Leading and Motivating Remote Delivery - Icebreakers

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 20 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 35 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To define success.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s also suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• Participants will need a sheet of plain paper to hand and ideally, some colour pens or pencils.

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:
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 explore the difference between optimistic and pessimistic behaviour.
• To understand the kind of actions to take in order to be more optimistic.

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:
This activity can be run on its own or as a follow on to The Charity Challenge.

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 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 30 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to think about the culture of their team or organisation.
• To identify the positive aspects of the team or organisation.

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:
• The PowerPoint Handout provided.

Notes:
Small prizes would be a nice touch but are not essential.

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 15 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 45 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to reflect on where they are, their strengths and the challenges they face.
• To identify parallels with nature and reflect on what learning this provides.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 12 participants. It’s also suitable for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
New leaders in particular and in any situation where self-reflection might be valuable.

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

Notes:
Nature can be a powerful metaphor for learning. It is, after all, in a constant state of change, growth and renewal and it’s full of symbiotic relationships. There are clear parallels here with the workplace where success is often dependent on teamwork, where change is constant and where communication, learning and adaptability are essential skills.

This can be a particularly powerful activity to use with new managers to encourage them to reflect on their place in the team and the skills they need to develop but it can be used in other situations too, where some self-reflection might be valuable.

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 30 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to think about how to get buy-in to change.

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

Useful For:
Managers and anyone involved in implementing change.

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:
• 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 15 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To explore what it feels like when a colleague adopts a pessimistic attitude.
• To understand how pessimism can impact the likelihood of success.

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

Useful For:
Teams.

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

Notes:
This icebreaker is really only suitable for use when running in-house training with an established team. To make it more credible, we suggest running this activity immediately after a break (and make sure you’re absent from the learners for part of that break). It works best when it is followed up with Describing Your Glass - Optimism vs Pessimism, as that module focuses on the positive steps that can be taken to develop optimism as a skill.

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 20 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 30 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To get participants into a creative and energetic state.
• To illustrate the value of short, sharp periods of creativity and idea generation.
• To launch the training with some fun.

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:
• The Activity Link and your PIN from Trainers’ Library.

Notes:
Although this activity can be run with teams using PowerPoint to design their hats, it’s much better if you can give them access to a collaborative space, such as a board in Miro.

For more information on using Miro, follow this link.

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 (recommended).

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 demonstrate what effective feedback looks like and the impact effective and ineffective feedback can have.

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 who needs to give or receive feedback.

You'll Need:
• To ensure participants have access to plain paper and coloured pens/pencils. (Alternatively, you might like to send them a selection of Lego, or some modelling clay in advance of the training.)

Notes:
Although we’ve labelled this an icebreaker, we’d recommend only using it at the very beginning of a workshop if your participants already know each other, and both you and they will feel relaxed.

You’ll need a minimum of 3 participants for this activity, and ideally a minimum of 4.

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).