what are ice breakers

What are Ice Breakers?

(Source: www.mindtools.com)

Ice Breakers can be an effective way of starting a training session or team-building event.

It is a structured activity aimed at helping people to get to know each other and buy into

the purpose of the event.

If an icebreaker session is well designed and well facilitated, it can really help get things

off to a great start. By getting to know each other, getting to know the facilitators and

learning about the objectives of the event, people can become more engaged in the

proceedings and so contribute more effectively towards a successful outcome. But have you

ever been to an event when the icebreaker session went badly? Just as a great icebreaker

session can smooth the way for a great event, so a bad icebreaker session can be a recipe

for disaster. A bad icebreaker session is at best simply a waste of time, or worse an

embarrassment for everyone involved.

As a facilitator, the secret of a successful icebreaking session is to keep it simple: Design

the session with specific objectives in mind and make sure the session is appropriate and

comfortable for everyone involved.

When to Use Icebreakers?

As the name suggests, an icebreaker session is designed to "break the ice" at an event or

meeting. The technique is often used when people who do not usually work together, or may

not know each other at all, meet for a specific, common purpose.

Consider using an ice breaker when:

Participants come from different backgrounds.

People need to bond quickly so as to work towards a common goal.

Your team is newly formed.

The topics you are discussing are new or unfamiliar to many people involved.

As facilitator you need to get to know participants and have them know you

better.

Designing Your Icebreaker

The key to a successful icebreaker is to make sure the icebreaker is

specifically focused on meeting your objectives and appropriate to the group

of people involved. Once you have established what the "ice" is, the next step

is to clarify the specific objectives for your icebreaker session. These

questions can be used as a checklist once you have designed the icebreaker

session: "Will this ice breaker session help people feel comfortable? Will it

establish a level playing field? etc" As a further check, you should also ask

yourself how each person is likely to react to the session. Will participants

feel comfortable? Will they feel the session is appropriate and worthwhile?

Ice Breaker - Active Relaxation

Summary: Participant practice releasing tension.

Objective: Energizer

Materials Required: None

Time Limit: 5-10 minutes

How it Works:

1. Explain that active relaxation is a way of interrupting muscular tension.

2. Ways to relax:

a. Stretching – Encourage participants to try out stretching movements of the arms and

legs. Ask them to share good stretches.

b. Shaking – Emphasize that laughter helps relaxation, so it is encouraged at all times during

the exercise.

3. Start by having participants shake their hands and see how loose they can get them,

suggesting movements at all angles of the wrist, not just back and forth. Ask participants

to extend this to arm shaking.

4. Move the shoulders – make them shudder, tremble, rotate. Demonstrate that letting out

the noise that goes with a shudder adds to the relaxation. Practice releasing shoulder

tension while moving around.

5. Explore shaking of legs and feet in a similar way to hands and arms.

6. Ask people to explore how far they can start shaking one part of their body and get the

rest to join in.

Tips:

1. Exercises can be used one at a time for 5-minute energizers.

2. A "silly walks" competition can be held for walks that involve loosening as many muscles

as possible.

Ice Breaker - Balloon Bounce

Summary: This is a balloon bouncing and speaking exercise.

Objective: Energizer and Attention switcher

Materials Required: Balloon

Time Limit: 5 minutes

How it Works:

1. Blow up the balloon.

2. Tell the participants that you will toss the balloon to them. They are to keep the balloon

in the air. You will ask a question. Whoever touches the balloon has to answer the question.

Some sample questions: 'What is your favourite movie?

What is your favourite holiday? How long have you been a Lion? What are you looking forward

to? Which service activity do you support the most?

3. Participants keep the balloon moving. The group leader can change the question

periodically throughout the game.

Ice Breakers - Get Acquainted Activities

1. Stand Up - Ask group members to stand if they have done the following during the last 3

months: They stand for a statement and sit down, until you read the next statement.

Have you travelled to an island?

Did you see an international movie?

