Even with established teams, it’s important to get people into the holiday mood and encourage creativity and collaboration.
Assign people into pairs or triads and each pair/triad needs to write one pair of rhyme for the music of a popular song. In this holiday-themed version, we'll ask participants to create a version of Jingle bells.
Whatever the occasion or song, it's a nice twist if they incorporate something in the lyrics that is related to your own company and culture.
Impulse (also known as Pass the Pulse) is a great exercise for teamwork and breaking the ice at the same time.
Have your group stand up in a close circle (10 to 16 people is best). They close their eyes put their hands into the circle and find two hands and hold on. Then they open their eyes and the group has to try to get back into a circle without letting go, though they can change their grip, of course.
This fun activity allows participants to follow instructions on a MURAL whiteboard to perform a variety of activities and eventually share their name and location. You can use this as a short ice-breaker or energiser (remove some of the activities) or as either pre-work or an opening activity to make sure that everyone knows how to use MURAL before an online session begins.
A MURAL template is included for you to use and modify as you wish (at the bottom of this method).
In this group game, players stand in a circle and perform a series of loud physical moves, passing from one person to the next. When a player hesitates or makes a mistake, he or she is eliminated and the game continues. The game generates laughter and playfulness in the group.
In pairs count to 3. Then replace 1 with snap, 2 with clap, 3 with stomp
A quick and effective activity to energize your group at a virtual meeting by adapting the Mexican Wave to an online setting.
A quick drawing activity to better understand neurodiversity.
This is a quick final closing activity that leaves a group with a quick adrenelin boost. You could use it at any time as an energiser, although I usually use it to close an event.
Ultimate tic-tac-toe is variation and more strategic version of Tic Tac Toe which allows for a more dynamic and strategic gameplay for participants. This is designed for 2 main players (which can be individuals or groups).
Rythm Instruments is a fun way to break the ice in groups, helping each participant to feel involved and create something from "scratch".