Our top tips on how to use icebreakers and energisers to enhance your training delivery, keep delegates motivated and engaged and reinforce the material you are delivering.
Do’s
- Choose exercises that are relevant to the course/topic, not just something that is fun!
- Practise the exercise you have chosen ahead of the session to ensure it will work as you intend it to.
- Consider how you will accommodate those delegates with limited mobility if you use an exercise that requires delegates to be on their feet or moving around. Consider too, any other disabilities you may need to cater for.
- Be careful with time. An icebreaker that takes 30 minutes for a 3 hour training session is probably not a good choice, unless it brings good learning that is relevant to the topic.
- Vary your icebreakers and energisers. Have a good selection of quick exercises you can draw on and if delegates say they’ve done one before, simply switch it around and do a different one. Lack of flexibility here can make you look like a formulaic trainer rather than one who really knows their stuff!
Don’ts
- Get carried away with the fun…short, sharp, relevant is what you’re aiming for.
- Forget to consider location of training including proximity to other workers when delivering a session using quiz buzzers, squeakers or music etc. There will be times when location will necessitate you selecting a different exercise to your preferred one.
- Fail to read ingredients on packages if bringing along and using, sweets, food etc as part of your short exercise. Be conscious of nut allergies, gluten intolerances and avoid foods using animal gelatine unsuitable for both Muslims and vegetarians/vegans.
- Deliver an exercise that is blatantly wrong for the group you have. Just because an energiser worked with your last group doesn’t mean it will work in the same way for this group. Keep alert and keep a variety of exercise options up your sleeve.
- Breach copyright. If someone else developed the exercise, do you have the right to use it? HR is responsible for disciplining others who break the law, so be careful you are not yourself the one who is breaking the law.
And Finally…
10.5 Don’t be boring. If you first used an icebreaker ten years ago or if you’ve been saying for ten years that you avoid tech in training sessions as you’re a bit of tech phobe…then it’s probably time you added new stuff to your arsenal. Keep learning, keep changing, stay relevant and stay current. Don’t ever become one of those trainers who delegates say should have retired years ago!