Problem Solving Remote Delivery - Icebreakers

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 10 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 25 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To explore why difficult conversations can be necessary and form part of healthy working relationships.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Anyone.

You'll Need:
• The Activity Link provided and your unique Pin, which you’ll find in ‘My Account’ section of the member homepage.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 5 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 25 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To explore how participants can take a more creative approach to problem solving.
• To demonstrate a creative way for participants to share their workplace challenges.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Anyone.

You'll Need:
• To ask participants bring a selection of drawing equipment.
• For each participant to have a blindfold or scarf (optional).

Notes:
This icebreaker is designed to be run at the start of a session to encourage your participants to take a more creative approach to problem solving.

You’ll need to contact participants a few days prior to the session to ask them to think about any work-based challenges they face and to record their top three to bring with them.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (not required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 10 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 20 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To energise a group.
• To test remote participants’ abilities to work together quickly to solve a simple problem.
• To introduce the concept of continuous improvement.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
All participants.

You'll Need:
• Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This simple activity is one you can return to several times in your training to demonstrate the principles of continuous improvement. For smaller groups, we recommend using the anagram approach; for larger groups, you can use the alternative approach where you simply allocate each participant a number.

This activity uses functionality in Zoom. If using other tools, you may need to check the hands up functionality and the impact it has on how participants appear on screen.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 15 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 35 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To test team’s abilities to think laterally and work together to solve a problem.
• To test teamwork and communication.
• To illustrate the benefits of looking for long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• A stopwatch or timer to regulate the team discussions.
• The Activity Links and your PIN.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (required).
• Collaborative Whiteboard (not required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 10 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 25 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to consider how to gather information effectively and accurately, through effective questioning.
• To explore the importance of choosing questions that provide an opportunity to build on existing knowledge.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
We don’t recommend using this activity in groups of more than 12 participants.

This activity has been tested using Zoom and, as it requires use of the annotation tools, it’s recommended that you use that platform to run it. (At the time of writing, it is not compatible with Teams.)

There is a handout that explains how to use the annotation tools in Zoom, if required.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
This exercise will take about 15 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 35 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To test participants ability to work together to solve a communication challenge.
• To encourage participants to think about communication and the importance of being able to communicate with others.
• To consider the importance of checking understanding and taking your whole team with you when change occurs.

Group Size:
Suitable for use with groups of up to 12 participants.

Useful For:
Staff of all levels.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This icebreaker is a useful introduction to any training around teamwork, communication, change, resilience or problem solving.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (optional).
• Breakout Rooms (essential).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 10 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 25 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To test participant’s problem-solving skills.
• To explore the different behaviours employed when solving problems.
• To identify how these behaviours can impact team performance.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Anyone.

You'll Need:
• The PowerPoint slides (Handouts and Solution) ready to send to, or share with, participants.

Notes:
This icebreaker works best when participants are split into teams of 2 or 3. It is fine for different teams to have the same puzzle.

There is another module which uses the same activity as this but in a different way. This icebreaker focuses on Problem Solving skills, whereas the other is a course module, ‘Letters Get Better’, which focuses on Continuous Improvement.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 10 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 25 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to consider the difference between good and bad customer service.
• To reflect on the impact good and bad customer service has on other customers.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels, especially those in a customer-facing role.

You'll Need:
• To prepare the poll in advance of the training session (optional).

Notes:
This exercise can be run as a stand-alone session or you can follow it up with LACE – Handling Unhappy Customers.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (optional).
• Breakout Rooms (required).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 20 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 30 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To get participants working together, sharing knowledge and problem solving.
• To test participants’ team decision skills and their ability to think strategically.
• To enable participants to find out a little more about each other, in particular about the places they’ve visited in Europe.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s not suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• Nothing other than the materials provided.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
Remote Delivery requires a system that as an absolute minimum provides the following functionality:
• Face-to-face discussion.
• Share screen.
• Chat.
• Share files.

In addition, we strongly recommend using a system that provides for:
• Polls/Quizzes (not required).
• Breakout Rooms (required).
• Collaborative Whiteboard (not required).