Creative Thinking Remote Delivery - Icebreakers

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 15 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 40 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to think about the environment they live or work in.
• To encourage participants to consider the impact the physical environment might have on creativity.
• To consider ways in which space can be made ‘creative’.

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 recommend using Miro for this activity, though you could, if you prefer, ask participants to collaborate on creating a PowerPoint slide that represents their shared ideas.

If using this module as an icebreaker, run the first activity/debrief only.

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

Aims:
• To encourage participants to think about where things go wrong.
• To identify behaviours to avoid.
• To encourage discussion about the behaviour(s) being explored in the following training.

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).

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 15 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 35 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To reflect on how creative participants currently feel, and when they felt most creative.
• To discuss what might prevent people feeling creative.
• To reflect on what we need from ourselves and others in order to feel creative.

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.

Notes:
If you don’t have the ability to create a poll, you could run this module, asking participants to submit their answers to your two questions in chat.

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 (recommended - see note).
• 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 25 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To explore what creativity and innovation mean and how they differ.
• To consider the relationship between creativity and innovation and why both matters.

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).

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 15 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 20 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To demonstrate how memory can be improved just by using it differently.

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:
• Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This is a useful icebreaker to use in Train the Trainer training or any training where you want people to think about how they can make their message more memorable.

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 30 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To identify key areas of concern to participants.
• To help identify key priorities and learning objectives.
• To discuss what barriers to success the training might help participants overcome.

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

Useful For:
Employees at all levels.

You'll Need:
• The Activity Link in Trainers’ Library.
• Your Activity Link PIN from the My Account section of the member homepage.

Notes:
This activity can be used a starting point for any behaviour-based training and is a powerful way to explore participants’ current perceptions and concerns that the training might help them address.

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 identify common experiences and shared values.

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 is a great ‘universal’ icebreaker but perhaps particularly relevant as an introduction to training linked to negotiation and sales, influence, equal opportunities and diversity and, perhaps surprisingly, creativity and innovation.

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 45 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To identify what makes training activities effective tools for learner-led learning.
• To identify the essential ingredients for a successful training activity.

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

Useful For:
Trainers, and particularly those who are relatively new to learner-led, facilitated training.

You'll Need:
• The PowerPoint slide provided.

Notes:
It may be appropriate to emphasise that many cocktails are non-alcoholic (often referred to as mocktails). Or you can refer to their creations as a sundae if you prefer.

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 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 15 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 25 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To explore and challenge the stereotypes that surround creativity.

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).

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 identify key things required for remote teams to work successfully together.

Group Size:
This module can be used with individuals as well as groups of up to 12 participants.

Useful For:
Those who currently work in Remote Teams. It is also particularly well suited to those that are about to start working remotely. It is best run with complete teams, but you could also run it with those responsible for managing a Remote Team.

Notes:
This is a useful icebreaker/introduction to remote working for those who haven’t worked in remote teams before, or for those who want to strengthen their remote teams.

You might wish to follow this module up with Remote Rules.

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.