Choosing icebreakers with a purpose

Article icon

Abstract

Icebreakers can be a positive addition to a training session by energizing the group, initiating creative thinking, and encouraging involvement. This practice provides guidelines for using icebreakers. Excerpted from the Mosaica guide Starting Strong: A Self-Help Guide to Effective AmeriCorps Pre-Service Training, and the newsletter, Training Briefs.

Back to top

Issue

Training sessions should include a variety of interactive, experiential activities. Icebreakers are often used during training to make people open up or feel comfortable, encourage participation in a group activity, and stimulate inclusion. An ineffective icebreaker can create discomfort or tension, straining rather than energizing a group dynamic.

Back to top

Action

For an icebreaker activity to be effective, it should be well designed and linked to training objectives. A good icebreaker:
  • Should not last longer than ten minutes if it is the opening activity; an icebreaker at other points during the training tends to have an optimal length of 15 to 30 minutes

  • Encourages trust and cooperation within a small group or the entire group of members -- some icebreakers should be cooperative rather than competitive

  • Makes the group feel challenged, but not uncomfortable

  • Is a team building experience and involves all members

  • Initiates conversations and interactions

  • Increases the respect and liking of other group members

  • Shows interesting new things about people who have known each other for some time

  • Reflects your members' diverse needs. Select an activity that is appropriate to your groups' age level, physical mobility, or personal interest

  • Is appropriate for your group's stage of development

  • Ties the activity to the session topic

  • Fits your training session design; for instance, if you need smaller groups to be formed later in the training, use the icebreaker to accomplish this

  • Fits the training location
Use icebreakers:
  • At the beginning of pre-service training to help members become acquainted and begin the session with a fun activity

  • After lunch to avoid the mid-afternoon fatigued feeling

  • After a difficult or intense session to release tension

  • After assigning members to work with people they do not know well to facilitate group interaction

Back to top

Context

Mosaica: The Center for Nonprofit Development and Pluralism, provides organizational assessments, strategic and resource development planning, fundraising capacity building, restructuring support, and assistance in financial management and oversight. Other services include board development, program design and delivery, personnel and systems management, volunteer activities, community involvement and community building, community organizing and advocacy, program evaluation, and coalition building.

The goal of Mosaica is to bring together individuals with diverse voices and experience to create an organization with a set of common values. Mosaica was established out of a commitment to social justice and a belief that within the United States and throughout the world, societies that strive for democracy, human rights, peace, individual opportunity, and pluralism must be built and maintained from the bottom up-community by community, group by group-with the active involvement of nonprofit organizations and a strong independent sector. Mosaica helps strengthen nonprofits so they can provide high quality services and advocacy in a sustainable, well-run fashion that supports communities.


Back to top

Citation

McKay, Emily Gantz and Diane Bacrales, et al. "AmeriCorps Identity and Teambuilding: Using Icebreakers." In Starting Strong: A Guide to Pre-Service Training. Washington, D.C., Mosaica: 1996. p. 289.

Available online at http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/resources/online_pubs/training/index.php

Mosaica. "Choosing Icebreakers with a Purpose." Training Briefs. no. 14 (June, 1999).

*Training Briefs were produced by Mosaica under Cooperative Agreement #98CADC009 with the Corporation for National and Community Service during July of 1997 through October of 1999. 

Available online at http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/filemanager/download/572/TB.14.pdf [PDF 124 Kb]

Back to top

Posted On

September 19, 2000

Back to top

For More Information

EnCorps
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
101 SW Main Street
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (877) 250-1615

Back to top

Resources

From The Resource Center library:

Starting Strong: A Guide to Pre-Service Training

Item number: R0135


Source Documents

Related Practices

Back to top

Related sites

Mosiaca

Topic Areas

Back to top