Who knows, if the beat sounds good enough you all could consider making an acapella group. You might think that having a large group will make it tougher for your team to really get to know each other. January 05, 2023. Ask the group to form a circle. Sorry, this content is unavailable due to your privacy settings. Once everyone is done making their airplanes, have everyone fly their planes across the room. Kahoot is a trivia platform you can use for free (hosts up to 10 people). Anything from whats your favorite food? to how are you feeling? could work here. Keeping the ice breakers inclusive keeps everyone engaged. This gives your new employee a better understanding of who is responsible for what and who they can approach with questions. The third person repeats person ones, person twos, and their own. For this icebreaker, everyone can take turns in sharing their hot takes and either bond with their coworkers who agree or debate their naysayers. Entertaining and motivating original stories to help move your visions forward. Ask all the students to recite the alphabet until you say stop. Take turns grabbing a card and reading the facts. Here are some options worth considering: - What do you usually have for breakfast? This allows employees to learn about everyone through a quick one-on-one chat. Even if you think you already know your team well, youre bound to be surprised. Whichever team gets the most points, wins. Meet-and-greets. This icebreaker is played like a competition between multiple orientation groups. Collect allof the responses and place them in a bowl. To play, you simply divide your team into groups of four and give each group 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and a marshmallow. Go around the room and ask each of them to share a quick fact about their hometown and why they decided to attend your institution. Then, instruct them to build the most sophisticated marshmallow and toothpick structure that they can. Sometimes the team that wins is composed of employees that initially thought they had nothing in common. Thatperson then says zop while pointing to a third person. Instructions Go to https://scattergoriesonline.net/new-game.xhtml. The orientation leader will post a large outline of the state or country on the wall. Theres nothing like some lighthearted banter to get everyone warmed up before a meeting. The first team to accomplish this wins. Theyre a great way to set your new team members up for success and to give them great memories of their first day of work. Start with a random team member or yourself. Have the instructor lead the meeting from the start, ideally with a time limit on the activity. Ready? Not only can these be inspirational, but they also open the floor for team members to encourage one another to pursue their dreams, too. One way to create an interesting icebreaker is to keep it short and simple. Everyone should write down five surprising facts about themselves on an index card (make sure they arent obvious these should be things like I once went hang gliding in Iceland rather than I have brown hair). Once the time has elapsed, ask each student to introduce themselves and share one thing they learned about someone else in the group. Two Truths and a Lie. This game is great because it's high-energy and encourages employees to talk to and get to know one another by prompting them to speak about certain topics. We recently released a podcast that you might enjoy. Every player will write their name on a slip of paper backward, fold it, and place it into a bowl. Take 5-10 minutes to go through a round of stretches. Gather your group and dedicate some time forstudents to think of their two truths and a lie. Split your team into smaller groups of around eight players. How to Create an Efficient Workload Management Process, What Is the Scaled Agile Framework? The twist is that the marshmallow has to be on top. Enter a nickname and choose a character avatar. Gather the group and allow them some time to think about three clues that describe where they are from. Fortunately, you can conduct a scavenger hunt for your team even if they've worked at your office for years. Everybody in the group repeats those motions while reciting that persons name. Give each student a balloon to blow up and tie, but dont let them know what question is inside of it. Its your choice! Making something with your team can be a great opportunity to learn something new and keep decorative mementos in your space. Give the two students at the end of the line something to act out (i.e. Then, have each group create a chain by linking arms. It helps to create an environment of trust and support within the team, allowing the new For this icebreaker, have everyone on your team go around and share a word or phrase that represents how they feel that day. It helps to create an environment of trust and support within the team, allowing the new hires to feel more connected with their colleagues. What icebreakers would you add? Talent show Ask for a few volunteers who want to Although introductions might be an ordinary and terribly uninteresting ice-breaker for new employee orientation, adding a twist can make the simple round-robin Qualee is an award-winning employee experience platform designed to empower organisational alignment and belonging. Undoubtedly you'll get some of lesser importance, like "I bought a skateboard," but you never know what hidden skills you might discover in your colleagues. However, you should encourage them to find items that are more odd or unique. Some can be as simple as "Would you rather", "2 Truths and a Lie", "Team Scavenger Hunt", or "Favorite Animal". Divide meeting participants into smaller groups. This shared initiative has nothing to do with their work projects. Its hard to play these games without sharing a laugh, which is something we all could use in the workday. Set a date and have folks RSVP so that you can more accurately calculate the price per person in the next step. The correct guesser gets the turn. Whoever gets it right may get a small prize or bragging rights. The one left without a seat will have their turn to go. This activity is designed to build and strengthen relationships between new hires and existing employees by helping them find things that they have in common with one another. Let your team know ahead of time that youll be doing this activity. The skys the limit! Your orientation should include a thorough tour of your facility, office, or workspace. In this icebreaker, the leader holds an imaginary ball in their hand and throws it to other players, making whatever sound they think it would with that gesture. The partner to smile or laugh first must sit down. You can alsorepeat this by having each student state their intended major and why they chose it. Each student will go to one side of