Three ice breaker exercises

As a meeting planner, it is important to ensure that the meeting gets off to a good start. A so-called 'ice breaker' can help you to do this. Among other things, an ice breaker can lighten the mood, create a sense of community and introduce the key theme of your meeting or event.

Before starting an ice breaker exercise it is important to consider what kind of 'ice' needs breaking and what the exercise is meant to promote and achieve. Perhaps its aim is to introduce the delegates to each other and to create a positive mood from the beginning?

We have asked Ann Hansen, a meeting designer, facilitator and consultant from concept+competence to share three examples of ice breaker exercises for various purposes:

1 - Ice breaker: My morning

Purpose: To introduce the delegates and create a positive mood

Time: Approx. 5 - 7 minutes

Number of people: +2

How to proceed:

Ask the delegates to find a partner at random The partner explains what his/her morning has involved (from waking up to the present moment). When did you wake up? What did you eat? How did you travel here? What happened on the way, and who was involved? Repeat the exercise several times with new partners, if time and mood permit.

This exercise can be easily performed in any Radisson Blu-hotel before the start of the meeting – either inside or outside the meeting room. The newly renovated Radisson Blu Hotel in Tromsø has plenty open meeting space just outside the meeting rooms, which is very suitable for quick exercises like “My morning”.

2 - Ice breaker: Dialogue cards

Purpose: To create a positive mood, introduce the delegates and do a short, 'light' preparation of the subject of the meeting

Time: Approx. 5 - 15 minutes

Number of people: 20-200

Materials: Cards with short texts formulated as questions – which may be a mixture of personal and professional questions. For example: What excites your curiosity? What would make you become a customer of X? From whom can we learn?

Approximately 30 different dialogue cards should be prepared, depending on the number of delegates. The same text may be repeated so that 3-4 versions of the same card may be used.

How to proceed:

Give one card to each delegate Ask the delegates to find a random partner – and introduce themselves Ask the delegates to pose the question on the card to their partner, and vice versa Exchange cards with your partner Find a new partner and ask him/her the question on the card, which you answered in the previous round Repeat the exercise 4-5 times in new pairs, if time and mood permit

This ice breaker exercise will work the best, if you have space to move around – repeating the exercise with new partners every time. Choose a setting at a Radisson Blu-hotel that offers opportunities for activities and networking. At the Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Copenhagen the unique furniture and open spaces allows for a variety of formats and ways to conduct ice-breakers or place the participants into groups, for example.

3 - Ice breaker: The wish list

Purpose: To create a general picture of the delegates' expectations and encourage conversation amongst the delegates

Time: Approx. 10 - 20 minutes

Number of people: 6-100

Materials: pen and paper for all delegates

How to proceed:

Ask everyone to write down the three things they most want to take away from the day After 2-3 minutes, ask everyone to stand up and find a partner. They should now introduce themselves and share their wish lists. After 3-4 minutes, ask everyone to find a new partner and repeat the exercise. Ask everyone to return to their seats. Ask people to form groups of 2-6 people (or a number that suits the seating arrangement) and discuss the wish lists. Give them five minutes to ascertain which are the three wishes that recur most often. Ask 3-4 groups what their findings were.

For this exercise you should consider a space that encourages conversation amongst delegates. For example, the Brain Box room at Radisson Blu Hotel, Berlin was designed to boost creativity and active engagement. Sensory and fun, the room features bright colours and walls to write on, flexible furniture and lighting to promote creative thinking.

The 7th floor Azur room at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Nice offers panoramic views of the Baie des Anges and an outdoor terrace. This is the perfect setup to let the delegates' imagination run free!

Paying attention to the details that truly matter

An ice-breaker is a brilliant way to kick-off a meeting. Whether you conduct it inside or outside the meeting room, our professional team pays close attention to the detail and is ready to assist with anything and everything you need to make your event successful and memorable.

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