Top Three Icebreakers for Building Teamwork

Offered by Sue Cain, Ed. D, The Corporate Learning Institute, www.corplearning.com

Next time you want to build teamwork, communication, cooperation or just have fun, try one of these icebreakers!

Icebreaker #1: Mingle Mingle

Materials needed: None

Group size: Any size from 6-8 up

Focus: Getting to know you (better), Breaking the ice, creating an environment of open communication. This icebreaker is good for any type of group.

Directions: Have your groups break into teams of three people. Tell the group that you will ask a series of questions, and that their small group has two minutes to ask each person within their group to answer. Then, after two minutes when you call “mingle, mingle”, and ask the groups to break into a new team, and get ready for their next question. Example questions can be very light and social such as asking about a favorite movie, can go a little deeper, such as asking  the group about their expectations for school, or even deeper, like sharing concerns and fears. Consider layering these questions from light to deeper.

Icebreaker #2: The Value of You

Materials needed: None

Group size: Any size from 6-8 up, this icebreaker is better for groups that know each other.

Focus: Sharing positive feedback, breaking down barriers, shifting the group to a conversation about group potential and possibilities.

Directions: Break the group into pairs. Tell the group that they have 1 minute each to tell their partner something that they value about them, something they do well or a positive attribute of that person.  Then break the teams and tell them to find a new partner. Repeat until everyone has met. This great icebreaker raised the energy level of the group, and can get very loud!

Icebreaker #3: Tarp Name Face Off

Materials needed: 1 large tarp

Group size: Any size from 10-plus

Focus: Getting to know you (better), Breaking the ice, creating an environment of open communication.

Directions: Divide the group in half. Have 2 tarp holders appointed. Each team will be told that they will put a person behind the tarp and once the tarp is lowered, each team tries to guess the name of the person before the other. The team that guessed second sends a team member to the opposing team. Typically, the teams become more tactical and find creative ways to “beat” the other team.