{"id":2404,"date":"2015-07-30T00:01:29","date_gmt":"2015-07-30T04:01:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/terrencemetz.com\/?p=2404"},"modified":"2026-04-21T13:43:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T17:43:05","slug":"icebreakers-for-large-groups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/icebreakers-for-large-groups\/","title":{"rendered":"Fun, Quick, and Effective Icebreakers for Large Groups (and Small Ones Too)"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>All groups, especially very large groups, perform better when the participants know something about each other. Even though\u00a0time constraints prohibit traditional, self-spoken icebreakers for large groups (e.g., 60 people for two minutes each burns two hours), some time for social bonding remains effective.<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_2405\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2405\" class=\"wp-image-2405 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/getting-to-know-one-another-300x194.png\" alt=\"Two Quick and Effective Icebreakers for Large Groups\" width=\"300\" height=\"194\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/getting-to-know-one-another-300x194.png 300w, https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/getting-to-know-one-another.png 611w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2405\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><center><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Getting to Know One Another, Icebreakers for Large Groups<\/span><\/center><\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;\">Embrace <em>Icebreakers <\/em>or <em>Check-In<\/em> activities to get everyone contributing sooner. Likewise, anticipate and plan for additional team-building activities later on as appropriate. Make it easier for your participants to enjoy and value one another. Similarly, prepare some quick exercises (such as \u201cLost on the Moon\u201d)<a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/45BF6566-549C-4F8C-845D-A45206F91D7F#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\"><sup><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>[<\/strong>1]<\/span><\/sup><\/a> that prove \u201cnobody is smarter than everybody.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Consider the following simple, easy, <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/icebreakers-meeting-sparks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">icebreakers<\/a> for large groups, even hundreds of people, to instill a broader sense of group <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/unconsciously-competent\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">consciousness<\/a> and networking. The simple rule requires <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/brain-breaks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">participants<\/a> to stand when they can answer \u2018affirmative\u2019 to one of your pre-determined questions. For example, \u201cStand up if you had to fly to get here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Other questions that capture but a small sliver of potential questions you might ask include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Stand up if you have worked for this organization for five years.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Keep standing if ten years, twenty, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Stand up if you have one pet.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Keep standing if you have two pets, three pets, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Stand up if you were born in another country (or state, or city).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Stand up if you lived in another country for more than one year.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Keep standing if five years, ten, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Stand up if you love music. Country? Jazz? Classical? Rap?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Stand up if you have a tattoo<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Keep standing if you have two, three, five, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Stand up if you have ever broken a bone.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Stand up if your favorite James Bond actor is Sean Connery.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, Daniel Craig . . .<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Stand up if you drive a Volvo.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">BMW, Ford, Mercedes, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Additional Icebreakers for Large Groups<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Also, using the stand\/sit method described above creates some healthy <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/facilitate-multiple-generations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">tension<\/a>. The \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/31djZz5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Would You Rather?<\/a>\u201d approach generates <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/facilitate-brainstorming\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">high energy<\/a>, even among people who presumably know each other quite well. This approach can also be used with smaller groups. For example,<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Would you rather be able to be invisible, or<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Able to read others\u2019 minds?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Would you rather live without music, or<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Live without television?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Would you rather be four feet tall, or<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Eight feet tall?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Would you rather have a Texan accent and live in New York City, or<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Have a New York accent and live in Texas?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Would you rather marry your first boyfriend\/ girlfriend, or<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Someone your parents choose for you?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Would you rather be granted the answer to any three questions, or<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Be granted the ability to resurrect one person?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Would you rather always show up 20 minutes late for everything, or<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Always show up 90 minutes early for everything?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Would you rather work for your oldest sibling, or<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Your best friend?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Live in a home without electricity, or<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Running water?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Have some <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/facilitators-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">fun<\/a> and create your own. These work with large groups because the directions are short and simple, as long as everyone can hear the question for standing up. In our experience, everyone will quickly <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/active-listening\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">quiet<\/a> down and pay <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-killers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">attention<\/a> so they know when they are supposed to stand. You can also interject some of your personality or a preview of the day\u2019s events based on your questions. Write back to us about your experience and suggestions when using icebreakers with large groups.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2>FOR SMALLER GROUPS<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">To get your subject matter experts participatory sooner by having them introduce themselves beyond names and titles. <strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Always use<\/span> <em>Icebreakers<\/em> during online meetings<\/strong>, providing participants with a way of connecting with one another. Have participants share their responses with the group.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">An undemanding yet effective method begins, \u201cIf I were a . . .\u201d\u2014for example, \u201cIf I were a gem, I would be a ____,\u201d or \u201cIf I were a bird, I would be a _____.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Describe your dream career as a child.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Explain how you got one of your scars (and where it is).