Personal Development Icebreakers and Energisers

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

Aims:
• To identify the things they have in common with the other members of the group.
• To understand how finding connections influences their feelings about other people.

Group Size:
Suitable for use with groups of almost any size.

You'll Need:
• A copy of the handout for each participant and a roll of Sellotape for each team.
• A small prize is optional.

Notes:
This is a great exercise to get people talking and could be run over lunch at a networking event.

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

Aims:
• To demonstrate that our perspective on a situation might be very different to someone else’s and that this does not necessarily mean one party is ‘right’ and one is ‘wrong’.

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

Useful For:
Anyone.

You'll Need:
• Copies of the house pictures provided.

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 30 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To review knowledge, share feedback or quiz participants.
• To assess current awareness of a situation or challenge.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 24 participants.

Useful For:
Any situation where you want to inject some fun and humour whilst testing your participants’ knowledge or awareness.

You'll Need:
• To pre-prepare a series of questions, each with multiple answers.

Notes:
Developed to share customer feedback with our team, this is also a great activity to use in any situation where you want to run a quiz where questions have more than one answer. For example, you could use it to test participants’ knowledge of the main features of a product or service, or to remind teams of their successes.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library called Let's See if it's There.

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

Aims:
• To explore participants' feelings towards their role in sales.
• To help participants realise that others may share these feelings.
• To help participants identify how they want to feel by the end of the course.

Group Size:
Suitable for use with groups of up to 20 participants.

You'll Need:
• Blank sheets of A4 paper.
• Pens/pencils with which to draw.

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

Aims:
• To understand why it’s important not to trivialise what causes us, or others stress.
• To help participants to recognise and explain the importance of letting go.

Group Size:
Suitable for use with groups of almost any size.

You'll Need:
• A book of equal weight for each participant. If funds allow, you might like to present your participants with a small journal or notebook to keep.

Notes:
Small, hard-backed books are ideal for this exercise.

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

Aims:
• To explore how your participants feel about a variety of changes.

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

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• A piece of string or rope that is approximately 4 metres long.

Notes:
You will need a clear space in which to lay out your ‘Change Spectrum’ and for participants to move along it.

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 help participants identify their own feelings towards change.
• To recognise that these feelings may be shared by others.
• To identify how participants would like to be feeling by the end of the course.

Group Size:
This exercise is suitable for use with groups of up to 20 participants.

You'll Need:
• Blank sheets of A4 paper.
• Pens/pencils with which to draw.

Time:
This exercise will take about 10 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 30 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To explore how different participants feel about and respond to change at work.
• To help participants understand why they may react differently to change outside of the workplace.

Group Size:
Suitable for use with groups of up to 20 participants.

You'll Need:
• One set of Changing Behaviours Cards for each participant (provided).

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

Aims:
• To encourage participants to reflect on challenges they’ve faced and identify what they’ve learnt from them.

Group Size:
Suitable for use with groups of almost any size.

Useful For:
Everyone.

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

Notes:
This activity was written as a way to reflect on and move forward from the pandemic of 2020. However, it can be easily adapted and used not just to review a year, but, for example, a challenging experience or significant change that participants have been through. This can be a useful way to launch training around resilience, change or a planning session.

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 30 minutes for completion.

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 24 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• Enough space for small teams to work separately.

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

Aims:
• Explore how a positive mindset impacts on motivation and performance.
• To create a positive state for the day ahead.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 20 participants.

You'll Need:
• Small plain postcards for each participant and coloured pencils or pens.

Notes:
Pre-prepare a flipchart with the words, “Creating the right environment for your day is in your mind.” Do not reveal it until the end.

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 5 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 20 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To help managers identify their own style of management.
• To think about the culture and values of the team they have taken over managing.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 20 participants.

Useful For:
New managers.

You'll Need:
• One set of Feelings Cards for each participant.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 30 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 40 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To help participants understand the impact of their behaviours on others and the part they can play in developing and improving difficult relationships at work.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Everyone who interacts with others at work.

You'll Need:
• 2 different colour pens for each participant (to complete the handout).

Notes:
A great exercise to demonstrate our role in conflict with others. It’s designed to help anyone reflect on how to improve their workplace relationships, not just those who are in conflict. It is also a useful addition to Emotional Intelligence training.

We do recommend that you practice reading Flenda’s Tale aloud a couple of times before using this exercise.

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:
• For participants to explore and identify what equality means to them.
• To understand what equality means to others.

Group Size:
Suitable for use with groups of almost any size.

You'll Need:
• Random magazines and art materials such as coloured pens and paper.

Notes:
This activity is a great way to explore what equality means. However, it is best suited to more experienced trainers and facilitators as it might expose negativity towards the topic of equality and diversity. This, in itself, however, can be useful to the trainer.

