When it comes to work, meetings get a bad rap. They're unnecessary, too long, or downright dullâand that's a fair criticism. Leaders often conduct meetings in a rigid, top-down way, marching from the top of the agenda to the bottom without much effort to engage attendees or tap into team members' expertise and creativity.Â
However, a good meeting is about more than just communicating a message or checking to-do items off a list. A good meeting makes people feel comfortable and valued and builds social cohesion toward a common goal.Â
One of the best ways to start a meeting off on the right foot is by introducing icebreakers. A good icebreaker sets the tone of a meeting from the very beginning, drawing people out in a way that invites openness, creativity, and trust. Here are several ways to incorporate good icebreakers into your virtual meetings and use technology to make everyone feel included and heard.
Why icebreakers?
Icebreakers can be fun, but why are they essential to a good meeting?
They build connections between team members
With so much to get done at work, it can be easy to work regularly with people and have no idea who they are outside of work, what drives them, or what unique skills and perspectives they bring to the job. This can be especially complicated with hybrid work where many people haven't even been to the physical office, and many of the traditional opportunities to connect are outmoded.
Opening a meeting with an icebreaker can give people a chance to share who they are on work time. Asking people questions about their hobbies or doing a quick team game together creates a container that allows people to feel comfortable expressing themselves in ways they might typically not at work. It also allows every type of personâoutgoing or reserved, new or establishedâto feel included in the conversation. And, as a perk, it will enable team leaders to see team members' personalities, skills, and learning styles in a way that might not be obvious when doing daily tasks.
Most importantly, good icebreakers allow people to get to know each other and enjoy the work they're doingâwhich, in turn, makes it more likely that they will do great work. It also allows people to build up trust with each other, which helps them feel more comfortable sharing ideas, offering constructive criticism, and collaborating with others.
Start a meeting well before diving into a to-do list
Many people dread going to meetings. They see them as distractions from the actual work they're doing or fear they'll be lectured to and then released without making any real progress. Team leaders can help alleviate these fears by hosting meetings that are engaging, collaborative, purposeful, and even fun.Â
The easiest way to ensure that a meeting ends well is to start it right. Instead of entering a meeting with a list of pre-planned directives and updates, try approaching it as a facilitator who helps draw out the best in others by encouraging their ideas, leadership, and initiative. Nothing helps foster this collaborative team spirit like a good meeting icebreaker. Taking a few minutes for everyone to learn about each otherâor even just be sillyâcan work wonders on the mood of the meeting participants. It allows them to loosen up and bring more of themselves to their work and increases the likelihood that they'll be engaged and excited about the rest of the meeting agenda.
Take a small break during the day
People come to work to get things done. But if their day is one endless series of tasks, they'll likely check out, and productivity and engagement will plummet. That's why it's essential to bring some play into the workday, allowing people to switch gears and relax, socialize, or learn something new. Using icebreakers at the beginning of meetings can give people a moment to switch gears and bring their whole selves to the team. But it's also great to pepper some icebreakers throughout the day, bring people together to answer a fun question, play a quick game, or use technology to help team members (remote and in the office) post GIFs about their moods or goals for the day.Â
Taking small breaks to have fun and deepen relationships helps people pace themselves, avoid burnout, and connect with team members in a meaningful way.
How to make icebreakers more effectiveÂ
You're convinced that good icebreakers would make work more enjoyable and meaningful for your team. But how do you choose the best icebreakers for your team or figure out the best games to play or questions to ask? Luckily, there are tools out there that can help you do just that.
Use templatesÂ
Many companies have made it their business to help other companies run good meetings and engage their teams. Lucidspark has three templates that engage people on various levels, helping you start your meetings on the right foot.
Get to know your icebreaker template
At the beginning of the meeting, invite your team to open Lucidspark's easy-to-use âget to know youâ template. You can provide a series of boxes with prompts at the top, and the sky's the limit with the questions. You can ask people what their superhero superpower would be, which famous person they'd most want to invite to dinner, or what skill they'd like to learn in an instant if they could. Allow people to add their own boxes with new questions if they think of any. Participants can use virtual sticky notes to write their answers and elaborate with pics and GIFs. Finally, encourage team members to respond to emoticons or text. In just a few minutes, your team will have learned something new about everybody they work with.
