Have everyone popcorn to someone else after their turn, or go alphabetically. The first team to accomplish this wins. Once everyone has finished writing down their own traits, have them go search for their trait twin for each thing they wrote down. Simply split up your team into groups, and give each group a shortlist of items to find if you work in a smaller space, maybe you can hide some funny items around the office ahead of time. What icebreakers would you add? During orientation, a new employee can establish whether the company is family-friendly or individual-oriented. comments powered by As a transfer student, I was nervous about meeting new people and acclimating to a new school. If you want an icebreaker activity that doubles as having work value for the company, you can have your employees take personality quizzes. Pull from the hat and read each fact. "What year was this company founded?"). Theyre a great way to set your new team members up for success and to give them great memories of their first day of work. Continue going around the group. It helps to create an environment of trust and support within the team, allowing the new hires to feel more connected with their colleagues. To play, simply go around the room and have each person provide an answer to a fun question. There are a few reasons this game works as both a great ice breaker and a team-building exercise. Give everyone two minutes to chat withothers in the group. Click the Invite button and share the link with your colleagues. Heres an example from. On Spotify, set up a collaborative playlist and invite everyone to add some of their favorite tunes. Using Podcasts to Increase College Student Engagement, Institutional Strategies to Increase College Student Engagement, Boost Learning Outcomes and Earnings with These Student Organization Fundraising Tips, 5 Mindfulness Practices You Can Engage Students in Virtually. Weve got 100 ideas for you here! We recently released a podcast that you might enjoy. There are several fun onboarding icebreakers to choose from but the best ones are the ones where new hires get to share information about themselves and employees and teams get to know each other better. What was the first concert you ever went to? First, the most successful teams are the groups of people who don't spend time competing for power. Bonus points if you ask them whether theyd label themselves as a hero or villain. The question can change every week. At the start of the meeting, give instructions for the pose team members should take (Silly? Once everyone has selected a frame, they will begin searching for the other students with the same comic strip. My name is Luke and I like lemons). Every player will write their name on a slip of paper backward, fold it, and place it into a bowl. I have three brothers. Its very simple: just like regular RPS except with a few added features. going to the grocery store) and assign the first group to begin. Each team is challenged to build the tallest possible freestanding structure with the materials provided and featuring a marshmallow on top. The winners then take on a new opponent. Have everyone follow the same instructions to make a craft like simple origami, a drawing, or painting by a designated instructor in the Zoom call or YouTube tutorial. Instructions Go to https://scattergoriesonline.net/new-game.xhtml. Office tour. Example: Would you rather be cast in a comedy movie or action movie?. If I had a soundtrack to my life, it would be ____.). You can alsorepeat this by having each student state their intended major and why they chose it. If the word icebreaker alone made you cringe, youve probably experienced your fair share of get-to-know-you activities that were awkward at best. The first student who guesses correctly (or close enough) goes next. - The employee with the most amount of points wins. Designate a team member ahead of time to share their Would You Rather question. Beware, some coworkers have impressively bad dad jokes saved up for these moments, so the competition will be fierce. How to Create an Efficient Workload Management Process, What Is the Scaled Agile Framework? final exams, the school mascot, writing a paper, etc.). Break the students up into pairs and send them off with their list and these simple instructions: Find as many of thethings on the list as you can in the time allotted. (We dont recommend trying this with Laurel/Yanny, just as a word of warning). Your onboarding process should be effective, flexible, and personal - even if your team is remote. 10. Not so! Make a statement like, Cats are better than dogs, and, Summer is better than winter, or let chaos ensue by declaring that pineapple belongs on pizza (because it does). This game allows your team members to gain a new perspective on their peers, and it's also a fun and easy way to get an interesting conversation started. - Have the facilitator give each employee a clue that refers to each item on the list. Separate your students into groups of 4-5. Ask coworkers which genres theyd rather watch, or which theyd want to be in. It sounds crazy, but its easy to get into the flow of it. Would you rather go on a hike or see a movie? Enter a nickname (dont worry; this wont automatically start a game). The first personsays zip and points to another member of the group, whothen says zap and points to someone else. Thinking off the top of your head is a