March 13, 2019 By SmartBiz Team

Are you gearing up for a team event or meeting? It’s a great idea to have fun and creative ice breakers to get the ball rolling. Here are creative suggestions sure to bring on the laughter.

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1. Egg drop

Ahhh….memories of science class! Divide your group into equal numbers and present each team with an egg. Participants must use available office materials (paper, paper clips, tape, erasers, pens, etc.) to protect the egg. Eggs are then dropped from the same height (10 feet is a good measurement). The teams compete to see who can protect their egg from breaking using the least amount of materials.

2. Two truths, one lie

SmartBiz Loans uses this icebreaker when introducing new employees. The new employee offers three “facts” about themselves and the team tries to guess which is a lie. An example might be “Hi, my name is Cindy. I can speak 5 languages, I’m a triplet, I have a potbellied pig as a pet.”

3. Game of possibilities

If you’re looking for creativity, look no farther than this icebreaker. Gather random objects and distribute to one person in the group. One at a time, someone has to go up in front of the group and demonstrate a use for that object.

The rest of the team must guess what the player is demonstrating. The demonstrator cannot speak, and demonstrations must be original, the wackier the better.

4. Turning over a new leaf

Lay out a sheet of plastic or a bed sheet. Divide participants into groups of five. Group members stand on the sheet and have to work together to slowly flip the sheet to the other side without anyone stepping off it.

If one person falls off the sheet, the team has to restart. The first team to flip their sheet over wins. It’s a problem-solving exercise leading to laughing and occasionally rolling on the floor.

5. Creative questions

Divide into teams of two. Read a question to the whole group and each team member must discuss with the other. Examples of creative questions:

  • If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
  • If you could live anywhere on this planet and take everything that you love with you, where would you choose to live?
  • If you could plan a dinner party with 3 famous or well-known people – alive or dead – who would you invite?
  • What are your 10 favorite foods?
  • If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want to have with you?
  • If you could choose one hobby that seems out of your reach either financially or time-wise, what hobby would you take up and why?
 
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6. This is better than that

Gather around ten random items from around the office. It can be anything from a stapler to random odd items. Divide group into equal teams. This icebreaker goal is for each group to select the item they’d take to a deserted island to help them survive. After teams discuss, each team presents which item they chose and why.

7. Scavenger hunt

This is a great opportunity to get out of the office and have fun. Divide the group into teams of two or more. Make a list of silly tasks for each team to complete. Some examples could include taking a selfie with a stranger, taking a photo of something yellow, take a photo fitting as many people as you can find into a standard 4-door car, take a photo of any foreign currency. Whoever completes the most tasks the quickest, wins.

8. What’s my name

Write down the names of well-known public figures on pieces of paper, then stick them on the backs of each employee. Everyone mingles and asks questions to try and figure out who they are.

9. Draw a person

Divide a piece of paper in three, and then three people draw the head, torso and legs, without seeing what the person before them drew. Inevitably, the final drawing is a mashed-up mess. The worse they draw, the more hilarious the outcome.

10. Baby photos

You need to prepare for this activity. Send out a request for baby photos. This is much easier in the digital age! Once you’ve compiled the photos place them all up on a board, numbering each one. Everyone guesses which photo is matched with each employee. The person with the most correct guesses wins.

 
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