Have you learned something new?

Did you have houseguest visit you?

Have you read a novel?

Did you attend a musical performance?

Do you own a foreign made automobile?

2. Pairs Sharing - Form pairs among the participants. Ask the pairs to take turns in telling

the other person two things you like about yourself, one skill you have, and one of your most

satisfying achievements.

3. Mingling - Each person will use two pieces of paper (5x8). Each person writes a topic

he/she likes talking about on the first pieces of paper and tapes or pins it on his front.

Second, each person writes a topic that they would like to know more about on the second

piece of paper and tapes it to his back. This encourages talking and mingling during a coffee

break.

4. Complete the Sentence - This activity can be done in a large or in small groups of 5.

The last thing I did before coming was…

I love working with people who. . ..

I am really concerned about....

I'm uncomfortable when.. ..

I wish I could.. ...

5. Personal Item - Select an item from your pocket, briefcase or purse and explain to the

group what it says about you.

6. I Am........

Write down 6 way of completing this statement to explain who you are. Share your list with

the group.

Ice Breaker - In the Room

Summary: A game to limit the interference effects of reflective exercises.

Objective: Attention switching by restoring participants to the "here and now" after any

exercise that may have raised insights or reactions.



How it Works:

1. Ask participants to pair up with a neighbour.

2. Have one partner ask the other 3 questions that relate to where they are, such as:

What color is this room? How many people are in it? Describe what your tie (or shirt, or

shoes) looks like. Spell your name backwards. Finish by asking, "Are you back in the room?"

3. Have partners switch roles and repeat.

4. Throughout the day, if participants seem to be drifting, ask them to raise their hands if

they are still "in the room".

Ice Breaker - Line Up

Summary: Use this activity to break the monotony of long periods of sitting, and you'll find

participants finding out about each other too.



Time Limit: 5 to 7 minutes

How it Works:

1. Organize participants into at least two groups.

2. Tell participants that in Line Up, they will have a chance to learn things about one another

they may never think to ask.

3. Give these instructions:

a. This is a group competition. The Group Leader will give the instructions for groups to line

up in a particular way.

b. Your group should get in line as quickly as possible.

c. When a group is lined up, all group members should clap, hum, or give some sort of signal

to indicate they are finished.

d. The group that finishes first is the winner of the round

Line up ideas: Line up in order of age as a Lion Member. Line up in order by shoe size Line up

by length of arm's reach Line up in order by the number of siblings you have Line up in order

alphabetically by favorite color Line up in order of eye color Line up alphabetically by country

or city of origin

Ice Breaker - Line Up

Summary: Use this activity to break the monotony of long periods of sitting, and you'll find

participants finding out about each other too.



Time Limit: 5 to 7 minutes

How it Works:

1. Organize participants into at least two groups.

2. Tell participants that in Line Up, they will have a chance to learn things about one another

they may never think to ask.

3. Give these instructions:

a. This is a group competition. The Group Leader will give the instructions for groups to line

up in a particular way.

b. Your group should get in line as quickly as possible.

c. When a group is lined up, all group members should clap, hum, or give some sort of signal

to indicate they are finished.

d. The group that finishes first is the winner of the round

Line up ideas: Line up in order of age as a Lion Member. Line up in order by shoe size Line up

by length of arm's reach Line up in order by the number of siblings you have Line up in order

alphabetically by favorite color Line up in order of eye color Line up alphabetically by country

or city of origin

Ice Breaker - Lions Clubs Needs Me Because...

Summary: This is an exercise showing personal commitment. It brings out humor, team spirit

and reinforces commitment.




How it Works:

1. Ask participants to think of three reasons why Lions Clubs needs them, or how they

contribute to Lions Clubs.

2. Then, have participants, all at the same time, either stand up or walk around the room

shouting out these reasons with commitment and belief.

Ice Breaker - Personality Types

Objective: To encourage participants to relax and to introduce the concept that people differ in important ways.