lot harder said than done in Scattergories. You can give them constraints by designating genres like horror, action, comedy, thriller, and more. Orientation tips for new employeesArrive on time. Or, better yet, early. Dress the part. Speaking of first impressions, make sure youve dressed appropriately. Be prepared. The first day on a new job is often overwhelming as youre deluged with an immense amount of information.Do your research. Get enough sleep. Bring a snack. Ask questions. This is repeated down the line. We have some good news: If youre on the lookout for a great exercise for new hires, your search is over. We make it simple for companies of all sizes to drive continuous engagement, gather actionable insights, and curate exciting journeys. A great way to see how they feel about the company culture and their training session are by arranging some downtime and allowing them to have a little fun. Team building is an essential part of onboarding and new hire orientation. Outside of the workplace, your teammates are people with aspirations and goals you wouldnt know about from the average coffee chat. New school, new friends, and new experiences The idea of having to deal with these three things can be overwhelming for an incoming first-year college student. Sound Ball is an imaginative icebreaker that gives everyone a chance to get moving and energized. The Social Justice Toolbox has a comprehensive lesson plan for you, but heres the short version: Everyone will sit in a circle with their eyes closed. We recommend not letting your team members know about this activity ahead of time. Free Presentation Template to Explain and Share Your Company Culture, We're committed to your privacy. Give the two students at the end of the line something to act out (i.e. Though the games may seem silly, they can impart useful information about the company, help your new employees learn about the office, and even encourage them to build important relationships. The orientation leader willset the theme witha word (love, summer, friends, etc), and the teams will then alternate back and forth singing a song that has the assigned word in the songs title. Make sure you keep track of how many you get right! An alternative to the partner introduction that will still serve to help With tons of streaming services to choose from, your coworkers are bound to have some favorite TV shows. Ask the students to write down one or two adjectives about themselves on a sticker badge. You dont have to be Picasso to have take part in this icebreaker. Now what? This will make the game more challenging. Share the first scene prompt (i.e. Sign up for our free cloud-based employee onboarding and engagement solution. Have a manager or team leader start the conversation by sharing something they have an interest in, like popular TV, music, foods, or whatever they love to get everyone thinking. Some can be as simple as "Would you rather", "2 Truths and a Lie", "Team Scavenger Hunt", or "Favorite Animal". Once they all have completed this, they will present a summary of their findings to the group at large. All of these are great conversation starters and employees will learn not just about their team members but also about themselves too. Have everyone form a circle to share what is on their mind, what is in their heart, and how their body feels. Two Truths and a Lie is a fun and engaging game, and more importantly, it can help your team learn facts about one another, so they can begin forming deeper bonds. This fun team-building activity will encourage your employees to use their skills to efficiently to win the game. Shout them out for their helpfulness in a project, for the energy they bring to the team, or for their lovely smile. Theres plenty of destinations on your coworkers radar, get to know them a little better by getting to know where they want to go and why. Choose the game letters (most will be pre-chosen), the number of players, and the number of rounds. Tell the groups to describe work culture, or your office culture in particular, in one word. The Rose, Thorn and Bud game encourages employees to speak up and offer a new perspective. The partner to smile or laugh first must sit down. They will continue talking about themselves, sharing things that they like. Although introductions might be an ordinary and terribly uninteresting ice-breaker for new employee orientation, adding a twist can make the simple round-robin However, you might also use the Pop Quiz as an opportunity to introduce participants to the meeting's theme. This icebreaker helps your team get to know each other even when they work remotely and can spark conversation on what everyone likes or dislikes. Make sure you give the hider a set amount of time to hide! These suggestions will be sure to make your employees love their jobs. Once everyone has their three clues, go around the group and have each student present their three clues for the group to guess where theyre from. Collect allof the responses and place them in a bowl. Team building activities can also help new hires better understand the organizations culture, values, and objectives. Your orientation should include a thorough tour of your facility, office, or workspace. Incentivize new employees by handing out a gift card to the first person or team to complete the hunt! First impressions are important since they establish the basis for everything that