Leading and Motivating Icebreakers and Energisers

Time:
This exercise will take about 10 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 20 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To energise a group.
• To test 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 25 participants.

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.

Provided you have more than one team, this activity adds an extra dimension to the remote delivery module, ‘Hands Up, Line Up!’ by encouraging participants to reflect on how a silo mentality might impact continuous improvement.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
The Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library is called ‘Hands Up, Line Up!’.

Time:
This exercise will take about 5 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 10 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To explore the positive emotions connected to being involved and how they differ from those of an onlooker.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of almost any size.

You'll Need:
• A number of inflated balloons (one for every 6-8 participants).
• Plenty of space for participants to move around.

Notes:
Larger groups will need a longer running time for the exercise.

Time:
This exercise will take about 10 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 20 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to think about many of the key things that need to be in place and considered in order to ensure change is managed successfully.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of any size.

You'll Need:
• A printed copy of the large (A3) Trainer version of the Word Search grid provided, affixed to a flipchart.

Notes:
The time required for this exercise depends on how much time you want to allow for discussion about the significance of the key phrases found. A small prize for the winning team would be nice, though not essential.

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

Aims:
• To raise energy levels within the group.
• To emphasise some key content.
• To check participants' understanding of the content.

Group Size:
This module can be used with very large groups of more than 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• A list of key words/concepts linked to the training. We suggest about 30 words and phrases to ensure the game lasts.

You may also want some small prizes for the winners.

Notes:
You may wish to add some authenticity by pre-writing the words onto pieces of paper/card and putting them into receptacle to draw out.

Time:
This exercise will take about 25 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 30 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To welcome the participants.
• To introduce the facilitator(s) and participants to each other.
• To introduce the facilities.
• To agree the course objectives and timetable.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of almost any size.

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

Time:
The exercise in this module will take about 15 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 30 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To define success.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• Flipchart paper and lots of coloured pens.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
This exercise will take about 20 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 30 minutes for completion.

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:
Can be used with groups of up to 25 participants.

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:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
This exercise will take about 5 minutes to run. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 15 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To identify the leadership traits your participants most admire.
• To help establish learning objectives.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of almost any size. For larger groups you may need to duplicate some of the Place Cards. (There are 36 cards provided).

You'll Need:
• Enough Place Cards for one per participant with some extras for a wider choice.
• Post it notes.

Notes:
This is a great way to capture your participants’ learning objectives.

Time:
This exercise will take about 10 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 15 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To explore and test leadership, teamwork and problem solving.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of almost any size although you do need a minimum of 8 participants.

Useful For:
All staff including managers.

You'll Need:
A set of domino cards. (See trainer's notes for the number you need to print.)

Notes:
You will need to prepare your dominoes in advance as per the instructions in the Trainer's Notes.

Time:
This exercise will take about 10 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 15 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To illustrate how motivation and self-belief can lead us to stretch our performance.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

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

Notes:
This quick exercise can be used as an icebreaker and demonstrates how we can all stretch our performance if we're motivated to do so. This is a physical exercise that may not be appropriate for everyone.

Time:
This exercise will take about 15 minutes to run. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 25 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To identify behaviours participants would want their leaders to exhibit and those they would not.
• To generate discussion about the skills and behaviours exhibited by great leaders.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of any size.

You'll Need:
• A set of ‘animal’ cards, provided.
• Flipchart paper and pens.

Notes:
The running time varies depending on the size of the group. For larger groups you may need to put them into sub-groups.

Time:
This exercise will take about 15 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 30 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to think about the true cost of meetings.
• To show the importance of ensuring meetings are effective.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 24 participants.

You'll Need:
• A calculator for each participant.

Notes:
It would be useful for internal trainers in an organisation that has published ‘grades’ and salary bands, to have copies of these for participants to refer to during this exercise.

Time:
This exercise will take about 15 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 45 minutes for completion.

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 25 participants.

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:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
This exercise will take about 15 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 20 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To encourage team development.
• To focus discussion on the team's approach to problem solving, communication, success and failure and team leadership.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of between 8 and 12 participants.

You'll Need:
• One stepping stone per participant plus one extra. (A stepping stone could be a sheet of paper, or a carpet tile.)

Notes:
If you have an odd number of participants, ask someone to observe.

Time:
This exercise will take about 10 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 15 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To explore and identify what positive language is.
• To understand why positive language matters.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of almost any size.

You'll Need:
• A selection of bells or buzzers, one for every 2-3 participants.

Notes:
Before the training, pre-prepare a flipchart with a blank bingo card. The card will need to have enough boxes so there is one for each participant.

Time:
This exercise will take about 5 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 15 minutes for completion.

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:
Can be used with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Teams.

You'll Need:
• Flipchart paper and a pen.

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:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

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 demonstrate the difference effective feedback can make to someone’s performance.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 25 participants. Ideally, you'll have at least 4 participants though, so that you can demonstrate the 4 types of feedback described.

Useful For:
Anyone who needs to give or receive feedback.

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

Notes:
This is a great way to demonstrate the difference it can make when feedback is given effectively. During the role-play element it is advisable to select with care the people who will be receiving the different types of feedback. It is also advisable to explain clearly at the start of the exercise that it will involve you role-playing different types of feedback.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.