1. 1. ICE BREAKERS THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE AT WORK! BY NIA, CARLY, NATHAN, MITCH AND NAJAR
2. 2. WHAT AN ICE BREAKER REALLY IS AN ICE BREAKER IS AN ACTIVITY, GAME, OR EVENT THAT TRAINING CLASSES, TEAM BUILDING GROUPS, MEETINGS AND OTHER EVENTS USE WHICH REQUIRES PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND INTERACT, USUALLY WITH A FACILITATOR RUNNING THE ACTIVITIES. WHEN USED CORRECTLY, AND ICE BREAKER WILL PRESENT A COMFORTABLE ATMOSPHERE THAT WILL ALLOW AND REINFORCE INTERACTION WHILE ENSURING THE PERSONS INVOLVED ENJOY THEIR INTERACTIONS. THIS IS A POSITIVE WAY FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW EACH OTHER TO MEET AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. IN THESE SITUATIONS THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF MAIN ICE BREAKERS THAT CAN BE USED.
3. 3. ICE BREAKERS THAT ARE JUST FOR FUN THIS TYPE OF ICE BREAKER CAN BE USED IF THE TEAM KNOWS EACH OTHER OR NOT. WHEN THE TEAM MEMBERS KNOW EACH OTHER, THEY LAUGH AND TALK TO TOGETHER WARMING UP THE GROUP. WHEN THE TEAM MEMBERS DONT KNOW EACH OTHER, THE ICE BREAKER DOES ITS JOB BY HAVING THE TEAM MEMBERS INTERACT AND LEARN THINGS ABOUT EACH OTHER. DOING THIS, IT GUARANTEES THAT INTRODUCTIONS AND CONVERSATION HAPPENS BETWEEN THE MEMBERS. WHEN USING ICE BREAKERS IN THIS MANNER IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE TEAM ENJOYS THE ACTIVITY AND FIND VALUE IN THE EVENT.
4. 4. EXAMPLE OF A FUN ICE BREAKER
5. 5. ICE BREAKERS WHICH INTRODUCE A TOPIC WHEN THIS TYPE OF ICE BREAKER IS USED, THERE IS A CLEAR PURPOSE TO THE REASON FOR THE ACTIVITY. THIS TYPE OF ICE BREAKER WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE LAUGHTER AND CONVERSATION, BUT THE PURPOSE IS CLEAR ABOUT BEING THE OPENING OF A TOPIC FOR THE SESSION.
6. 6. EXAMPLE OF AN ICE BREAKERS WHICH INTRODUCES A TOPIC
7. 7. ICE BREAKERS WHICH ARE BASED ON THE PURPOSE OF THE SESSION THIS TYPE OF ICE BREAKER CAN BE USED AS A BRAINSTORMING SESSION, OR DEBRIEFING SESSION. IT MIGHT BE USED TO PLAN ANOTHER EVENT FOR A LARGER WHOLE, OR TO IDENTIFY WHAT WENT WELL OR WRONG WITH THE EVENT. THIS IS WHERE EVERYONE CAN SHARE IDEAS AND OPINIONS FREELY AND THERE WILL BE NO REPERCUSSIONS FOR SPEAKING ABOUT THEIR THOUGHTS.
