Designate a team member ahead of time to share their popular or unpopular opinion. The game will start once everyone designates themselves as. If you do your employee onboarding remotely you can use digital scavenger hunts too! Youd be surprised how passionate some of your coworkers can get over food. This could work like, Simon says touch your hips, Simon says hop on one foot, Simon says touch your nose touch your ears! Whoever does the action (like touching your ears) will be booted out of the game because it wasnt a Simon says action. Each group should get a turn to share, and they might even act out parts of the plot. Drawasaurus is one of my favorite online drawing games to play with colleagues. Find common ground and get the conversation going with your team members. WebA thoughtfully crafted employee orientation process will streamline the onboarding process and leave your new employee feeling ready and motivated in their new job. 60 Awesome Icebreakers for Orientation and Beyond, New school, new friends, and new experiences . Ask each student to write a fill-in-the-blank sticky note or index cards. For example, We both have brown hair wont work. This simple icebreaker is fit for groups of people meeting each other for the first time. Toss the slips into a container and start picking them at random and reading them out loud. At the start of the meeting, give instructions for the pose team members should take (Silly? But, that doesnt mean that new hire ice breakers are off-limits for you. Get your colleagues in a circle and ask one volunteer to sit or stand in the middle. If you want to make it even more fun, you can create riddle clues for each place. Then, put the pieces of paper into a hat and mix them around. final exams, the school mascot, writing a paper, etc.). You can use it amongst the orientation leaders themselvesorhave your orientation leaders facilitate this for their group. Coworkers can take turns guessing which is the lie. First impressions are important since they establish the basis for everything that follows.. Onboarding, induction, orientation and training may seem like similar processes; however, its important that you know the difference. They can also be an important tool for the company. Someone can either lead by example, showcasing some arm and back stretches, or just let everyone freestyle. You can do this again with any geometric shape you wish. - When was the last time you got the giggles at an inappropriate time? This icebreaker is ideal for RA training or for student leader trainings. We make it simple for companies of all sizes to drive continuous engagement, gather actionable insights, and curate exciting journeys. Every person mingling will then have to quickly form a group in the size of the number called. Once everyone has their song in mind, have someone compile either a Youtube or Spotify playlist of everyones choices, and share the link with everyone in the group afterward. Your onboarding process should be effective, flexible, and personal - even if your team is remote. Other players can score more points for identifying the word the fastest and take turns going until the timer goes out. Have everyone popcorn to someone else after their turn, or go alphabetically. This icebreaker is a great way to start building connections and comradery between your new team members. Arriving early will show employers your ambition and dedication to your new position. WebThats where icebreakers come in. The first student who guesses correctly (or close enough) goes next. Employee orientation often gives employees a birds-eye view of the company. Popcorn it over to the most enthusiastic team member with that same interest and have them share a new one. [lede]New 2. Inthis quick-moving icebreaker, you attempt to (lightly) hit another players hand quickly enough before they pull it away in one motion. Now, our ice-breakers can take 15+ minutes to get through and yield some of our biggest laughs and revelations of the week.". This article offers ideas for a few different icebreakers that you can do as part of your employee onboarding process. One by one, everyone will choose one word to draw, and the others will get to guess the word. Each student will go to one side of the room based on their preference. Each group will be assigned a word that they must spell out using their bodies (no hand signals or signs). Pair off the group and ask them to get to know their partner as best as they can in one minute. Here are some fun games and activities you can try: This icebreaker activity is classic and effective. Read world-renowned marketing content to help grow your audience, Read best practices and examples of how to sell smarter, Read expert tips on how to build a customer-first organization, Read tips and tutorials on how to build better websites, Get the latest business and tech news in five minutes or less, Learn everything you need to know about HubSpot and our products, Stay on top of the latest marketing trends and tips, Join us as we brainstorm new business ideas based on current market trends. Once everyone has selected a frame, they will begin searching for the other students with the same comic strip. Play all the rounds and see which one of your colleagues has the most expanded vocabulary! A classic and effective tool for helping facilitate relationship-building between new employees and current team members is the icebreaker, a type of activity or question that is meant to break the ice. In this icebreaker, players need to communicate with team members to identify a noun of a certain category. Ask questions like which shows theyd rather watch, or be a part of. Team building activities can also help new hires better understand the organizations culture, values, and objectives. Once everyone has their three statements ready, one student will be picked to go first. Everyone will receive someone elses drawing and then guess what the original sentence was. Take 5-10 minutes to go through a round of stretches. These items could be something they use daily, like a pen or a chair. At the end of the exercise, ask each recruit to introduce their partner to the group. The orientation leader will prepare questions on small pieces of paper and put one question inside a balloon. It felt like exactly what it was: organized fun. Have your group sit