What should you be looking for when planning your icebreaker?

Icebreakers are a great way to kick off a networking event, helping attendees feel more comfortable, engaged, and open to building connections.

Here are five top tips for effective icebreakers that set the right tone for your event.

Keep it Simple

Choose icebreakers that are easy to understand and don’t require complex instructions.

Simple activities encourage everyone to participate without feeling intimidated.

Example: “Common Ground”: In small groups, participants have 2 minutes to find three things they all have in common. This promotes conversation and helps people identify shared interests.

Tailor to the Audience

Consider the group’s demographics and industry when selecting icebreakers. Activities should feel relevant and aligned with the attendees’ professional interests and comfort levels.

Remember: Engineers will inevitably prefer different entertainment to the Marketing team!

Encourage Interaction

Opt for icebreakers that promote conversation and collaboration, such as pair or small-group activities.

This helps guests quickly connect with others in a meaningful way.

Games and Activities are always a hit when building bonds between strangers! We should know, we have hosted thousands of networking events.

Use Fun and Humour

Lighthearted activities, like a “two truths and a lie” or quick trivia, create a relaxed environment and break down initial barriers between attendees.

Top tip: Be sure to remain appropriate when crafting questions for attendees!

Incorporate the Event Theme

If your networking event has a theme, try to integrate it into the icebreaker. This makes the activity feel more cohesive and aligned with the event’s purpose.

For example: You are hosting an event for a football club and it’s sponsors and are crafting an ice breaker with the aim of building bonds between the two parties.

We’d reccomend booking a Football Themed Game to ensure its in keeping with the overall flavour of your event.

Conclusion:

Well-chosen icebreakers can energize a networking event, making it easier for attendees to bond and begin meaningful conversations. By keeping activities simple, relevant, and fun, you’ll set the stage for productive and enjoyable networking.

Now go forth and build the best ice breaker for your networking event imagineable!

Good luck!