In this article, we’ll show you 12 interactive icebreakers that you can use to optimize networking and interaction on your events. We have already clarified in Part 1 what an icebreaker is and how to define suitable targets for the purpose.

The second part deals today with the deliberate use of interactive tools such as event apps, throw-microphones, and paper.

Interactive Voting with the Audience

This is where your event app comes into play. The moderator asks one or more questions to the audience. These can be general questions about the event, the participants or the theme of the event. Afterward, the participants have 1-2 minutes to answer these questions. The results are then presented live.

This exercise has two advantages. First, it always triggers a small wow effect on the audience when they see the results of a survey live, and secondly, as an organizer, you can quickly gain an overview of the opinion or knowledge of your participants.

Structured Questions to the Speakers

Of course, it goes in the other direction. Instead of the moderator/speaker asking questions to the audience, the audience can also ask questions to the people on stage. There are, in principle, multiple variations.

If you want to have structure, have your participants form small groups, and each of these groups can then ask a question. However, you can also allow all participants to individually and simultaneously ask questions through the app. As an organizer, you are also faced with the question of whether you want to show the participants’ suggestions live or curate them beforehand. Especially in corporate events, there is often the reasonable fear that some participants enter nonsensical suggestions. For this reason, many of our customers use the moderation function and select the questions in advance.

With this game, you give your participants the opportunity to ask their individual questions. They automatically feel better understood and integrated into your event. Besides, not only the very self-confident persons who have already asked their questions loudly can voice their concerns, but also the more quiet ones.

The Question Ball

A game that is more suitable for smaller groups. You need a big and light ball for this, for example, a beach ball. You design the ball around with various questions. Your participants now stand in a circle and throw this ball to each other. If a person catches the ball, then they must answer the question that is closest to their right index finger. The credits for this idea go to Jonny Heather von Artifax.

Depending on what you want to achieve with this game, you should also select the questions. If you are primarily interested in getting to know the participants, you should ask personal questions such as “Where are you from?” “What is your favorite sport?” or “Which book did you last read?”. You can also focus on the event and pick the appropriate questions. At the same time, you can also gain a better impression of your participants.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q-QbVh1riI

X Facts in a Hat

This game is strongly reminiscent of the game two truths and a lie. In the beginning, the participants gather in smaller groups of up to 5-10 people. Each participant writes one of his strengths on a small piece of paper and then throws it into a container. After shaking, each participant now takes a piece of paper out of the container, reads out the strength aloud, and gives an example of why he/she has this strength.

This game is straightforward and automatically creates a positive feeling among your participants. Also, one learns something directly from the other participants and can refer to it during the discussions in the break. Networking becomes even easier.

Table Games and Quizzes

Especially at many smaller events participants are often placed at several tables. As an organizer, of course, you want the table neighbors to get into conversation quickly and that no awkward silence is created. You can accelerate this process by placing small games on the tables. We all know this from the sandbox. When playing together, getting to know each other is much more comfortable.

You can also make a contest where the different tables compete against each other, for example, a little quiz duel. In both cases, the table neighbors will quickly get into a conversation.

Throw-Microphones – Questions to the Speakers

Of course, instead of using an app, you can also use another medium to collect visitor queries. Throw-microphones have become very popular in recent years. These microphones are usually integrated in a cube or ball of foam. As a result, you can throw them over several meters, without dangers for the participants. In addition, there is also a small playful effect and a lot of excitement from the game. The most famous provider is undoubtedly Catchbox.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apjN3xThfY8

Card Deck as Matchmaker

Matchmaking is currently one of the most exciting topics at business events. If the networking is lame, then simply link two people together by hand. That’s the point of matchmaking. This automatically resolves the difficult part of initiating contact. There are now many apps and software solutions which deal with it, but there is also a simple analog version: A deck of cards!

When registering on-site, all participants must draw a card from a standard deck of cards. People with cards of the same color, number/image or category must now find each other and talk to each other. This idea from EventManagerBlog is super easy to implement.

Depending on how big your discussion group should be, you can choose the card deck and the selection criterion.

The Toilet Paper Challenge

If you want participants to share personal information with each other, this is a simple and quick game to play. In the beginning, groups of up to 10 people are formed. Then toilet paper rolls are passed around and each participant is allowed to take as many sheets as he wishes. Afterward, every person in the group has to list just as many personal facts about himself as toilet paper sheets that he has.

Since it is not yet known what will happen afterward when choosing the number of sheets, there is always a positive tension to be felt. When the explanation is given there is always a loud reaction. So it stays in the memories of the participants.