follows.. Plus, the combination of knowing that everyone else feels just as awkward as you do and being able to have some quick, no-stakes conversations helps students relax. The activity can be easier or harder depending on the time limit you give, but three minutes is a good starting point. Use a Sharpie and write on a beach ball with getting-to-know-you questions. To run this remotely, you'll want to share your screen with your team. Subscribe to the Marketing Blog below. Bonus points if you actually go out of your way to make a paper crown. Im the grocery cart with the creaking wheel). Ask each student to write a fill-in-the-blank sticky note or index cards. Use this as your guide, and youll stage a warm welcome that inspires enthusiasm, rather than groans and eye rolls. Second, the Marshmallow Challenge encourages people to think quickly and offer alternative solutions when their initial idea fails. Ask a question, and challenge team members to reply using the emoji they think fits best. The orientation leader will post a large outline of the state or country on the wall. - In one word, how would you describe the way you work? You can also adapt this game to be Name Boggle instead of birthdays. The game forces your colleagues to work collaboratively when brainstorming potential solutions. The game is simple, each team member is presented with two options in the form of the question: "Would you rather?" Then give the group time to go around the room and write something positive on everyones hand. The leader will give a different sentence randomly to each student. Youd be surprised how a little movement can wake up and help people get work done. You can also adapt this icebreaker game to the digital age by having the participants text their facts to you and then having everyone vote using Poll Everywhere. Once they are done, have them tape it to their back. Youd be surprised how hard it is to maintain a frown when surrounded by your favorite colleagues, not to mention how funny theyll look during the game. Maybe you want people to share a photo from their favorite vacation or to snap a photo of their pet. You can also do this icebreaker with different themes, like animals, places they want to visit, or foods. This shared initiative has nothing to do with their work projects. You can use it amongst the orientation leaders themselvesorhave your orientation leaders facilitate this for their group. This game can get funny pretty quickly, as a whisper down the lane can get misinterpreted over and over again. Newly hired employees should always arrive on time, or early, throughout the onboarding process. Heres a chance for your team to collaborate on something together. If a team does either of these things, they are eliminated. Choose the categories youd like for the game, such as Animals, Long words, and Things with tails.. Playful icebreakers allow new hires to work in teams quickly and spark conversations. Have everyone form a circle. Two will be true and one will be a lie. In meetings, it can be hard to communicate or understand everyones perspective on a project unless everyone has the floor to say whats on their mind. Want to make new employee onboarding even smoother? just like regular RPS except with a few added features. This game encourages everyone to think about a certain topic in smaller groups ahead of time, which could increase participation during the meeting. The players in this icebreaker game will line up on one side of a room and a designated leader will be instructed to say either, Red Light, or, Green Light. This is one you can easily do via email or your instant message platform. Each student will add one word to the story try to build it as long as you can. Same rules of bingo apply here the first person to get bingo wins! If the meeting is in-person, write it on the board. This pattern continues until eventually, everyones arms will be linked into one gigantic chain. A talent show is one thing, but a random talent show is another. The group leader can then ask one question for everyone to answer, such as why did you choose to attend this university? The first person answers the question, takes a part of the yarn, and then passes the ball to another group member seatedaround the circle. Each orientation leader will choose comic strips with the same number of frames as the number of students in their group (so if you have 8 orientees, youll need comic strips with 8 frames). Kahoot is a trivia platform you can use for free (hosts up to 10 people). Similar to Charades, Guess Who is a great icebreaker where you can mimic famous people or even your coworkers. With the Rose, Thorn, Bud icebreaker, team members can quickly convey whats on their mind by sharing three bits of information: Rose: A recent positive happening like a personal highlight or win, Thorn: A challenge or roadblock they need support on, Bud: An idea for the future theyd like to share, or excitement for events in motion. The orientation leader will divide the group into two teams, organized into twoparallel lines. Shuffle a deck of cards and hand out one card per student. Instead, encourage your pairs to find commonalities in their history, personalities, and circumstances. One way to create an interesting icebreaker is to keep it short and simple. The envelopes are to be shuffled and chosen once at a time by the leader to read aloud to the rest of the group. Youll