Materials Required: Cut outs of the Geometric shapes.

Time Limit: About 5 minutes.

How it works:

Distribute a copy of four geometric shapes. (Square, Triangle, Diamond & Circle). Direct each participant to select the one that best represents his/her personality. Ask for a show of hands to determine how many selected each of the shapes. Then proceed (with great seriousness) to suggest that extensive research has shown the following characteristics to be associated with each shape:

1. Square: This person is intellectual, objective, rational, and a good decision maker.

2. Triangle: This person is steady, dependable, conservative, and has perseverance.

3. Diamond: This person is dissatisfied with the status quo, believes in no-nonsense behaviour, and tends to be a risk-taker.

4. Circle: This person is strongly preoccupied with the thought of chocolates. (This interpretation will invariably evoke a solid round of laughter.)

Discussion Questions:

1. In what ways are people really different?

2. Is it possible to categorize people by such a "test"?

3. What are the dangers of stereotyping people?

Ice Breaker - Spot the Difference

Summary: An energizer that tests observation skills.

Objective: Energizer Attention switching Non-verbal communication



How it Works:

1. Ask participants to pair up, then stand and face each other. Have participants take a good look at each other for 60 seconds.

2. Ask participants to face away from each other, and then change three things about the way they look. For example, smile, close one eye, cross arms, untie a shoelace, push up sleeves, remove glasses, move a ring from one finger to another).

3. Have participants face each other again for 60 seconds and try to spot the differences.

4. Discuss what was noticed and what was not.

Ice Breaker - The Wave

Summary: Many people have experienced the wave - the uplifted arm movement that moves through stadium crowds. It is a great energizer, and can become as elaborate as you dare to make it.




How it Works:

1. You can lead the wave or ask for a volunteer to lead the wave. Have participants line up or stand in a semicircle. Demonstrate the typical wave by throwing your arms up in the air, and having a person next to you follow suit. Each person follows all the way down the line.

2. Vary the wave. You can a step forward while throwing your arms down, spin around, or do any other version of a wave that you can think of.

3. Participants can take turns making up waves and leading the wave.

Ice Breaker - Who Are You?

Objective: To interact with the group and get to know them a little better.



How it works?

Ask the group questions (with two options), indicating that depending on their answer they go to one side of the room or the other. The group members are to then discuss among themselves why they chose their answer. Regroup with each question into two groups or use a sequence of two questions to divide the group into four groups.

Some sample questions are:

1. Are you a leader or a follower?

2. Are you a team player or work better on your own?

3. Are you motivated by achievement or by awards/recognition?

4. Do you like quick efficient meetings or relaxed, social occasions?

5. Would you describe yourself as creative or organized?

6. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

How to Design and Layout a Brochure

Source: www.allgraphicdesign.com

Designing a basic brochure - how hard can that be? For good graphic designers, the answer is a lot tougher than you think. Even for the most basic type of brochure, before you ever put pencil to paper or click your mouse, there is essential information that you need to decide.

The first thing you need to know is the purpose of the brochure or what the brochure is to accomplish.

That ties directly into who the target audience is and what the message of the brochure will be. There are three main types of brochures and in each case; the cover is used to accomplish a specific goal. The three types of brochures are those that are used to advertise or market, those that educate or inform, and those that entertain.

For a brochure whose primary purpose is to advertise or market products and services, the cover will most likely have two parts: a catchy phrase that grabs attention, and then lists the benefits of the product (what will this product do for me?). In the instance of a brochure that is primarily educational or informative, the product generally appears on the cover with the information of what it does or can do listed inside. The entertaining brochure is used the least.

The next thing you need to decide is the number of panels in the brochure, which is influenced by a number of factors. Some questions to consider:

· How much information will be in this brochure?

· How is this brochure going to be used?

· Is there a bleed?

· Is the brochure going to be of a unique design that might include die-cuts or unusual folding?

· Will the brochure be a direct mail piece? If so, what are the postal regulations for the size and mailing costs?

