Ice breaker - personal object - what sort of thing to take

[DayIntarnishedarmour]

I’ve never been to a formal meeting with this activity. The item is supposed to say something about you. I don’t want to take anything too personal or shows my softer side , as I’m not wanting to reveal that in this setting as I don’t know anyone and all who are attending are senior posts to me. I literally have no clue what to do take. All ideas welcome

Not helpful but I'd refuse/resign/look for another job asap. This stuff is nuts.

Anything re your cultural background? Ie croissant if you're half French, type of cheese from region of UK youre from? Etc etc.

Item from a hobby eg tennis ball, map if you like hiking, gardening gloves?

Favourite book or food?

This is a work thing?! Your office is making you do it? I don't understand.

I try to keep these things so lighthearted that people can't be sure whether or not I'm taking the piss.

I'd probably bring a biscuit to represent how much I love biscuits.

Or a packet, open them and pass them around. That'll break the ice and win you some friends.

Something from the town you were born in

A number (like a fridge magnet of the number) or the number of children of siblings that you have

if you are married then something that signifies the last wedding anniversary that you celebrated

an item signifying your favourite food/meal (so pasta for pasta carbonara)

an item signifying your best holiday

I hate this sort of stuff. It’s mostly unnecessary and too intrusive. I wouldn’t take it seriously. Maybe take a bat of your favourite chocolate (plenty to talk about around chocolate) …. a nice pen (you like stationary) …. a small houseplant …. Bottle of nail varnish …. Etc etc.

I'd take a book.

A gun.

Thanks everyone. A book it is. I honestly haven’t been asked to do anything like this before.

And I agree, I don’t like the whole concept. Feels cringey.

Oh god I hate this sort of thing. Everyone else usually has something innocuous with a fabulous story attached and I'm like "here's a stone I found in my garden".

I would take in a Ouija board.

vibrator?

I'd be tempted to take one of these...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=ice+hammer&crid=2Y17KPTCGH37Z&sprefix=ice+hammer%2Caps%2C78&ref=nbsbbnoss1

ErrolTheDragon A hammer, machete or voodoo doll were on my wish list of things I’d love to take. Some of these are excellent.
in the absence of something with a fabulous story attached to it (though I could be creative and make one up), a book seems something I could chat about for a bit and why it’s important to me. God I really hate this sort of stuff and luckily haven’t had to deal with it.

The ashes of the last person that made you do an ice breaker?

Ah, this is all wankery of a highest order. Out bullshit their bullshit with a Game of Corporate Bollocks.

Take a toy bus, or a picture of a bus. Tell them this represents all the phases of you in the workplace:
Sometimes you’re on the front of the top deck, horizon scanning for new opportunities and enjoying the view of all the hard work the bus represents.
sometimes you’re the ticket collecter. Making sure everyone is where they should be, protecting the company accounts.
Sometimes you’re the driver, leading your team to new destinations.
Sometimes you’re a passenger, supporting the driver whilst planning what you’ll do when you get to the next stop, aka review work point.
Sometimes you’re the mechanic, giving the bus everything it needs to look great, function safely and legally, supporting the team.

:nods with the wisdom of someone who is too old for this bullshit but is quite happy to out weird the weirdos:

Have you ever seen the episode of the IT Crowd where Jen takes in “the internet”?

OP do you work in a hospital? My DH was just talking about this same cringe activity that he has to do at a meeting tomorrow too!

I love the idea of taking a vibrator in. Also love the poster who said about taking the ashes of the previous person who asked her to do that icebreaker.

Do you bake? I'd take a wooden spoon and my favourite recipe

@Sugarnspicenallthingsnaice is deffo make friends if you brought biscuits!

Once I was in a meeting where we were all invited to share our hobby. I couldn't be bothered and I just made up that I was into carpentry. I didn't realise people would pay so much attention and I had to maintain that lie for another two years. I pretended I went to a weekly carpentry class on a Wednesday evening!

I've done one of these and 99% of people took their phone and said it was personal to them as they had family photos on it or kept in touch with family by WhatsApp.

Favourite vibrator.