How To Spice Up Your Training Workshops With Icebreakers And Energizers

There is no doubt that the effective use of icebreakers and energizers can often make the difference between success and failure in a workshop or training session. In fact employing the RIGHT icebreaker activities could simply be the creative solution to making a good training event an EXTRAORDINARY one!

I know because I have been a trainer and coach in creativity and communications skills for years now and I have witnessed firsthand the power of mind-engaging icebreakers, energizers and training games. Employing the right openers, warm-ups, in-session games, and after lunch energizers can result in a turnaround in participants' moods, attitudes, and even mindsets about the importance of a training and development event.

So how do you use these training tools effectively to spice up your classroom teaching, seminars or workshops and productively achieve your training objectives?

First, you need to understand that employing icebreakers and energizers successfully is both a science as well as an art.

To this end, here are five tips that can help you get started:

1. Know Your Audience

Start with your audience in mind. Research as much as you can about your participants' profiles - age, profession, education level, or even organization function - and probably the most important factor: learning and thinking styles. For example, did you know that according to research studies, most people are visual learners? That means that if you want to engage them effectively right from the beginning of your training session, you will invariably need to employ some form of visual icebreakers. You will almost never be wrong if you could use visual brainteasers or riddles during your any part of your presentation. I have employed many of these visual icebreakers and energizers to tremendous success in my own presentations and training workshops. For a array of these amazing collections of highly stimulating visual games, try these Powerpacked Icebreakers and Energizers.


2. Employ Fun Physical Props and Use Lots of Colors

I am personally of the opinion that inside every one of us, regardless of our age, there is a child waiting to get out to play again. We were all children before. But when was the last time you saw how children learn through play? Encourage your workshop delegates to play with colorful props and toys and help them unleash their creativity. Let them have fun throughout the session. You will be amazed how much better they learn this way and how this adds up to achieving your training objectives! (Note: Though it's an excellent idea to introduce props, always remember that as long as the icebreaker activities are fun enough, the use of these props is only a bonus and it's not crucial to your success as a facilitator or trainer.)


3. Inject Fun and Humor in Your Presentations

Take this advice very seriously: "If it ain't FUN, don't do it!" Recite it like a mantra and apply it to all your training and teaching endeavors. Then you will begin to see creative sparks flying and mind popping. Tell a few clean but funny jokes during your sessions and use humor to spice your presentations up whenever possible. Don't know where to start? Then try these incredible visual Mind-popping Icebreakers & Visual Games in your next training event and see if your attendees don't have a blast!


4. Introduce an Element of Competition

Be creative and make a game out of your icebreakers. Inject a sense of competition among your participants by breaking them up into competing teams. Award points for each round and keep score to decide the ultimate winners. This will undoubtedly get all your participants emotionally charged up and break down unnecessary inhibitions. The result: A more open and conducive learning environment which leads to a fulfilling learning experience!


5. For Maximum Impact, Introduce Add-ons

To push your already highly effective training up one notch, consider introducing music as an "add-on". Play high-tempo music during the icebreakers and games playtime. This has been known to help people relax and get them in the mood of playing and have fun. Music has been known to enhance one's temperament and draw out positive action in participants.