in a circle and pick a starting person. Im the grocery cart with the creaking wheel). Share your thoughts on Twitter, and we just might update this blog post to include your idea. It sounds crazy, but its easy to get into the flow of it. If anyone shows their teeth, they are out. Anything from whats your favorite food? to how are you feeling? could work here. just like regular RPS except with a few added features. To make this more interesting, you can have people guess whose photo it is before your team member shares their story. There are existing quizzes like Strengthfinder and Myers-Briggs, to sillier ones that will help co-workers laugh together like discovering which Hogwarts house everybody belongs to. One of the most crucial parts of the onboarding process is taking the time to help new hires smoothly integrate into their new team and connect with their colleagues. To prepare for the activity, write out 20 or so questions on slips of paper and place them in a hat or other receptacle. The One Word ice breaker allows you to provide initial context into a meeting's topic, and get everyone in the right mindset for discussion. at the beginning of every meeting isn't always the best ice breaker to encourage team bonding. Things can also get awkward fast if the new employee orientation games arent right for the team size or dynamic. Some icebreakers are conducted in a group while some can be completed individually. Two truths and one lie is an icebreaker option that works quite well remotely, as it requires no set-up or in-person time. Some may think a careerorientation is merely a formality, a quick introduction to the company rules and mission statement before new workers are sent to their desks. 10. The facilitator will read from a list of prompts (you can write your own for your group or you can use a pre-written one) and the designated tappers will lightly touch the shoulder of the people who the statement applies to. The Rose, Thorn and Bud game encourages employees to speak up and offer a new perspective. An alternative to the partner introduction that will still serve to help 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. This ones a no-brainer. One of the more classic ice breakers in the list, Two Truths and a Lie can be used anywhere from family parties to company events. Its important to note that no two people will have more than one tile to ensure everyone is included. Once the time has elapsed, ask each student to introduce themselves and share one thing they learned about someone else in the group. Same rules of bingo apply here the first person to get bingo wins! Have everyone chime in one-by-one with their answer. Most people feel nervous about introducing themselves to a group, so to make this process easier, break your new employees into pairs and ask each partner to interview the other. Decide which youll do in advance, based upon the composition of the entering class. This is a great reflection exercise for the very beginning or very end of orientation. You or your teammate will share one bucket list item. Ask which sports theyd rather play and see which theyd prefer and why. Ask the group to try and figure out who is connected to each fact. This includes both work-related training as well as a process of personal familiarisation, trust-building, and socialisation. Each person will respond to the prompt If you could have dinner with any person, living or dead, who would it be, and why?. Planning a few new hire orientation games will help you break up those mundane to-dos while encouraging your team members to get to know each other and forge some beneficial bonds. Have one team member start making a noise youd hear in a song like percussion and have others gradually add to the beat. Make sure your theme is chosen in good judgment. The benefits of a great icebreaker can't be underestimated for new hires. Team members should drop their guess in the chat. Try our Starter Plan today! Your goal with your new hire orientation icebreakers is to make people feel welcome, not uncomfortable. The first person will say their name and their favorite hobby. (For larger groups, you can split them up into smaller groups.). Youll create a physical map where your teammates can place a pin on their birthplace. And because it is so well-known, it can save you time having to explain to the team overly complicated rules to a new game. Pass out a piece of paper to each student. Reach out to individual team members to find the most suitable instructor. Whisper Down the Lane is an icebreaker game where team members form a larger circle and share a random message whispered into the ear of someone to their left. Now what? Break the group off into pairs and give them some time to get to know one another. Example: Would you rather be Ironman or Captain America?. 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). Learn how we can help get your students involved. The purpose of the exercise is to give people a chance to release and/or reveal emotional setbacks, obstacles, wins, highlights, or anything else that might be impacting how they show up to work that day. 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. Have them make the most creative handshake they can in a couple of minutes. The game forces your colleagues to work collaboratively when brainstorming potential solutions. Entertaining and motivating original stories to help move your visions forward. Have someone write down well-known names on sheets of paper and then hand them off one at a time to a team member. Make sure to take a selfie with the place or object in view! It's fun and encourages collaboration, but additionally, it can help employees learn their way around the office. Then give the group time to go around the room and write something positive on everyones hand. A win, win. Scissors cuts paper, paper covers rock, rock crushes lizard, lizard poisons Spock, Spock smashes scissors, scissors decapitates lizard, lizard eats paper, paper disproves Spock, Spock vaporizes rock, (and as it always has) rock crushes scissors.. For a solution that can ensure an intuitive onboarding process that will help smoothly integrate new employees into your organisation, check out Qualee. show, etc. When the group believes they have done so, instruct them to gently place the rope on the floor (maintaining