Individual Name Tags

As already described several times, the main problem with networking is the fear of the initial contact. Most participants do not know what to ask here. You can make it easier for your participants to start this first conversation when you prepare conversation tags, such as individual name tags. Here you could publish three facts about each participant. Or the participants have to answer three questions at the registration and the answers will be published on the business card. No matter how you offer a perfect reason to address the person.

Human Bingo

A bit more elaborate, but still very funny. You’ll need to create several different bingo cards with character traits or information about people in advance, for example: Comes from Berlin, is under 25, plays football… Each participant will receive such a bingo card and must find the appropriate persons with the appropriate criteria among the other participants. So if he talks to someone who plays football, then he can check this box. The participant, who is the first to fill a row, shouts BINGO!

This is an enjoyable game and your participants can get to know each other in a fun way. Thanks to the idea of competition, there will also be a lot of movement.

Fairy Tale Introductions

What is it like to be presented as a fairy-tale hero? This experience can be made possible with this game for your participants. Again, small groups of up to 10 people are formed. Each participant may now introduce his left and right neighbors in about 30 seconds. The unique thing is that, except for the name, all statements must be made up. The participants should also use flowery words. There are no limits to their creativity.

This ice-breaker was taken from David Becker von ZKIPSTER.  It is guaranteed to lead to a lot of laughter and creative suggestions. This connects the participants with each other.

Paper Fight

If you want to increase the activity of your participants with your game rather than the networking, then the paper ball fight is perfect. Each participant receives a piece of paper and should write down a wish, a goal, a question, etc. Subsequently, the sheet is formed into a ball and thrown on the stage at the moderator’s signal.

How this can be done can be seen in this video by Eric de Groot at 3:00 mins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=_kI-V4FCdx4

Of course, instead of paper balls, this can also be done with paper planes. Optionally, participants can then pick up the paper objects and read aloud. That depends on the size of the event.

Anyway, that will stay in their minds and increase the energy level.

What You Should Have Learned

Today we presented 12 interactive ideas with the help of event apps, throw-microphones, and paper to increase networking among your participants. This reduces their fear of contact and allows for optimal networking at your event.

“Network” Icon created by Chameleon Design from “the Noun Project“.

The post 12 Interactive Icebreakers for Your Corporate Events first appeared on LineUpr Blog.

The best way to start an event is with an icebreaker! You’ll soon find out why. But first of all, which icebreakers are there and how do they work? We did some research and collected a total of 25 ideas for you. There is something for every type of event and number of participants.

Today we will present you with the first 13 warm-up games. The focus is on events with fewer participants or smaller groups and games without too much effort. In part 2 there are the next 12 suggestions, where we focus more on larger events and the ideas are a little more elaborate, but also more successful.

Why Should You Start Your Event with an Icebreaker?

Every organizer knows that the focus of events is the people, the participants. They decide if your event will be top or flop. But what do your participants want?

Few participants visit events to inform themselves about topics or lectures. At least not through speakers and presentations. They want to make new contacts. There is just one small problem- talking to strangers. If the conversation is already started, then everything usually flows on its own.

So your event will be a success if your participants network with each other and strike up interesting conversations. Your primary task as the organizer is to help them! This is where the icebreakers come into play.

How Do Icebreakers Work?

Icebreakers help participants to quickly and easily learn about a stranger and to start a conversation with them.

They reduce the contact barriers and give your participants a good feeling of opening conversations with strangers.

Not every icebreaker is suitable for any kind of event and participant size. Before you decide on a variant, you should first clarify the following three points:

1. What do you want to achieve? Which contact barriers do you want to overcome? What should your participants do after the icebreaker? Should they just meet something or do you want in-depth discussions to develop? Or do you want your participants to connect more with your speakers and presenters?
2. Use simple icebreakers. It’s not about making a big show. You want to reach a goal. The more intuitive the activity, the more fun the participants will have.
3. Who are your participants? Everyone has different experiences, values, and ideas. When choosing an icebreaker, you should take this into account.

Business Speed-Dating

The classic at corporate events. The participants are divided into two groups and placed in a row. Make sure there is enough space between people. Otherwise, they will not understand their own words. Then they each have 2 – 5 minutes to talk to each other. After this time, one row moves to the left by one person.

Of course, you can also seat your participants at a table, but people are usually more focused when they are standing and the conversations are less stiff.

Two Truths and a Lie

There are many variants of this icebreaker. What each option has in common is that small groups of 2 – 5 people are formed and each participant has to tell three stories. Two true and one made-up. The other group participants then have to guess which one is the made-up one.

In the simplest variant, each participant says three facts about himself. If you want to stay in a professional context, each participant can also list three goals, two of which have already been reached and one which is still open. If you prefer to connect participants with private information, attendees can also share three stories from their lives.

