Warm-Up Activities for Group Meetings
Much like sports, meetings take preparation, concentration and, yes, even some warming up. Running through a few warm-up activities before a group meeting can help prepare members for the tasks ahead by helping them to familiarize themselves with one another and the material at hand. Activities can also create a more relaxed environment, which may lead to a more effective meeting.
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Magic Wand
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The name might sound a bit silly, but the game itself is quite serious. In this icebreaker game participants imagine that they have just discovered a magic wand that will allow them to change three things about work and/or their work environment. Anything is up for change. This activity allows individuals to express, in a more-or-less creative way, what works and what doesn't in their office environment. While giving people a chance to air their concerns, this activity may also lead to some new, helpful ideas.
Finish the Sentence
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In this icebreaker game participants take turns finishing a standard starter sentence such as: "The best job I ever had was..." or "The worst project I ever worked on was ..." This activity gives individuals a chance to learn about one another and it also offers an opportunity for new ideas and concerns to be circulated. Participants may come to identify with one another through shared experiences, ideas or concerns about their work environment.
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Supermodel Exercise
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In this slightly cheeky activity participants gather in a circle or sit close to one another around a table and a leader is appointed. The leader then randomly points to participants who must obey her or his command. Commands should aim at getting the individual to act a certain part, like that of a supermodel. The participants to the left and right of the subject should also engage -- for instance, by "snapping photos" of the subject or gasping in awe. Commands can include acting like an animal or object. This game helps people relax and become more comfortable with one another, since everyone looks a bit ridiculous together.
Group Brainstorm
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A pre-meeting group brainstorm can help get the creative juices flowing in a pressure-free setting. In this activity the group is divided into equal teams and each team must list several items associated with a category such as dates, colors, shapes, sizes, taste and so forth. Teams must act on their own and cannot consult with one another. At the end of the allotted time, the team with the most items wins. In order to gear this toward a particular subject, facilitators can choose categories related to the subject of the meeting -- such as sites to hold an event or ways to market a product.
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References
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