Icebreaker Games and Activities for Groups of People

Icebreaker games can make or break'"no pun intended'"a get-together of any type. Whether you need an icebreaker activity to get a party going or to introduce new co-workers at the opening of a brand new store, these fun and challenging little introductory activities can relieve tension and alleviate the stress that comes with antagonistic personalities clashing upon first introductions.

Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression

This icebreaker game can provide a real glimpse into perception. The entire idea of this task is to get people to write down some initial impressions that they get after looking at a photograph of an individual. The easiest method for this icebreaker activity involves separation into teams with the realization that each specific member of the team is expected to write down their own personal impressions. Give the teams four or five different photographs of various types of people with whom you are familiar. This familiarity can stem from actually knowing the person to images of somewhat obscure historical figures about which you can discover concrete information. The point of this group icebreaker is to reveal all you can about preconceptions based on physical appearance.

Scrambled Eggs

This good icebreaker actually has nothing to do with eggs. Remember those old word scramble or Jumbo games you played as a kid? Separate into teams of at least two people and hand out a list of scrambled words. Teamwork is the key to this particular icebreaker game as the members must decide the best way to go about handling the list of ten or so words. Will they work together on the same word or separate them into evenly divided sub-lists? The first team to successfully unscramble all words should be rewarded with a nice gift to provide inspiration.

Balloon Rockets

Hand each person a differently colored balloon that are uninflated. The point of this icebreaker activity is to blow up the balloon and then, at your signal, release the balloon so that it flies across the room. The balloon that flies the furthest across the room is the winner. The fun thing here is to collect a number of differently shaped balloons to provide opportunities for everyone to win at least one round. Silly, but the sound of deflating balloons flying around the room is enough to loosen tensions surrounding a selection of strangers.

Doppelgangers

Doppelgangers is an icebreaking game that situates groups of four people. Things begin with two of the teams sitting across from each other who are given the chance to say a little something about themselves. As an introductory icebreaker, this little game treads along the razor's edge of danger while offering ample opportunity for insight. Instructions for the topic of introductory conversation can vary, but you want to give them some way to talk about an aspect of themselves in a dialogue for three or four minutes that reveals something about their personalities. When the dialogue has ended, the two doppelgangers take the place of the first couple and proceed to repeat the essence of the dialogue they just witnessed with the difference that the second couple are instructed to focus on elements of the conversation that they believe the first two people chose not to disclose or to modify for their own positive benefit.