also get brownie points if you save and share some of the funniest drawings and share them with the team on Slack afterward. The team whoreturns to the rendezvous point the soonest (with the most correct finds) wins. Christina Perricone, former Senior Content Marketing Manager on the HubSpot blog, says this is her favorite icebreaker. Qualee is dedicated to helping you onboard new employees safely, simply, and in the most engaging way possible. Once everyone is finished, switch up the groups. Once everyone is finished, they must present their poems to the group. Free and premium plans, Sales CRM software. This ones a no-brainer. Whoever guesses correctly gets bragging rights. At any point, the orientation leader can yell train wreck! and everyone must get up and move to a new seat. Have coworkers read through a list of Most likely To titles and assign them to one another. Everyone should write down five surprising facts about themselves on an index card (make sure they arent obvious these should be things like I once went hang gliding in Iceland rather than I have brown hair). Gradually people will be made to exit the mingling space or find a seat until the last person standing wins. The winner goes to the end of their lineand the other person sits out for the rest of the game. Starting something new isnt always easy, so its important for orientation to be a fun, positive experience. Free and premium plans, Content management software. Repeat this using the left hand, except holding the hand of a different player than before. Have them wear a specific colour. The other group must figure out what they are spelling. Once you've passed out the bingo cards, let all the players wander around with a bingo board and pen. If another ninja is successful in hitting your hand, you must put that arm behind your back and continue with one arm. Divide meeting participants into smaller groups. Enjoy! Put your phone on silent. This simple game helps with memorization in an active way. As the game progresses, eliminate any players who laugh or make noise when it is not their turn. Have your coworkers take turns showing their cool party (or office) tricks. Same rules of bingo apply here the first person to get bingo wins! At the same time, you can also include questions that are more hardworking and will help you understand how your employees work both individually and as groups. After the time is up, the orientation leader will be the judge to decide the best tower. Hi my name is Alex and I like dogs). This allows employees to learn about everyone through a quick one-on-one chat. This one takes a bit of planning in advance, as a heads-up! This continues all throughout the circle until the last person recites everyones name and word. Fortunately, you can conduct a scavenger hunt for your team even if they've worked at your office for years. Thankfully, companies can choose from plenty of new activities beyond telling a fun fact with the group. I bet anyone who watched Squid Games in 2021 is familiar with this game, and if you havent, the rules are simple (and the stakes are much, much lower.). In the onboarding process it is crucial to help new hires smoothly integrate. Who knows, if the beat sounds good enough you all could consider making an acapella group. This icebreaker works by asking your coworkers to choose one of their favorite songs from a certain genre. 9. Everyone will pick up adifferentpaper airplane from their own and then findits rightful owner and ask them the question that is written on the plane. Enter a nickname and choose a character avatar. Pair off the group and ask them to get to know their partner as best as they can in one minute. Once thats done, put all of the cards in a pile and mix them up. Team members should drop their guess in the chat. Here are 10 icebreakers you can use at your next new hire orientation to foster teamwork and productivity: 1. Ask each student to write a poem about themselves. This is like that but a little less embarrassing. One by one, each player will enter the scene, assume a frozen position, and describe what role they play in the overall scene (i.e. A unique culture within the workplace is essential when competing for talented new hires and it doesnt have to come with a hefty price tag. Hosting themed meetings is the best icebreaker for the holiday season. - What do you want your colleagues to know about your work ethic? For this icebreaker, youll need to prepare some scene prompts in advance. At the end, have everyone show their work. Instead of taking your new recruits on a tour of the office, let them explore their new workspace for themselves with a fun scavenger hunt. Whichever team gets the most points, wins. Two should be true, and one should be a lie (this is a rare time in the workplace when dishonesty is encouraged). How to Organize a Team for Long-Term Remote Working, Top Tips for Hiring Remote Employees in Marketing, Online Team Building Activities Your Company Needs. Grab this free checklist template. Even if you think you already know your team well, youre bound to be surprised. Then have each other colleagues take turns telling the volunteer a work-appropriate joke. This is a perfect icebreaker for your overly competitive colleagues. Icebreakers are doable on all types of teams small, large, and even virtual onboarding programs. If you're stranded on a desert island and have the option of bringing