and fresh air is much preferable.

Being forced into a playground activity like a preschooler, when I've actually attended to learn something and network is infuriating!

Strawberry lace race?
ha, maybe not 😆

'Nobody wants to play party games when they have taken a day out of their schedule to attend a works conference.'

Well I'm with you, but I have a few colleagues who honestly HONESTLY love this stuff 🤷🏻

Are they all from different companies? If so network dating is a good option.

All from different companies give then stuff to solve/design.

I've done one where I gave them all 6 eggs and some materials. At the end of the session. They had to throw their eggs out the window. Try to stop them breaking.

I went to a conference that had a quick learn stretches that you can do at your desk session from a yoga teacher that worked there. Was a bit silly but a nice way of loosening up between speakers.

Use Slido for live polls, word clouds etc. Can be all anonymous and mix fun & conf topic. Plus great snacks and networking

The energisers are both taking place right after breaks with fresh air and nice refreshments so we are getting that too thankfully!

The best ice breaker for me was when everyone was asked to stand up and put their hands on their head if a statement was true & hands on their bum if a statement was false.

The statements were bizarre laws from countries around the world. For example: True or false? In Arizona it is illegal for a donkey to sleep in a bathtub.

The randomness of the questions got everyone in the room laughing and chatting, but there was no pressure involved.