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">If you could change anything about your childhood, what would it be?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">If you were an animal, you would be a ___________.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">If you had a yacht, what would you name it?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cMy hero is . . .\u201d; \u201cMy collection is . . .\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">If limited to five items, what would you bring with you on a desert island?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Name a talent that you have that no one here knows about.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Name your favorite James Bond or Elizabeth Bennet actor and explain why.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Tell two truths and a lie\u2014participants guess the lie.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">What is the one word you would use to describe where you are at?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">What is your favorite sport to play? Why?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">What kitchen appliance or tool would you be and why?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">What was the first concert you attended?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">What was your strangest paying job or chore?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">What would be the title of your autobiography?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">What\u2019s on your reading list or nightstand?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Who is the most fascinating person in history?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>~~~~~~~<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/45BF6566-549C-4F8C-845D-A45206F91D7F#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\"><sup><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">[1]<\/span><\/sup><\/a><\/span>See the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) website for a public domain challenge of prioritizing 15 items that need to be carried a long distance by foot when stranded on the surface of the moon: https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/pdf\/166504main_Survival.pdf.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>______<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>______<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Lead the Change\u2014One Meeting at a Time<\/b><\/span><b><\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">Are you ready to transform how decisions are made, problems are solved, and alignment is built in your organization?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>True meeting leadership goes beyond setting an agenda.<\/b><\/span> It requires a facilitator who can navigate complexity, balance voices, and drive toward outcomes with clarity and consensus. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/public-facilitation-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Professional Meeting Leadership Workshop<\/b><\/span><\/a> equips you to do just that\u2014blending <span class=\"s1\"><b>human-centric methods<\/b><\/span> with <span class=\"s1\"><b>structured analytical tools<\/b><\/span> to foster rigor, inclusivity, and results that stick.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\"><b>Practice live.<\/b><b><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\"><b>Get expert feedback.<\/b><b><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\"><b>Build confidence that lasts.<\/b><b><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">Whether your meetings suffer from unclear objectives, disengaged participants, or decision fatigue, this workshop will help you <span class=\"s1\"><b>identify the root causes<\/b><\/span>, <span class=\"s1\"><b>apply proven facilitation techniques<\/b><\/span>, and <span class=\"s1\"><b>emerge as the leader every team needs<\/b><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\"><b>Take the first step today\u2014transform your meetings and magnify your impact.<\/b><b><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"s2\" style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #ff0000;\">\ud83d\udc49 <\/span><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/public-facilitation-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s1\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #ff0000;\"><b>Click here to reserve your seat now.<\/b><\/span><b><\/b><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">(Limited availability)<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Because every meeting should be a catalyst for change\u2014not just another calendar event.<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>______<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">With Bookmarks no longer a feature in WordPress, we provide the following for your benefit and reference.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">20 Prioritization Techniques = <a href=\"https:\/\/foldingburritos.com\/product-prioritization-techniques\/\">https:\/\/foldingburritos.com\/product-prioritization-techniques\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Creativity Techniques = <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mycoted.com\/Category:Creativity_Techniques\">https:\/\/www.mycoted.com\/Category:Creativity_Techniques<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Facilitation Training Calendar = <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/public-facilitation-training-calendar\/\">https:\/\/mgrush.com\/public-facilitation-training-calendar\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Liberating Structures = <a href=\"http:\/\/www.liberatingstructures.com\/ls-menu\">http:\/\/www.liberatingstructures.com\/ls-menu<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Management Methods = <a href=\"https:\/\/www.valuebasedmanagement.net\/\">https:\/\/www.valuebasedmanagement.net<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Newseum = https:\/\/www.freedomforum.org\/todaysfrontpages\/<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">People Search = <a href=\"https:\/\/pudding.cool\/2019\/05\/people-map\/\">https:\/\/pudding.cool\/2019\/05\/people-map\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Project Gutenberg = http:\/\/www.gutenberg.org\/wiki\/Main_Page<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Scrum Events Agendas = <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/scrum-facilitation\/\">https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/scrum-facilitation\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Speed test = <a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\/result\/8715401342\">https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\/result\/8715401342<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Teleconference call = <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/DYu_bGbZiiQ\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/DYu_bGbZiiQ<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The Size of Space = https:\/\/neal.fun\/size-of-space\/<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Thiagi\/ 400 ready-to-use training games = <a href=\"http:\/\/thiagi.net\/archive\/www\/games.html\">http:\/\/thiagi.net\/archive\/www\/games.html<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Visualization methods = <a href=\"http:\/\/www.visual-literacy.org\/periodic_table\/periodic_table.html\">http:\/\/www.visual-literacy.org\/periodic_table\/periodic_table.html#<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Walking Gorilla = <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/vJG698U2Mvo\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/vJG698U2Mvo<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>______<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All groups, especially very large groups, perform better when the participants know something about each other. Even though\u00a0time constraints prohibit traditional, self-spoken icebreakers for large groups (e.g., 60 people for two minutes each burns two hours), some time for social bonding remains effective. Embrace Icebreakers or Check-In activities to get everyone contributing sooner. Likewise, anticipate [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2405,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_wp_convertkit_post_meta":{"form":"-1","landing_page":"","tag":"0","restrict_content":"0"},"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[55884429],"tags":[453190873,453191207,453192280,453191208,453192281,453192282],"class_list":["post-2404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-meeting-support","tag-icebreakers","tag-icebreakers-for-large-groups","tag-icebreakers-for-small-groups","tag-large-groups","tag-man-on-the-moon","tag-nasa"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin 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