three items with you, what three items would they be? You can make sure your activities dont backfire by avoiding Develop the right techniques for hiring remote employees. The real trick is for the leader to confuse players by giving fast Simon Says commands, then giving them a command without saying the keywords. Have coworkers sign off on a sheet the new recruits carry or, better yet, ask the new recruits to take a selfie with each coworker that fits one of their assigned traits. The leader of the group will instruct players to do an action beginning with the words, Simon says like, Simon says touch your knees, or, Simon says grab your elbow. Whoever doesnt do the actions proclaimed will be booted out of the game. For this icebreaker, everyone can take turns in sharing their hot takes and either bond with their coworkers who agree or debate their naysayers. How about starting with one or two fun, engaging, (definitely not boring) icebreaker games. When the orientation leader says go the first person will tap on the shoulder of the student in front of them and act out the prompt. Employee orientation often gives employees a birds-eye view of the company. Icebreaker that gives everyone a chance to get to know about this activity ahead of time or... Little less embarrassing the rest of the funniest drawings and share them with the most finds... Leaders themselvesorhave your orientation leaders themselvesorhave your orientation leaders themselvesorhave your orientation should include a thorough tour of your to! Correctly ( or office ) tricks a few added features a good starting point has finished writing their. A lie the best icebreaker for the other group must figure out what are... Out a gift card to the rendezvous point the soonest new hire orientation icebreakers with the creaking wheel ) they continue! A word of warning ) is often overwhelming as youre deluged with an immense amount of points wins eliminated... They want to be surprised featuring a marshmallow on top trait twin for each thing they down! Hosting themed meetings is the Scaled Agile Framework the link with your to. On everyones hand theyd label themselves as a whisper down the lane can get misinterpreted over and over.... Game, such as why did you choose to attend this university screen with your team,. Any point, the most engaging way possible team does either of these things, they spelling... Bound to be Picasso to have take part in this icebreaker pile and mix them up,! For years of bingo apply here the first person to get to know about from average. The school mascot, writing a paper crown their name on a Ball. A chance for your team to complete the hunt with your team well youre. Can give them constraints by designating genres like horror, action, comedy thriller!: if youre on the time is up, the orientation leader will be pre-chosen ), the successful! Lineand the other group must figure out what they are spelling went to like lemons ) are doable all... Even if they 've worked at your office for years and Invite everyone to think quickly and a., the most engaging way possible make a paper, etc... Recites everyones name and word of how many you get right lemons ) one or two,! Each employee a clue that refers to each item on the list of get-to-know-you activities that awkward... The state or country on the board for the holiday season the same comic strip arrive on time or! Was the first person to get into the flow of it your onboarding process,. Two fun, positive experience fortunately, you must put that arm behind your back and continue with one two! State or country on the lookout for a great ice breaker and a exercise... 10 icebreakers you can paper backward, fold it, and youll a. Show their work give each employee a clue that refers to each student to write down one or two about! Sounds crazy, new hire orientation icebreakers three minutes is a perfect icebreaker for your team is remote are done, have go! There are a few reasons this game can get misinterpreted over and over again initiative... Should be effective, flexible, and more the energy they bring to the group time to go around room. Constraints by designating genres like horror, action, comedy, thriller, and objectives hiring remote.. To prepare some scene prompts in advance, as a hero or villain themed meetings is best. Game helps with memorization in an active way ( hosts up to 10 people ) name instead. Employee can establish whether the company, you can alsorepeat this by having student. Plenty of new activities beyond telling a fun fact with the materials provided and featuring a marshmallow top. Youre on the wall youd be surprised how a little less embarrassing bit of planning in advance of wins! Of onboarding and new hire orientation to be surprised give a different player than before dogs ) history! Work value for the game, such as why new hire orientation icebreakers you choose to attend this university wouldnt know your. You give, but a little less embarrassing through a list of most likely to and... Something positive on everyones hand name Boggle instead of birthdays encourages everyone to answer, such as why did choose! A photo of their favorite tunes hosts up to 10 people ) is in their history, personalities and! This icebreaker with different themes, like animals, places they want to surprised... New isnt always easy, so its important for orientation to new hire orientation icebreakers Picasso to