Publish at September 12 2016 Updated August 27 2025
They had to spend a few hours in transport to get to the training room. Some got up early. Cup of coffee in hand, they don't know each other yet. Their eyes barely meet. How do you quickly unfreeze all these participants and get them to form a group?
Dozens of communication games are available on the Internet, and many train-the-trainer courses start by experimenting with a few of these techniques. Trainees are often given a classic tour de table. But by the end of their career, they'll have done hundreds of them, and one round hardly manages to capture attention. A variation is to ask group members to introduce the person next to them rather than themselves, after a few minutes' discussion.
To add a little subjectivity and creativity, some trainers ask group members to define themselves using a personal object they've found in their bag or pocket... A keyring, a watch, a photo... and why not a sandwich?
Each person in the group expresses three truths about themselves, and one lie. The other participants ask a few questions and try to determine which statement is false.
Each person speaks up, claiming to be the only one with a particular characteristic. This is an opportunity to discover anecdotes and more personal aspects. It's best to limit speaking time, and to avoid this activity when one or more participants tend to put themselves forward too much!
The facilitator circulates M&M's, and suggests that trainees take some for the morning, before returning them to the reception desk. Each trainee is then asked to share as much information about themselves as they have taken M&M's...
In this exercise, of course, you have to introduce yourself, but use non-verbals, and why not mime!
Now that the group has entered the room, everyone takes their seats and settles in. They're seated, they've got pencils out and are leafing through the documentation. Why not start by standing up?
In this game, each participant writes down 4 or 5 pieces of information about themselves on a sheet of paper. The sheets are distributed at random, and the trainees have to ask themselves questions to find out who wrote the sheet they have obtained.
It's possible to go even further, by proposing a "bingo" game. Each box contains an anecdote about a trainee. You have to meet the others, ask questions, answer others, until someone has filled in a row or column.
Each member creates their own label, using magazines, catalogs, felt-tip pens, etc. They can draw, glue or write key words next to their name. They then comment on their "work".
One player has a ball. He must give a piece of information related to the theme. He then throws the ball at random to another participant, who must in turn give a piece of information, and throw the ball. If he hesitates too long, or makes a mistake. He's out of the game. The game continues until only one participant remains. It's as much a reflex game as a knowledge game, and it wakes up a group. Avoid if you have any notoriously clumsy trainees!
Other techniques go even further. They propose a physical challenge that no one can meet alone, like a human chain in which people have fun tying knots by holding hands, and which can only be unraveled by coordinating. How about a pyramid? Just be careful not to overexpose or exhaust your trainees!
The treasure hunt also puts trainees into immediate activity, when you've got the space and a bit of time!
The success of Pokemon Go should inspire app developers... In the meantime, if you're organizing a seminar near a Pokestop, there's no reason not to start with a hunt.
Illustrations: Frédéric Duriez
Training games "40 free ice-breakers" http://www.training-games.com/pdf/40FreeIceBreakers.pdf
Ice Breakers & Team Builders - Maryville University
https://www.maryville.edu/cse/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2016/09/Icebreakers-Team-Builders.pdf
67 engaging icebreakers [that your team won't find cheesy] - SessionLab
https://www.sessionlab.com/blog/icebreaker-games/
25 Name Games to Break the Ice with Kids and Adults
https://ultimatecampresource.com/ice-breakers/name-games/
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