You see, there are many possibilities. By modifying this idea, you can control exactly what kind of information participants share. Strengthening common career goals, for example, the team feeling, and increase the productivity.

Invent New Words

Again, small groups are to be formed. Now give the participants a topic or object. The groups should then invent a new word for this topic or object.

We found this idea at Eventbrite. It is great for activating the creativity of your participants. It can also be performed at large events. The participants could submit their answers, for example, via an app. Through voting, the best proposals could even be crowned.

Small Change and Stories

Small groups of 2 – 10 people are formed. Each group will then receive a few pieces of change. How much depends on the scheduled time. On each piece, besides the value, the coinage year is also noted. Each participant now tells a story from his life in this year.

We learned about this icebreaker from the CPG Crew.

The type of story can be specified in advance. Should it be a professional experience or a private story? Participants already get a first idea about the other people through these narratives. These can then be used as a hitch during the break to talk about other topics.

Looking for Similarities

Small groups of 5 – 10 people are formed. Then an alarm clock is set and each group has, for example, 10 minutes to find a certain number of similarities. The more similarities that have to be found, the harder this task will be.

With this variant, the groups quickly learn a lot of small useful information about each other. Although this is not a deep network, everyone comes quickly into the conversation through the similarities.

Scavenger Hunt

The scavenger hunt is a great activity to get your participants moving. There are several variations, but basically, it is about each participant getting a list of tasks. On the list could be, for example, the names of people who the participant first needs to find and then has to ask a few defined questions. If the participant has the answers, he is allowed to find the next person.

This game is suitable both to network participants with each other, as well as to connect different departments of a company. With two departments, one side can play the seekers and the other the waiting ones. The questions should then be both private and professional (what are you doing in the department …). This way, different departments can become one business unit.

Personality Change

The participants are divided into groups of 2 and have to interview each other. After a while, both participants change places and take on the personality of the opposite person. Now they should continue to question themselves but always answer on behalf of the other instead of with their own opinion. Of course, you can direct the discussions by asking the questions for the interview.

This exercise is very well suited to understand different perspectives and to get a new look. In addition, you feel very connected to the other person very quickly.

Share Stories

Small groups of 5 – 20 people are formed. After that, you specify certain topics to which each group member should tell a story. Examples are: “What did you learn last month?” Or “When and how did you last impress your colleagues?”

By choosing the questions, you can define the direction.

Complete Sentences

A quick and easily performed icebreaker. First, groups of 5 – 50 people are formed. Now you specify sentences that each participant in the group should complete. Examples are: “The funniest thing that ever happened to me …” or “Last month I learned that …”

Again, you can steer the direction of the conversations with the selection of sentences. Since this icebreaker is quite fast and easy, it can also be done with relatively large groups.

Introductory Round

The introductory round is also a classic and well-used tradition at many smaller events. The participants stand up for this together, for example, in a circle. After that, each person introduces himself with one or two sentences.

This icebreaker is perfect for small rounds. All participants know each other after one hit and can then connect with discussions.

Brainstorm Common Goals

Instead of inventing new words, you can also let your participants search together for goals for the event. You divide the people back into small groups of up to 5 people. These groups should jointly define common goals for the event and then present them.

This exercise is excellent for attuning your participants to productivity and goals. Also, a common goal strengthens the cohesion of the group.

Business Card Competition

That’s the third highlight in the list. Just make a competition out of networking. Each participant receives a business card for each conversation with another person. In the end, the amount of cards is counted. The person with the most business cards wins.

With this competition, you encourage an acceleration of the networking. However, you should also keep in mind that you do not help the participants to make contacts easily. You only put out an incentive to encourage them to overcome their reservations. Such a competition works better in connection with a few little warm-up games, in which contact barriers are also overcome.

Swap Name Badges

At the entrance, each participant receives the name tag of another participant. Everyone now has to find the person with their name tag and ask a few questions which were previously defined by you. Afterward, the participants get back their name badges. The game goes on until everyone has their name on their chest.

Another game in which your participants have to get moving and explore the location. Your participants can get in contact with several other people so quickly. A great idea from the EventManagerBlog.

What You Should Have Learned

Only those participants who meet interesting new contacts at an event consider the event a success. That’s why we’ve introduced you to 13 warm-up games in this article, which will get you into the networking mode quickly and easily. Support your participants when they first contact a stranger. In Part 2, we will discuss 12 more introductory activities that connect not only the participants with each other but also with the speakers and organizers.

“Network” Icon created by Chameleon Design from “the Noun Project“.

The post 13 Simple Icebreakers for Your Corporate Events first appeared on LineUpr Blog.