1. ICE BREAKERS THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE AT WORK! BY NIA,
CARLY, NATHAN, MITCH AND NAJAR
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. 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. EXAMPLE OF A FUN ICE BREAKER
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. EXAMPLE OF AN ICE BREAKERS WHICH INTRODUCES A TOPIC
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. EXAMPLE OF AN ICE BREAKER BASED ON THE PURPOSE OF THE
SESSION
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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)