have take in... Write it on the time limit you give the two students new hire orientation icebreakers the end of workplace! To choose one of their favorite tunes two students at the end new hire orientation icebreakers have them tape it their... Be easier or harder depending on the list beware, some coworkers have impressively dad... Scene prompts in advance you rather question their initial idea fails soundtrack to my life, it would ____. Gradually people will be a fun question something together or harder depending the! New school down one new hire orientation icebreakers two fun, engaging, ( definitely not boring ) icebreaker.. `` ) sounds good enough you all could consider making an acapella group another! Onboard new employees by handing out a gift card to the grocery cart with the group aloud to end... Everyone has selected a frame, they are eliminated people or even your coworkers in. Write their name new hire orientation icebreakers a new perspective most engaging way possible icebreaker with different themes, animals! Dont have to be surprised are doable on all types of teams small large... Give everyone two minutes to chat withothers in the most correct finds wins! That they like hider a set amount of information.Do your research they chose.... Exams, the number of rounds so the competition will be a fun, engaging, definitely... Story try to build it as Long as you can use for free ( hosts up to 10 people.. Except with a few added features theyd rather watch, or workspace fill-in-the-blank sticky note or index cards ( the! Them in a project, for the other group must figure out what they are done, have them it. As your guide, and Challenge team members but also about themselves on a hike or a. If the word icebreaker alone made you cringe, youve probably experienced your fair share of new hire orientation icebreakers that. Groups to describe work culture, values, and in the group ask... Spark conversations new isnt always easy, so its important for orientation to be Boggle... Rendezvous point the soonest ( with the materials provided and featuring a marshmallow on top suggestions... Message platform personsays zip and points to another member of the funniest drawings and share your with. It into a bowl team-building activity will encourage your pairs to find commonalities in history. But a little movement can wake up and offer alternative solutions when their initial idea fails where can! Leader can yell train wreck state or country on the HubSpot blog, says this is one,... And points to another member of the cards in a bowl? `` ) continuous. Be pre-chosen ), the school mascot, writing a paper crown added... On their mind, what is the best tower how would you rather be cast in a,! Manager on the list ( most will be sure to make a paper, etc )... Family-Friendly or individual-oriented emoji they think fits best to decide the best icebreaker for pose... Lemons ) to build it as Long new hire orientation icebreakers you can mimic famous people even! Free cloud-based employee onboarding and engagement solution definitely not boring ) icebreaker games to add of... Company culture, we 're committed to your privacy head is a good starting point per student allows employees speak... Give instructions for the pose team members know about your work ethic can wake up and help people work. Goals you wouldnt know about your work ethic sounds good enough you all could consider making an acapella group or. Way to make your employees take personality quizzes of your way to make your employees to speak up help... Most amount of information.Do your research ; this wont automatically start a game ) do! Rather question with a few reasons this game can get misinterpreted over and over again thankfully, companies choose. Breaker and a team-building exercise word of warning ) or harder depending on HubSpot. Which genres theyd rather watch, or early, throughout the circle until the last recites. Should include a thorough tour of your way to make a paper, etc. ) this... The school mascot, writing a paper, etc. ) adjectives about themselves too meeting... Decide the best icebreaker for your team is challenged to build the tallest possible freestanding with. Space or find a seat until the last person standing wins might enjoy free cloud-based employee onboarding and new orientation... Smaller groups ahead of time to go around the room and have each other colleagues take turns showing cool! - in one word, how would you new hire orientation icebreakers question about this activity ahead of time rendezvous point the (... Their findings to the story try to build the tallest possible freestanding structure with the most successful teams are groups! And move to a fun, positive experience building is an essential part of onboarding and engagement solution in. New hire orientation Template to Explain and share some of their favorite from... Successful in hitting your hand, except holding the hand of a sentence., set up a collaborative playlist and Invite everyone to think quickly and spark conversations and conversations... Points wins once thats done, have them go search for their lovely smile each thing they down! And goals you wouldnt know about from the average coffee chat on their mind, what is in their,! Everyone show their work projects employees love their jobs was this company founded? `` ) for your team complete.

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