Icebreakers are short activities conducted in between team building activities to relax the participants, introduce them to one another or energize them informally after an engaging in a formal activity. Usually icebreakers are not related to the activity proper but there are times that they are used to introduce the activity proper. Icebreakers can also be used to gather people together as one group in a fun and creative way.

The term icebreaker comes from the phrase “break the ice”. The ice referred here is the period where participants are “frozen” from a recent activity or can also be “frozen” because they are not yet involved in any activity. Icebreakers then are used to make them comfortable and ready for a certain activity while it can also be used to get their focus again when they are too immersed in another activity. A common icebreaker in the non-corporate scene is drinking wine or any other alcoholic beverage which helps everyone relax. This is beyond the scope of this article, where we are focused on team building activities. Examples of the icebreakers used in team building activities are listed below:

The Boat Is Sinking – is a creative icebreaker to group the participants. The facilitator will say, “The boat is sinking, the boat is sinking, group yourselves into…” and say a number which will the number of persons in a group. The group will enjoy this because they’ll be grabbing the nearest person because they want to form a group quickly.

Human Bingo – this is an icebreaker to creatively introduce the participants to one another. Each participant is given a piece of paper similar to a bingo card. However inside the boxes you see a personal characteristic instead of a number. For example, the box may contain one who snores, or one who love basketball or any other characteristics. The participants then have to go around and fill up each bingo box with the name of the participant who has that specific characteristic. The first participant to completely fill up all the boxes will win the game.

Toilet Paper Game – The facilitator will get a roll of toilet paper and explain to the group that they are going camping. All the participants are instructed to get as much tissue paper as they think is need for a three day camping. After all will get their share of toilet, the facilitator will then tell the group that for every tissue square that they got, they’ll have to tell something about themselves. If someone already knows the game, tell them not to reveal the mechanics of the game.

Catch Me If You Can – divide the group into pairs, then ask them to form two lines, shoulder to shoulder. One person should be in one line and his partner should be on the other and everyone should line up in such a way that partners are facing each other. Each person will look at his/ her partner and try to memorize every detail (moles, color of hair, shirt). After a set time, they will turn away from each other and try to change something. Then they are to face each other again and try to spot which are the differences. This is a fun way for the participants to interact with each other.

Puzzle Jumble – in this icebreaker, the facilitator cuts several pictures into several pieces to make some picture puzzles. The puzzle pieces are then placed in a bag wherein the participants are all requested to get one part of the puzzles. When the start signal is given the participants go around looking for the other piece of the puzzle. The first group of people who completes the picture wins the game. This is a very good way also to group the participants in preparation for the next activity.

Solemn and Silent – in this icebreaker, the facilitator emphasizes that the activity is not easy and will take self control. The group is then divided in pairs and is first positioned back to back. With the facilitator’s signal, the partners then face each other. Every partner will look at each other’s eye and try to look serious. They are not allowed to show their teeth, smile and laugh. The pair who laughs will be eliminated. The remaining participants will then get a new partner. They do the same steps again until all but a pair remains.

Name Game – as a way of introducing themselves, participants will get the first letter of their name and find an adjective that best describes them using the first letter of their name. After forming a circle, they can then take turns introducing them using the adjective they have chosen. They can add actions as they do their introduction to make it creative.

There still many icebreakers that you can find that are useful in the team building process. However, don’ t focus too much on the icebreakers but rather focus on the team building activities, After all the icebreakers are these just to break the monotony of the actual team building activity and prepare them for the next upcoming activity. You can use the icebreakers above in your team activities and your participants will surely have fun.

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