the room based on their preference. This icebreaker is ideal for groups smaller than 20. The game will start once everyone designates themselves as. Example: Would you rather your special talent be opera singing or in playing the banjo?. Resource: https://tenspot.com/blog/work-well/8-new-hire-icebreakers/, https://tenspot.com/blog/work-well/8-new-hire-icebreakers/, How Does an Electric Food Dehydrator Work and How to Select the Right One. Gradually people will be made to exit the mingling space or find a seat until the last person standing wins. Examples of possible square options include: - Find somebody with the same number of siblings as you, - Find somebody who plays an interesting instrument, - Find somebody who was born in another country, - Find somebody who was born in the same month as you. Divide players into quads and give them 10 minutes to devise the plot of the next award-winning film. The person who doesnt win their round is now a cheerleader for the winner. This continues until one of the lines is exhausted. Once they are done, have them tape it to their back. It's fun and encourages collaboration, but additionally, it can help employees learn their way around the office. I ziplined in Switzerland once." Reach out to individual team members to find the most suitable instructor. Have everyone get into a circle and one person will start. Onboarding sessions are, to a certain extent, going to be boring. Office tour. Even better? Theyll have to act out the behaviors, facial expressions, or even the iconic Im flying scene from Titanic. The group is instructed to line up according to their birthdays but in complete silence. Here are a few "Would You Rather" questions to get you started: Accomplishments Before 18 is an engaging and unique way to encourage team members to share fun or interesting stories with one another. Even though icebreakers can be tough to get through in the beginning, they can be a lot of fun after you do your first! Have everyone fill out an interest form for the event. Each student then must come up with something they are excited about that starts with the letter they have stopped on. In the given time, instruct each team or pair to find and list ten things they have in common. (For larger groups, you can split them up into smaller groups.). Orientation is part of your wider employee onboarding strategy, is crucial for making a good first impression, and helps with employee retention in the long run. Each student will add one word to the story try to build it as long as you can. The Rose, Thorn and Bud game encourages employees to speak up and offer a new perspective. Not so! To run this remotely, you'll want to share your screen with your team. Split the group into two teams. If you're stranded on a desert island and have the option of bringing three items with you, what three items would they be? Then add this twist to make the game more challenging and meaningful, dont allow them to note physical or visual similarities. Your new employee orientation is typically a presentation or interactive course for your new hires to get acquainted with the company culture as well as the policies and procedures you have in place. Continue going around the group. Second, they encourage conversation on topics typically reserved for outside the office, which enables members of your team to get to know one another on a deeper level. - What is something no one here knows about you? Have every one share with their group one word that describes the topic, then allow them to popcorn their turn. Meg Prater, Senior Content Marketing Manager of the HubSpot blog, says "When I first started including ice-breaker questions in our weekly team stand-up meetings, the experience was cringeworthy. Divide the group into 2-5 teams. You can make sure your activities dont backfire by avoiding anything that: One way to ensure your chosen icebreakers are inclusive and effective is to invite your team members to suggest them. You can split your students into small groups, allowing each student to share their sentence with their group mates. Like, Whats the name of our CEOs goldfish?. Participants will be pleasantly surprised by what they learn about each other. Would you rather only have summer or winter for the rest of your life? Our CEO plays Two Truths and a Lie in the onboarding orientation he facilitates with each group of new hires. This activity is particularly effective at getting people to talk to one another and is best in a big group so that all employees have the chance to interact with everyone. Ensure you have the right team size for this activity. If you want an icebreaker activity that doubles as having work value for the company, you can have your employees take personality quizzes. One by one, each player will enter the scene, assume a frozen position, and describe what role they play in the overall scene (i.e. To prepare for the activity, write out 20 or so questions on slips of paper and place them in a hat or other receptacle. Tell the volunteer that they can not laugh or smile, regardless of what happens. Use these icebreakers to help ensure that your students feel confident for the journey that lies ahead. All the remaining individuals find a new partner and continueuntil there is one winner. Ten things in common. Ask a question, and challenge team members to reply using the emoji they think fits best. The third sentence has to have a plot twist starting with, Suddenly before rotating to the next. Would you rather is another classic icebreaker game that gives employees a chance to learn more about each other in terms of their preferences. Make it fun. In need of a wholesome icebreaker? Allow the teams time to deliberate and then ask them to present the item they chose and why. Gather your entire team in a room and ask a simple question (for example, Whats your favorite color?). Fun and lighthearted, icebreakers are a great way to connect remote attendees while also creating a positive atmosphere from the start. Sign up to start creating engaging polls today. Some icebreakers may involve physical activity while others are just mental and consist of discussion. Have everyone form a circle to share what is on their mind, what is in their heart, and how their body feels. It will also help them connect with the corporate culture and with each other, making them feel like valued members of the team on their first day. Also known as new employee orientation, new hire orientation is designed to bring new hires up to speed on everything related to your company. Separate your students into groups of 4-5. Have everyone chime in one-by-one with their answer. The purpose of the exercise is to give people a chance to release and/or reveal emotional setbacks, obstacles, wins, highlights, or anything else that might be impacting how they show up to work that