Ideas for team building Ice Breakers

Perhaps the best way to start this blog is to ask a few simple questions first and then provide some ideas for Team Building Ice Breakers? So, what’s the point and purpose of an Icebreaker game or activity?

Icebreaker games or activities are designed to help people get comfortable, connect and engage in a group setting. They are particularly useful in situations where participants may not know each other well, feel shy, or need a boost in energy and interaction. When planning a quick ice breaker session think about the below key points.

Why Icebreakers matter

Before diving into the details, let’s consider the purpose of icebreaker activities. Why are they such a staple for team-building sessions?

Ideas for team building Ice Breakers are designed to:

• Help people feel at ease in a group setting.
• Break down social barriers, making it easier to connect.
• Energise participants for upcoming activities.

Whether your goal is to foster connections, spark creativity, or simply inject some fun into your meeting, icebreakers can set the tone for a productive and engaging session.

When planning, keep these points in mind:

1. Duration: Decide how much time to allocate. A quick 10-minute activity or a more involved 30-minute session?
2. Purpose: Define a clear goal—whether it’s energizing the group, promoting teamwork, or building trust.
3. Audience: Tailor activities to suit the group’s size, personality, and familiarity with one another.
4. Space: Consider the physical or virtual environment where the activity will take place.

When run effectively, icebreaker activities can rapidly foster a sense of belonging, team spirit and fun while setting the tone for the conference or the next part of the meeting. They also give an excellent opportunity for individuals to share their expectations and for facilitators to introduce the day’s topic in an engaging way. Additionally, icebreakers help team members relax, build mutual understanding and enhance collaboration. By energising the group, these activities keep everyone focused, motivated and ready to tackle the meetings goals.

There is not really a dictionary definition of what an Ice Breaker is – and how long it should last, and it is always worth remembering that the activity should have a clear purpose or message – otherwise it just becomes a time filler with little purpose, meaning, goal or positive impact. The session should help the team to bond and build trust in each other – fun and or engagement should be a given whatever you do.

Before we dive into a list of EML Team Building’s top suggestions for Ice Breakers remember that what works for one team may not work for another, which is why there are so many suggestions! Play with the ideas have fun with them!

Here’s our top 10 ideas for team building ice breakers

1. Sketch your neighbour! – Unleash your inner Rembrandt, Vincent Van Gogh or perhaps Banksy by asking guests to simply sketch their neighbour at their table. Remember this does not have to be a perfect likeness! (10-minute activity)
2. Two truths and a lie! – Divide the group into teams of 3. Each team is asked to make three statements about themselves, one of which has to be a lie. The other groups then vote on which of the statements is a lie. (15 to 20-minute activity)
3. Elevator – This is a collaborative activity that requires a little bit of equipment, but a simple 5-foot garden cane or broom stick handle will work well. With a maximum of 8 guests per team the guests form two rows standing opposite one another and hold out their index fingers at shoulder level. The cane is then placed on the top of their fingers. All the team now has to do is, in a controlled manor, place the cane on the ground. (10-minute activity)
4. Tell me a story – The team must tell a story based on a pre-determined topic (set by the facilitator). Each guest can only say one word before the person to their right continues the story with another follow on word……so as the story evolves around the room no one knows what will happen and how the story will end! Hilarious fun, simple and a great leveller. (10-minute activity)
5. Virtual ‘Scavenger Hunt’ – an ice breaking activity for virtual meetings – Participants hunt for items in their homes or answer creative prompts. This activity keeps the team moving and encourages storytelling as they share their finds. This activity requires the facilitator to create a list of items commonly found in the home or office prior to the session. We would recommend a maximum of 20 items. (25-minute activity).
6. Trivia quiz (On this activity, Google is your friend!) Get 20 or 30 questions on general trivia (Music, Sport, Company history or General knowledge) to create a light-hearted trivia Quiz tailored to your organization and guests. Get teams to mark their own answers or pass the answers around to another team or you will be left with loads of marking! You can also rate your team performance too! (30-minute activity – with the marking).
7. Heads and tales – Have everyone stand up. The guests need to put their hands on either the top of their heads or their bottoms. You the facilitator then flips a coin. If its ‘heads’ then everyone with their hands on their bottoms sit down, if its ‘tails’ then they sit down… continue the game until you have just one person left, at which point they are the winner and, if you have a small budget (!), perhaps they can win a prize – even a chocolate bar goes down well! (5 to 10-minute activity)

7. Things in common – Create small teams of up to six guests. Now ask the newly formed teams to find ten things that all of them share in common (for instance, people they know, food they like, TV / films, hobbies, cafés they like) …literally nothing is off the list. (20-to-25-minute activity)
8. Line up in age order – The duration of the activity obviously depends upon the number of people in the room. This ice breaker activity helps to promote non-verbal communication skills within the group. For this activity guests must organise themselves into a line based on age or height (you decide) – indoor or outdoor – but they must organise themselves without speaking to one another. (10-minute activity)
9. Old school show and tell – Pre-event ask the guests to bring in one object that they love, are passionate about or are interested in. Each person has up to one minute to explain to everyone what the item is and why they have brought it in today. This can be done all in one go or if you have a larger team break this up over the course of the meeting (at the start, before coffee, after lunch etc). This also creates a fun theme through the day. (10-minute activity)

Why icebreakers work

The effectiveness of an icebreaker activity lies in its ability to create an inclusive and fun atmosphere. The ice breaker activity chosen should bridge communication gaps and energise participants. Whether you’re introducing new team members or reinvigorating old ones, the right activity can transform your meeting from good to great.

For more inspiration and expertly planned Ice Breaker and team-building events speak to the event team at EML Team Building.  Our approach ensures your icebreakers align with your meetings overall goals and will help raise energy levels and engagement.

Ruby Edwards