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

A toy polar bear as the real ones break ice. Tbh I'm glad there is no crap like this in my current job, there is crap but not that type of crap.

I've done this a few times, it's just a way to get people talking. I would take something related to a hobby or something you like doing....yoga mat, running top, gardening gloves, paint brush, dog lead, knitting needles... don't overthink it!

The reason I think they are damaging is that there very often is at least one person who does over think it, and ends up sobbing after telling a bunch of strangers about their finances / illness / eating disorder / bereavement / family problems (a non random list of things I remember). The whole set up is designed to leech on people who are vulnerable.

If you want a group of people to chat, ask them to discuss something neutral like the set up of the meeting room, the design of the chairs, the view out the window. At least that starts with a level playing field.

I do actually have an ice axe somewhere. My dad used to enjoy teaching us kids how to halt our fall if we were ever near the edge of a cliff in winter (and make emergency shelters/cook worms/set up a water still).

I could make a case for how it represents my father's care that we should always be prepared for the unexpected emergencies in life.

Or I could wave it around in a worryingly enthusiastic fashion.

I was also struck that the person I heard being most emphatic about NOT discussing himself in public with a bunch of relative strangers (we were a year and a half into a three year course in a specialist subject, so did know each other a bit) was a small town solicitor who probably knew far too much about how people can misuse random personal information.

If you have a paperweight you could say it's a small, useful and solid object that is transparent, it may have some flaws as not all are perfect. A thing of beauty and unusual, keeps things grounded. A limited edition.

I agree it's nuts. I hate this sort of shit.

If I felt compelled to go along with it, I'd take along a favourite book or something.

And it's too late to edit my original post. I have a nasty scruffy little plaster model of a CAT with a violin not a bloody car. Cat and fiddle is a thing, musical car not so much.

Still think the whole set up is inappropriate.

Because ice breakers are shit . Lady course I went on name where you work , how long in role .

I don’t need to know anything more they don’t need to know more about me either

Well, the ashes suggestions have really taken off. Got to love an algorithm 😂

This is the sort of thing I’d do but it wouldn’t have worked at my last workplace. They were such a bunch of corporate suck-ups, they loved any crap like this and took it deadly seriously 🙄😂.

My suggestion would be a gimp mask. Just put it on the table and say absolutely nothing.

For me it would be jewelry. I have some opal jewelry I bought in Australia, also from Oz a ring with a gold nugget.

When my Nana died she left all her grandchildren £100 so I had a ring made with her birthstone in it.

I'd also be tempted to take a cheesecake in, I've taken one in to a few work places (supply teacher) and have been asked for the recipe.

Take a photograph of every item as it's produced. If challenged or when it gets to your turn hold up your phone as your item and say you're a very organised type who likes records, data, evidence. Fold your arms and sit back.

They'll never do it again.

If it’s a day of corporate ethos ‘training’, take a toilet roll saying you thought you’d need it for a day full of (bull)shit.

Worryingly a vibrator was my first thought too 😂

What are your hobbies? Gym or something, could take a 1kg dumbbell. A book you've read. A wooden spoon that pp mentioned is an easy one. I would probably take a tin of coffee in 😂

I would take only your shock at / contempt for this request.

Or just say, oh, I thought that was a joke.

If we keep pandering to these ridiculous requests, they will never stop.

This whole business of taking your whole self to work. Nope I'll just bring my professional self thanks.
Take something that under no circumstances, however unconsciously can be used against you.

Take a meat cleaver and tell them it tends to prevent colleagues starting such ice breaker "games" again. Offer no further explanation.

A mug might work. You chose shape / colour / pattern etc and can even get really touchy feely and tell them what you prefer to drink out of it. That is quite enough.

Too much, actually for a bunch of strangers.

You could mess with their heads without their knowing and buy a cheap mug you don't care about one way or another and make stuff up about it.

A glass pipe? A vibrator? A bottle of Bacardi?
Sorry. I would be absolutely flummoxed as to what to bring!

In a group of 10 you will get:

3 people who forgot and says their phone or car keys
3 people who didn't forget and still say their phone or car keys
2 who have brought something sentimental from home like a picture their kids made
1 who has massively overthought and brought the last gift they were given before their entire family were wiped out in an earthquake

Invariably earthquake person will go first and the whole group will be uncomfortable

Bring an old boom box and say arobics are your life, turn it on and begin doing an arobic workout with great enthusium.

Bottle of gin. I’m an excellent hostess and figured we’d all need a drink to get through this ridiculous activity.

A ventriloquist dummy called ‘Bob’.
Include Bob in all the activities.