Strategic Thinking Icebreakers and Energisers

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

Aims:
• To explore the topic of Strategic Thinking.
• To give participants the opportunity to consider what the subject means to them and the other participants currently.

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

You'll Need:
• Flipchart paper, colourful pens and coloured stickers or shapes.

Notes:
As a variation, you can ask your participants to create a collage, instead of a drawing. If you choose this option you will also need a collection of old magazines, postcards, birthday cards etc., scissors and glue.

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

Aims:
• To identify some of the key themes participants will be exploring in the forthcoming training around business planning.

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

Useful For:
Anyone attending a course or workshop that focuses on business planning.

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

Notes:
A small prize for the winning team would be nice, though not essential

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

Aims:
• To reflect on how well participants work together in a competitive situation.
• To re-energise a group.

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

Useful For:
Anyone.

You'll Need:
• One set of the Colour Confusion Cards per team, which you will need to cut out beforehand.

Notes:
This game is best played in teams with between 3 and 5 participants in each.

Please note, this exercise may not be suitable if you have participants who suffer from colour-blindness, or who are visually impaired.

Time:
This exercise will take about 5 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 20 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To explore how accurate participants can be when working under pressure.

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

Useful For:
Anyone.

You'll Need:
• One set of the Name, Colour and Shape Cards per team, which you will need to cut out beforehand.

Notes:
This is a more demanding version of the Colour Confusion activity that can be used as a follow-on.

This game is best played in teams with 2-3 participants in each.

Please note, this exercise may not be suitable if you have participants who suffer from colour-blindness, or who are visually impaired.

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

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 5 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 15 minutes for completion.

Aims:
• To test participants accuracy under pressure when working in teams.
• To reflect on how they could have improved their performance.

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

Useful For:
Anyone.

You'll Need:
• One set of the Name Cards per team, which you will need to cut out beforehand.
• The PowerPoint slides of challenges, provided.

Notes:
This game is best played in teams with 3-5 participants in each.

Please note, this exercise may not be suitable if you have participants who suffer from colour-blindness, or who are visually impaired.

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

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 is suitable for use with groups of up to 15 participants.

You'll Need:
•Plenty of transparent plastic glasses - ideally you'll have a variety of sizes and shapes.
• A selection of colourful swizzle sticks (plastic stirrers with shapes at one end).
• Packets of coloured tissue paper in a wide variety of colours.

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

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 get to know each other.
• To encourage participants to think about their personal ‘brand’.
• To encourage participants to think about how images can communicate more than words and can make communication more powerful.

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

You'll Need:
• Blank name tent cards and pens for your participants.

Notes:
If using this icebreaker in very large groups ask participants to work in small teams and introduce themselves to those team members rather than the whole group.

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

Aims:
• To test participants communication in a fun way and identify areas for improvement.
• To consider the impact poor communication can have on performance levels.

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

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• A bucket (or a bowl if space is limited).
• A timer/stopwatch.
• A flipchart to record the scores.

And for each pair of participants:
• A blindfold.
• 6 soft balls (or tiddlywinks/counters if space is limited). (Each pair must have six balls/counters of the same colour.)

Notes:
If space is limited, substitute the bucket and soft balls for a bowl and tiddlywinks/counters.

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 how assumptions and previous experiences can prevent us from thinking clearly about a challenge.

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

You'll Need:
• We have provided a PowerPoint slide for the riddle, alternatively you can write it up in advance on a flipchart.

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

Aims:
• To illustrate, in a fun way, the problem with being too close to a situation or problem.

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

You'll Need:
• A small prize for the winner would be a nice addition to this exercise.

Notes:
The PowerPoint will automatically move to the next slide after a minute.