day. Have the students fold the paper in half length-wise (hot-dog style) and on the left side, write a list of 20 personal traits. To continue, repeat this, but stop on a different letter. at the beginning of every meeting isn't always the best ice breaker to encourage team bonding. Popcorn it over to the most enthusiastic team member with that same interest and have them share a new one. They should say a word (for example, big). For example, We both have brown hair wont work. When that person catches the ball, ask them to read the question closest to their left thumb aloud and answer it once they are done, they pass it to another student. The team whoreturns to the rendezvous point the soonest (with the most correct finds) wins. Free and premium plans, Sales CRM software. Ask which sports theyd rather play and see which theyd prefer and why. The game forces your colleagues to work collaboratively when brainstorming potential solutions. Other players can score more points for identifying the word the fastest and take turns going until the timer goes out. Design a hunt where your new recruits have to find a coworker who fits a certain trait. But heres the problem: Everything youve found so far iswell, a little cheesy. Youll also get brownie points if you save and share some of the funniest drawings and share them with the team on Slack afterward. We have some good news: If youre on the lookout for a great exercise for new hires, your search is over. Allow team members to enter their answers on the chat or write it on a notepad. The player who avoids laughing throughout the game wins. Once every player on one team has placed themselves and described their role, the director says action and the scenery will come to life. Icebreaker Games. Looking for simple icebreaker questions, that dont require any further rules or materials? Of course, you want the topics to be fun and lighthearted, so keep them to topics that arent controversial and opt for statements like, Cheese isnt all that great. if youre a madman. With a work friend, new hires can better assimilate to their team and company as a whole. Find someone who has worked for the company ten years or longer, Find someone whose favorite color is pink. Example: Would you rather have super speed or super strength?. going to the grocery store) and assign the first group to begin. here. It can also be helpful as a way of lightening the mood on teams that regularly deal with stressful projects or situations. final exams, the school mascot, writing a paper, etc.). 5. Set a timer. There's information that you have to get through, and for at least part of the day, You can give them constraints by designating genres like horror, action, comedy, thriller, and more. The idea of an icebreaker may make teams feel a little hesitant, due to how mind-numbing they could be in school. This is a great reflection exercise for the very beginning or very end of orientation. Enjoy seeing the eclectic items in your team members homes! This includes both work-related training as well as a process of personal familiarisation, trust-building, and socialisation. Ask each new employee to write down a strange or unusual fact about themselves (work-appropriate, of course) on a slip of paper. Have a manager or team leader start the conversation by sharing something they have an interest in, like popular TV, music, foods, or whatever they love to get everyone thinking. Qualee is dedicated to helping you onboard new employees safely, simply, and in the most engaging way possible. Ask the students to write down one or two adjectives about themselves on a sticker badge. The orientation leader willset the theme witha word (love, summer, friends, etc), and the teams will then alternate back and forth singing a song that has the assigned word in the songs title. Its a particularly uplifting team-bonding activity that will bring your team even closer together. The question can change every week. It allows them to get to know you on a more personal level, as well as those who are also starting on the same day. Make sure your theme is chosen in good judgment. Pull from the hat and read each fact. Put your phone on silent. Maybe its by height or shoe size, or perhaps its by birth month, or number of years with your company. Set the two sub-groups up in a line facing each other. For this icebreaker, all you have to do is answer the question about your favorite things. The group must now untangle themselves into a circle without letting go of one another. If desired, have everyone rotate partners. Say hi to helping students make new friends 60 different ways! Then, have everyone form a circle and take turns introducing their partner to the group. You or your teammate will share an interest, such as a TV show or hobby. Each round, the game will highlight a random letter of the alphabet and let players come up with any noun or phrase that starts with said letter. These are some fun ways to help introduce a new employee into your company. Movie fanatics across any team or department will enjoy questions about them. Employee orientation often gives employees a birds-eye view of the company. The envelopes are to be shuffled and chosen once at a time by the leader to read aloud to the rest of the group. 2006-2023 Wrike, Inc. All rights reserved. Have everyone vote on the corniest joke either via Zoom poll or by keeping tabs on a notepad. With the Marshmallow Challenge, you can strengthen your team's brainstorming and problem-solving skills, and your team can also have some fun. At the end of the exercise, ask each recruit to introduce their partner to the group. They can also be an important tool for the company. Have everyone follow the same instructions to make a craft like simple origami, a drawing, or painting by a designated instructor in the Zoom call or YouTube tutorial. This continues until only a few students are left. If you have more time on your hands, have the pairs split up after showing off their super cool shake and make even more creative ones with new partners. Poll Everywhere can help you make your orientation even more special. Instruct your group to gather in a circle and pick a theme. The players in this icebreaker game will line up on one side of a room and a designated leader will be instructed to say either, Red Light, or, Green Light. That gives employees a chance to learn more about each other in terms of their preferences avoids... A positive atmosphere from the start to popcorn their turn you should encourage them to their... Your screen with your company go of one another limit on the corniest joke either via poll. They are done, have everyone form a circle without letting go of one another is of! Until the timer goes out the exercise, ask each student a balloon to blow up offer. 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