At the beginning of a session with a new group, it can feel a little awkward and uncomfortable. An energizer or ice breaker provides relaxation with a substantive component. There are hundreds of forms on the internet (like this one ), but on this page a few that we use in the LSD innovation workshops.
MY PERSONAL MANUAL
For brand new teams, or teams where at once multiple new team members are added, the ‘my personal manual’ exercise can be very helpful. In short: every team member makes a personal manual on his or her personality. It of course includes good and bad traits. Such as: ‘In the early morning, please do not…’ or ‘You can wake me in the middle of the night for…’ Take the time to fill in the manuals and use them for a plenary conversation.
Templates can be found online, but it is best to make a tailor-made template.
WHEEL-IN-WHEEL
I came up with the specific shape myself, but this energizer already exists in a number of variants. The idea is that you get the group both physically and in terms of content. Method
– Split the group in two
– Make an inner circle and an outer circle
– Let the participants walk around against each other. A kind of musical chairs.
– indicate with a bell or something like when walking stops
– the inner circle asks 1 question to the person opposite him / her. Then the outer person asks a question to the inner circle. They have 2 minutes per person for this.
– let the wheel turn again – continue if people have already been facing each other – and repeat until everyone has spoken.
– Briefly evaluate the working method and striking insights about the group members with the group.
AND THEN….
A nice brain warmer that can be used as an energizer in a workshop on storytelling.
ROW-ROW-ROW
These energizers are super simple but always work. All you ask the group is to get in the right order. indicate a timebox (1 minute is usually sufficient) and let the group arrange themselves in order of (for example):
– age
– first letter of the first name
– distance from the meeting location
– length
– size of the hands
– et cetera
THE HUMAN KNOT (up to 10 people)
Untangle a human knot. Simple and guaranteed a lot of fun. Tip: Always check first whether someone is afraid of contamination or physical limitations.
– Stand in a circle
– Cross your arms and take two hands of other group members. These should NOT be the hands of the person next to you.
– now try to get out of the knot without loosening your hands.
– it is successful if everyone only holds the hand of the people next to him / her.
– Watch a movie here
MAGNIFY
Works in a small group (up to about ten people). Steps:
– Stand in a circle
– First assignment: everyone points to someone but no one is pointed twice
– If this is successful, ask everyone to do nothing. Stand still.
– But… if the person you point to does something , no matter how small (scratching their nose, coughing, whatever) then you do the same thing, but 10% bigger. So overdo it a bit. The person pointing at you will then magnify you 10% and so on …
ENEMY AND PROTECTOR (large groups)
This energizer is called ‘Enemy-Defender’ in English and works well in a large group and preferably in a large room.
– Ask everyone to choose 1 Enemy from all people without disclosing this
– Then ask to choose 1 Protector
– Then give the group a simple task: Always keep the Protector between you and the Enemy.
– stop after 90 seconds and discuss what the group noticed.
– we also use this form to illustrate self-management. How a complex system ultimately finds a balance. And quite quickly too.
WHO AM I?
Post it on your forehead with a celebrity or celebrity and guess …
NIPPON
One for mind and body. A very lively energizer based on Japanese martial arts.
30 SECONDS You probably
know this game. You get 30 seconds to explain 5 words on a card to your fellow player without using the word. As a team lead, scrum master or coach, create your own version for the team with terms from their work area. Do this in pairs, but for the whole group. A lot of fun guaranteed.
WORD PLAY . For a nice warm-up, especially if you get started with storytelling, download the free app Gelimbo . Combine any two words into a nice new word.
More inspiration? There are many (probably 101 but I have not counted them) working methods for more energy on 101werkvorm.nl . So energizers. And check out play14.org/games too .