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

Aims:
• To introduce participants to one another.
• To practice and test listening skills.

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

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

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

Notes:
A very simple but engaging icebreaker.

This can be used in any situation to introduce participants, but is particularly useful where you want to focus on networking or communication skills.

It’s also a very effective way to introduce the concept of experiential training in train the trainer training. Participants should be able to see that getting involved in an experience makes the learning (in this case around communication) stick in a way that they wouldn’t gain from simply being told about, for example, the benefits of summary and clarification.

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

Aims:
• To help participants get to know each other.
• To encourage participants to think about key words that reflect their feelings about the course or the topic that the course covers.
• To encourage a sense of teamwork and togetherness.

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

You'll Need:
• A4 sheets of paper in various colours.
• Glue sticks and fine black marker pens (1 for every 3-4 participants).

Notes:
This icebreaker can be adapted to any topic where you want participants to feel part of a team or explore feelings connected to being part of a team. It would also make a fun launch for a conference.

Please note that there is a small amount of preparation required for this exercise.

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 22 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 30 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to focus on positive outcomes.
• To encourage participants to reflect on and become more aware of their inner dialogue and the impact it has.
• To provide a simple tool to help participants reframe their thinking to make it more positive.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of of up to 24 participants. It can also be adapted for 1-1 training.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

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

Notes:
This short activity can be used as an icebreaker or energiser in any training around resilience and positive thinking.

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 identify participant's views on meetings.
• To understand the views of others about meetings and their reasons for them.
• To create a list of objectives for the training based on the participants’ views.

Group Size:
Suitable for use with groups of up to 20 participants.

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

Notes:
You will need to print the Meeting Attitudes Cards in advance. If you anticipate using them frequently, we recommend that you laminate them.

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 how participants perceive their role in the team and if they adopt a similar approach away from work.
• To explore how their colleagues perceive their own roles in the team and if this differs away from work.
• To understand the importance of diversity of skills and abilities within a successful team.

Group Size:
Suitable for use with pre-existing teams of up to 15 team members.

You'll Need:
• One set of My Role Cards per 8 participants, blu tack and flipchart.

Notes:
This exercise is designed for pre-existing teams, especially if they need to work more effectively together.

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 identify participant's views on negotiation.
• To understand the views of others about negotiation and their reasons for them.
• To create a list of objectives for the training based on the participants’ views.

Group Size:
Suitable for use with groups of up to 30 participants.

You'll Need:
• Nothing other than the materials provided, however, we recommend that you laminate the Quote Cards if you anticipate using this exercise frequently.

Notes:
Great to use at the start of a negotiation workshop to find out the attitudes and objectives of your participants. For bigger groups you’ll need to allow more time for this exercise.

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

Aims:
• To enable participants to introduce each other by sharing their personal motto.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 15 participants.

You'll Need:
• Enough personal motto cards for your participants to have plenty of options to pick from.

Notes:
If using this exercise with very large groups, you will need to split participants into smaller teams to pick and then share their mottos.

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

Aims:
• To give participants an opportunity to feel for themselves how stressful procrastination can be.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• Enough identical, plain wrapped chocolates, for there to be one per participant.
• A jug of water and a glass (on standby for dramatic effect).

Notes:
This module involves a simple ‘side’ activity that continues throughout the workshop/course with the discussion at the end.

Chocolate coins will work well for this exercise as they just need to be simple pieces of plain or milk chocolate that look identical, but your participants will think something quite different.

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

Aims:
• To explore the range of experiences and perceptions of resilience within the group.
• To get people thinking about what resilience means and where it comes from.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 25 participants.

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

Notes:
If using this exercise with large groups, split them into smaller teams.

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

Aims:
• To enable participants to introduce themselves to the group.
• To find out how each participant perceives resilience and what they hope to get from the training.
• To introduce some key information about resilience.
• To get people thinking about what resilience means and where it comes from.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 25 participants.

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

Notes:
If using this exercise with large groups, split them into smaller teams.

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

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

Aims:
• To highlight self-limiting behaviour and beliefs in a non-threatening way.
• To consider how we receive praise and how it affects us.
• To energise a group of participants.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of almost any size as long as you have sufficient wall space.

You'll Need:
• 2 cardboard stars or star shaped post it notes for each participant.
• Blu-tac will also be needed if you use cardboard stars.

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 how participants see their role in the team.
• To allow participants to share what they think they personally contribute to the team.
• To understand the importance of diversity within a successful team.

Group Size:
Can be used with groups of up to 24 participants.

Useful For:
Pre-existing teams.

You'll Need:
• Flipchart paper and pens for each participant.

Notes:
This exercise is designed for pre-existing teams, and especially those that may need to work more effectively together.

If you have more than 10 participants, you may need to allow extra time for this activity.

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