8. 8. EXAMPLE OF AN ICE BREAKER BASED ON THE PURPOSE OF THE SESSION
9. 9. WHEN ARE ICE BREAKERS BEST USED? THE MAIN CONCEPT BEHIND ICE BREAKERS FOR TEAMS IS TO GET THE GROUP OFF TO A GOOD START. WHEN MEMBERS GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER THEY BECOME MORE ENGAGED AND COMFORTABLE. THIS MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE TO CONTRIBUTE MORE EFFECTIVELY TOWARDS TEAM SUCCESS. HOWEVER, AS SIMPLE AS ICEBREAKERS MAY SEEM, MANY OF THESE SESSIONS ARE CONDUCTED POORLY, AND DONT ACHIEVE THIS BENEFIT. AN INEFFECTIVE SESSION WILL JUST BE A WASTE OF TIME AND MAY EVEN DECREASE TEAM MORALE OR MOTIVATION TO WORK TOGETHER. FACILITATORS MUST KEEP SEVERAL TOPICS IN MIND WHEN PLANNING AN ICEBREAKER FOR A GROUP. -C
10. 10. WHEN THE FACILITATOR SHOULD CONSIDER USING ICE BREAKERS: PARTICIPANTS COME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. PEOPLE NEED TO BOND QUICKLY SO AS TO WORK TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL. YOUR TEAM IS NEWLY FORMED. THE TOPICS YOU ARE DISCUSSING ARE NEW OR UNFAMILIAR TO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED. AS FACILITATOR YOU NEED TO GET TO KNOW PARTICIPANTS AND HAVE THEM KNOW YOU BETTER. DISABILITY AGE MOBILITY TIME
11. 11. WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN USING ICE BREAKERS WHEN FACILITATING AN ICE BREAKER YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHAT ICE IT IS THAT NEEDS TO BE BROKEN. SOMETIMES YOURE BRINGING TOGETHER PEOPLE OF SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS THAT JUST NEED A MEANS TO MEET AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. OTHER TIMES YOU MIGHT BE WORKING WITH A MORE DIVERSE GROUP OF DIFFERENT CULTURES OR VALUES, AND THE ICE TO BE BROKEN IS THE STEREOTYPES OF HOW THEY PERCEIVE EACH OTHER. THE FACILITATOR SHOULD FOCUS ON WHAT THESE PEOPLE MAY HAVE IN COMMON AND CELEBRATE THEIR DIFFERENCES BEFORE PLANNING THIS ICE BREAKER.
12. 12. ICE BREAKING IDEAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDED ICE BREAKERS IS CALLED THE NAME AEROBICS. ITS STARTS BY EVERYONE STANDING IN A CIRCLE AND STATING THERE NAME. BUT THE TWIST IS THAT YOU HAVE TO ADD AN ADJECTIVE BEFORE YOUR NAME, SUCH AS MUSCLE MAN MITCH. IT GOES AROUND THE GROUP AND EVERYONE HAS TO REPEAT THE PERSONS NAMES BEFORE THEM BEFORE MAKING UP THEIR OWN NAME. THIS CAN BE FUN AND CONFUSING, BUT WILL HELP FOR EVERYONE IN THE GROUP TO REMEMBER THE OTHER TEAM MEMBERS NAMES, AND EVERYONE WILL GET TO SHARE A LAUGH.
13. 13. ICE BREAKING IDEAS (CONT.) ANOTHER ICEBREAKER THAT IS A FAIRLY QUICK AND SIMPLE IS CALLED THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX. IN THIS EXERCISE A RANDOM SHAPE IS WRITTEN DOWN ON A PIECE OF PAPER AND IS PASSED AROUND TO EVERYBODY. AFTER THIS HAPPENS, EVERYONE HAS TO SAY WHAT THEY THINK IT IS, SUCH AS A RECTANGLE BEING A PHONE AND THAT SORT OF THING. WHILE THESE ICE BREAKING GAMES SEEM SIMPLE, THEY ENCOURAGE INTERACTION WHILE HAVING A FUN AND RELAXED ATMOSPHERE. THIS IS CRUCIAL FOR TEAMS TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND REDUCE THE CHANCE OF CONFLICT OR
14. 14. BENEFITS AND PITFALLS OF ICEBREAKERS ICEBREAKERS ARE A GOOD WAY TO RELAX A GROUP ESPECIALLY AFTER A STRESSING OR A CHALLENGING SITUATION SO AS TO BRING THE MEMBERS TOGETHER. THE PROCESS SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERATIONS SUCH AS THE AGE AND SUITABILITY OF THE ICEBREAKER TO THE GROUP. DESPITE ICE BREAKERS HAVING THE INTENTION OF ENHANCING THE TEAM SPIRIT, IT MAY BE VERY CHALLENGING WHEN DEALING WITH A VERY DIVERSE GROUP. FOR EXAMPLE, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IS WHOLLY INCLUSIVE AND PART OF THE TEAM COMES WITH A GREATER CHALLENGE IS SUCH A LARGE GROUP.
