The stadium is packed. Referees stand at the ready. A whistle blows. The player advances toward the ball, swings for a kick and…misses, sideswipes, and falls down flat. A dramatic start, perhaps, but not a very effective one. The kickoff for any event—be it a sports match, project start, or workshop—is critical for establishing the foundation going forward.
The start sets the tone
Employee engagement is one of the biggest challenges companies face in the modern workplace. Correspondingly, employee engagement workshops are sought-after events to jumpstart that engagement. An effective employee engagement workshop can yield immense value and dividends to a company and the people who work for the company. But not all workshops are created equal. Careful planning (which we’ll tackle separately in a later article) is essential, of course, and the unsung hero of successful workshop events. But the start is essential to setting the tone and keeping participants involved the rest of the day. Past the basic welcome remarks and housekeeping, icebreakers are consistently the best way to kick off an effective employee engagement workshop (no, not this type of icebreaker)—the game kind ! !
To start off an employee engagement workshop effectively, think about what you want to achieve and different start strategies to enable that. The icebreaker captain would say: “Decide what type of ice you want to break”. Are you trying to ensure people who have never met get to know each other? Introduce new perspectives across cultures or backgrounds? Facilitate closer collaboration across workplace hierarchy and perceived status difference? Break down stereotypes? Or just better participation? It could be a combination of any of the above.
The Employee Engagement Icebreaker
Icebreakers help those in the room to see each other in a different light. The games and funny moments get attendees to bond over laughter, silliness, marvel at what they have in common, appreciate new facts about one another, or relish in breaking down barriers. Effective icebreakers also encourage people to show up with their whole self rather than just their work self—a tricky requirement to make serious headway in the employee engagement discussion. It also brings mindfulness and full participation. Finally, a good icebreaker will integrate aspects or principles of the workshop that facilitators or participants can refer back to later for an “ah ha!” moment of clarity.
The end goal of an employee engagement workshop is more motivated, effective employees. Getting there involves real conversations and problem solving with real people. Beginning with icebreakers sets that stage: each person should learn something new and walk away with a fresh perspective, which your workshop lead will be able to draw on time and time again. Icebreakers –an essential start to a productive workshop……and loads of fun!