· What is the allotted budget for the brochure?

Designers need to get the parameters and specifications before they proceed, as these may greatly affect the cost. Printers can also be a tremendous resource in explaining how a brochure’s parameters and specifications will affect everything from the size of paper a brochure is printed on, to trimming, folding, and special cuts.

Once those decisions are made, you need to discuss what is often referred to as the “hierarchy of information” or what the order of information is; starting with the most important and moving onto the least. At this stage, you’ll need to know on which panel or panels information is being placed. In some brochures, information (particularly photographs and maps) can go across two panels to striking effect.

At the same time, when thinking about how the brochure will be laid out, consider whether each individual panel will hold distinct information or are the panels related?

You’re still not quite ready to move into the actual design process as you need to refer back to that target audience the brochure is aimed at. Here you need to know the answer to the following question: what is the message being sent with this brochure? Advertising, educating, informing, and entertaining are how that message is presented; the actual message is what you want to say about the particular product, service, or company.

When all that information is gathered, you can finally get down to the business of designing. You’ll take into account the basic elements of good design - alignment, repetition for a sense of unity, contrast and a focal point that provides interest, balance, scale and perspective, color, and so on. You’ll also want to keep in mind the font, size, color, and orientation of the text.

As with any design there are also things you’ll want to avoid. These include:

· Avoid over-used typefaces, two of which are Arial and Helvetica.

· For content type, keep the point size under 12.

· Don’t use more than three type faces in a brochure.

· Generally don’t use more than one alignment.

As you can see, designing even a standard six-panel brochure is often a much more complicated process than you initially might think. The more organized you are, the easier the graphic design process will be, and probably a lot more fun. With any design project, it’s a good idea to have all the necessary information, pictures, parameters, and specifications before you let your creative juices flow.

Create an eye-catching design

When creating your own marketing materials from scratch, remember: simplicity is key! Follow these tips for a winning design:

Plan it out. Sketch the layout ahead of time, keeping in mind that people scan in this order:

1. Pictures or illustrations

2. Headlines

3. Charts or graphs

4. Captions

5. Body copy

Add photos, illustrations, and charts. Visuals are the most important piece of your brochure or flyer.

They add interest and emotion as well as establish the tone of your piece. Use your own photos or search for royalty-free images online. Charts can easily be created in Excel.

Use full color. Bold colors stand out and grab attention. For cohesive messaging, coordinate the colors of your business or logo with the flyer’s photos, text, and background.

Less is more! Avoid losing key pieces of information in a cluttered, over-designed layout. When designing headings and bullets, limit yourself to one or two fonts—and don’t be afraid to leave white space!

Write great content

Great marketing copy delivers a clear, focused message, so know your audience and keep it simple!

There are several key elements to creating an effective brochure or flyer:

Get their attention. Create a hook or an attention-grabbing headline that will draw your audience in and pique their interest.

Don’t bury crucial information. Body copy is important, but don't put your key points there.

Keep the facts clear so your audience can easily find the information they need (who, what, where, when, why, etc.).

Keep it simple. Be sure the language in your flyer or brochure is straightforward and easy to read. If it’s too lengthy or wordy, your audience may lose interest or miss valuable information.

Create a call-to-action. Know what you want someone who reads your brochure or flyer to do— and mention it more than once!

Include contact information. Whether it’s your e-mail, website, or phone number, make sure you can be contacted for more information.

Tips before you print

Proofread content. Your computer may check spelling and grammar, but there are many mistakes it overlooks, including wrong words that are still spelled correctly (such as “loose” and “lose”).

Check for consistency. If you do something one way in one place, make sure to do it across the board! For example, if you capitalize the first letters in one header, do so in every header. Or, if you add a drop shadow to one image, add them to the others.

Inspect the facts. Be sure to check your content for accuracy. Incomplete or incorrect information will make your organization look unprofessional, or worse, send people to the wrong place.

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