Getting team members to engage openly and freely right out of the gate is a challenge. On a day full of discussions, beginning the first conversation is always hard, especially when there has been considerable time since the last team meeting. Activities that
Sep 19, 2023·edited Sep 19, 2023Liked by Admired Leadership
Another good tactic.
On the frontlines we generally don't have that sort of time. My SOP, usually, is introduce my self and shake/fist bump the man's/woman's hand. We then get back to it. If we have time to stand around, we get cut (if hours are over, productivity down, etc..) If one's a desk jockey, they may not have that opportunity/concerns. I could certainly see this suggestion being vital.
We merely push products, promote the brand, and treat customers with dignity. We are expected to report to work whether or not there is a riot, natural disaster, or a pandemic;).
The book Scott mentioned in today's Spaces, The 2-Hour Cocktail Party by Nick Gray is a great quick read. While I'm not going to host my own party anytime soon (open to invitations from others), the book gave me a lot of great ideas on beginning team meetings and events. Thanks for the book recommendation Scott.
Announce to a group of adults, "We are going to do an icebreaker to start us off today!" Expect to hear groaning from the group, like you have performed an exorcism on the ghosts of their past selves being subjected to a youth pastor from the early 90s.
My suggestion is that you'd announce your goal instead of your method.
"We need to take a few minutes to get to know each other better" is a much better introduction for any group (adults or teens) than saying, "We are starting with an icebreaker."
No reason to raise the defensiveness when you go into an exercise designed to lower defensiveness.
Beware, any book you buy that has 'icebreaker' in the title will probably filled with lengthy, hokey, and frivolous ideas. But if you collect these ideas as methods that you can adjust for your own devices, you can often extract the hokey from an idea and leave the frivolous to the side.
Even the books that seem clearly written for camps and youth groups have ideas that can work for senior and mature groups provided you feel the freedom to adjust the idea.
Frankly the best part about thinking through the use of a potential icebreaker is that you are taking time to examine how you are starting your meetings and evaluating how they might be better engaged. Putting serious thought to that issue is always worth the effort.
I spent a few years running camps, Steve. You're right about the books and resources that are written specifically as "icebreakers" lot's of content suggestions that is too tactical... but beneficial if you can think on your own and apply them situationally.
We took 15 minutes to discuss this topic a bit more... it is less awkward than you think...
https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1jMJgmgldoyKL?s=20
Another good tactic.
On the frontlines we generally don't have that sort of time. My SOP, usually, is introduce my self and shake/fist bump the man's/woman's hand. We then get back to it. If we have time to stand around, we get cut (if hours are over, productivity down, etc..) If one's a desk jockey, they may not have that opportunity/concerns. I could certainly see this suggestion being vital.
Thank you for your time.
This makes me very interested in what you do, Joe.
Is your line of work on a production line of some kind?
Good afternoon Steve,
I work in retail. Nothing special.
We merely push products, promote the brand, and treat customers with dignity. We are expected to report to work whether or not there is a riot, natural disaster, or a pandemic;).
The book Scott mentioned in today's Spaces, The 2-Hour Cocktail Party by Nick Gray is a great quick read. While I'm not going to host my own party anytime soon (open to invitations from others), the book gave me a lot of great ideas on beginning team meetings and events. Thanks for the book recommendation Scott.
Thanks for highlighting - here is the book referenced for others - https://www.amazon.com/2-Hour-Cocktail-Party-Relationships-Gatherings-ebook/dp/B0B2KW6T7J
Announce to a group of adults, "We are going to do an icebreaker to start us off today!" Expect to hear groaning from the group, like you have performed an exorcism on the ghosts of their past selves being subjected to a youth pastor from the early 90s.
My suggestion is that you'd announce your goal instead of your method.
"We need to take a few minutes to get to know each other better" is a much better introduction for any group (adults or teens) than saying, "We are starting with an icebreaker."
No reason to raise the defensiveness when you go into an exercise designed to lower defensiveness.
Beware, any book you buy that has 'icebreaker' in the title will probably filled with lengthy, hokey, and frivolous ideas. But if you collect these ideas as methods that you can adjust for your own devices, you can often extract the hokey from an idea and leave the frivolous to the side.
Even the books that seem clearly written for camps and youth groups have ideas that can work for senior and mature groups provided you feel the freedom to adjust the idea.
Frankly the best part about thinking through the use of a potential icebreaker is that you are taking time to examine how you are starting your meetings and evaluating how they might be better engaged. Putting serious thought to that issue is always worth the effort.
I spent a few years running camps, Steve. You're right about the books and resources that are written specifically as "icebreakers" lot's of content suggestions that is too tactical... but beneficial if you can think on your own and apply them situationally.