15. 15. BENEFITS AND PITFALLS OF ICEBREAKERS (CONT.) IT IS A NOVEL IDEA TO SUBDIVIDE LARGER GROUPS INTO SMALLER ONES SO AS TO GET MORE OF THE BENEFITS AND ATTAIN THE GOALS QUICKER. CONSIDERATIONS IN SPLITTING THE GROUP ARE TO ENHANCE THE GENERATION OF NEW IDEAS AND TALK ABOUT PROBLEMS FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. FURTHER, THE GROUPING MAY BE TO ATTAIN A DIFFERENT MIX OF THE PARTICULAR GROUPS. WAYS OF DIVIDING A LARGE GROUP MAY INCLUDE FAVORITE DRINKS OR DINNERS, THEIR HOBBIES, THEIR WEAR, COMPLEXION AND EVEN THEIR FAVORITE FLAVORS. HOWEVER, THE LIST IS NOT EXCLUSIVE AND CAN INCLUDE OTHER OPTIONS BEYOND THIS SCOPE. IN ADDITION, THE INCLUSION PROCESS SHOULD CATER FOR ACCESSIBILITY, COMMUNICATION, USE OF LABELS, ACKNOWLEDGING THE DIFFERENCE AND PREVIOUS EVALUATION.
16. 16. BENEFITS AND PITFALLS OF ICEBREAKERS (CONT.) GAMING IS AN IMPORTANT FORM OF MEETING WHOSE PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE BOTH THOSE WITH OR WITHOUT DISABILITIES. THE IDEA BEHIND IT IS TO MASTER THE ART OF BEING A LEADER, COOPERATION, ACCEPTING DEFEAT, WORKING IN SHIFTS, ACCOMMODATING OTHERS AND OBSERVING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. FURTHER, YOU LEARN HOW TO RESPECT CHOICES MADE BY COLLEAGUES AND BETTER YOUR SKILLS. THE POINT IS TO LEARN AND ADAPT THE SITUATION AROUND ESPECIALLY FOR THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES. OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO ICE BREAKERS IS DIVIDING THE GROUPS, CHICKEN IMPULSE, CIRCLING THE CIRCLE AND CREATING FIRST IMPRESSIONS. FURTHER, DEVELOPING THE ART OR KNOWING EACH OTHER, MARSHMALLOW TOWER, PAPER PIECES AND THRASHING YOUR EGO ARE VERY NECESSARY. THEY ALL ADVANCE GROUP SOLIDARITY, PARTICIPATION AND ESTABLISHING MEANS OF ICE BREAKING WHEN IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
17. 17. BENEFITS AND PITFALLS OF ICEBREAKERS (CONT.) ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO START A TRAINING SESSION OR TEAM ACTIVITY IS THROUGH AN ICE BREAKER. ICE BREAKERS ARE A GREAT WAY FOR TEAM MEMBERS TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND TO REALIZE WHY THEY ARE PARTICIPATING. THIS HELPS THE PEOPLE TO REALIZE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT PART TO THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF THE TEAM AND THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS. YET, IF THE ICE BREAKER WAS TO GO POORLY THEN THE TEAM MIGHT SHUT DOWN. ICE BREAKERS ARE A THING THAT CANNOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY IF USED, BECAUSE IF THEY ARE TO GO POORLY THEN THE OVERALL TEAM MEETING WOULD BE A WASTE.
18. 18. BENEFITS AND PITFALLS OF ICEBREAKERS (CONT.) ICE BREAKERS ARE MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN PEOPLE COME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS OR NEED TO BOND QUICKLY IN ORDER FOR THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE TEAM TO BE A SUCCESS. ALSO, DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF ICE NEEDS TO BE BROKEN, WILL DEPEND ON THE ACTIVITY THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP. THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ICE INCLUDE BACKGROUNDS, EXPERIENCES, TYPES OF PEOPLE, AND SO ON. IN ORDER TO DESIGN A SUCCESSFUL ICE BREAKER, PEOPLE WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHO ALL IS IN THEIR GROUP AND WHAT WILL HELP THEM TO FEEL LIKE PART OF THE TEAM OR LEFT OUT.
19. 19. WORKS CITED (CARLY THIS PART IS YOURS! HERE ARE THE LINKS FOR THE WORKS USED IN THE POWER POINT) HTTP://HUMANRESOURCES.EXT.WVU.EDU/R/DOWNLOAD/130942| HTTP://WWW.MINDTOOLS.COM/PAGES/ARTICLE/NEWLDR_76.HTM HTTP://HUMANRESOURCES.ABOUT.COM/OD/GLOSSARYI/G/WHAT-IS-AN-ICE- BREAKER.HTM HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=PRWVQLZNYWA HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=YZFKODO1OES HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=4KIX1GLKHHC (CITATION NEEDED FROM THE BOOK)