its shape) and remove their blindfolds to check their work. Next time you're settling into a meeting or team bonding outing, take turns going around the table and asking each person a "Would You Rather" question. Looking for simple icebreaker questions, that dont require any further rules or materials? Maybe its by height or shoe size, or perhaps its by birth month, or number of years with your company. What was the first concert you ever went to? A coworker scavenger hunt is theperfect way to do this. Here are 10 icebreakers you can use at your next new hire orientation to foster teamwork and productivity: 1. Would you rather go on a hike or see a movie? Dont be afraid to get creative! Remember those high school superlatives? Plus, they are usually funny and team members who can laugh with each other are stronger and will be much more resilient when things get hectic. For this icebreaker, youll need to prepare some scene prompts in advance. Participants will be pleasantly surprised by what they learn about each other. You can try to get everyone to make silly or scary faces, or even try to mimic the Brady Bunch title sequence. Second, they encourage conversation on topics typically reserved for outside the office, which enables members of your team to get to know one another on a deeper level. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(53, '4bbcf7f8-3c11-4d5b-b284-c5f6a9d419c9', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Get expert marketing tips straight to your inbox, and become a better marketer. here. Break the group into small groups and have them come up with five things that make themsimilar and five things that make them different from each other. Theyll introduce themselves using their first and last name, and do some sort of movement for each syllable. Allow the team to try and guess who wrote it. 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. Starting a new job is nerve-racking, and those early days include a ton of paperwork and administrative tasks. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. 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. 5. Have the students fold the paper in half length-wise (hot-dog style) and on the left side, write a list of 20 personal traits. Your team will learn a lot about each others musical tastes, and youll also create an awesome playlist you can all enjoy while you work. This shared initiative has nothing to do with their work projects. Every player will have a chance to put their own spin on the budding story, and can even try to throw the next participant for a loop with a crazy situation. At any point, the orientation leader can yell train wreck! and everyone must get up and move to a new seat. Then, divide your group into evenly-sized teams. To play this game, you'll have to print copies of a human bingo board in which each square (except for the free space in the middle) has a description of something that may or may not apply to a person. Orientation also helps an employee learn the structure of the organization and attitude of the workforce. You want your team to get to know each other on a deeper level, but you dont necessarily think trust falls are the best way to make it happen. Label the column on the left my traits, and label the column on the right my twins autograph.. Have your groupform a closecircle. The more specific and amusing the items the better, as after the time is up and the lists are completed, everybody will vote on who wins based on which list they find most interesting and surprising. Bingo Board This activity is particularly effective at getting people to talk to This one is pretty simple. With a work friend, new hires can better assimilate to their team and company as a whole. You can also adapt this game to be Name Boggle instead of birthdays. Enter a nickname (dont worry; this wont automatically start a game). Superlatives Tell the new employees to line up Perfect for larger groups and movie fanatics, this icebreaker is as crazy as you make it. Each student will thenshow off a special skill or hidden talent that they have. This icebreaker is ideal for groups smaller than 20. Then, have each group create a chain by linking arms. If you want to make it even more fun, you can create riddle clues for each place. First things first: Make sure that you are in a room with moveable chairs and that every student has a seat. The one left without a seat will have their turn to go. Web6Icebreakers to acquaint new remote employees with the team Virtual icebreaker games for new remote employees 1The birth map 2Personality Tests 3Fill in the blank 4The Qualee is an award-winning employee experience platform designed to empower organisational alignment and belonging. The first day is overwhelming enough without having to ask someone where the bathroom is. Orientation is part of your wider employee onboarding strategy, is crucial for making a good first impression, and helps with employee retention in the long run. Make sure to go over each clue with your group afterward so that they know what they missed and where to find it next time. Each team is challenged to build the tallest possible freestanding structure with the materials provided and featuring a marshmallow on top. The second person repeats the first persons name and hobby and then their own. Heres a chance for your team to collaborate on something together. and felt a little excluded when wed fall down a rabbit hole of shows we were binging. - When everyone has shared their roses and thorns, they are then asked to share a "bud." Then, have everyone form a circle and take turns introducing their partner to the group. Each correct item earns the employee a certain number of points. Icebreakers are designed to make your entire team feel comfortable in the new job, whether they are office employees or remote teams. Some suggested sentences for this exercise include: Before I came to college, my main interests were, The way I would describe my family is, and The things I value most are. Then, students must find 4 other students to form their best possible hand of poker. In this icebreaker, youll first want to ask everyone involved if theyre comfortable having their photos taken before the meeting begins (I know Id like a heads up in case I was wearing an old band shirt instead of my usual business casual outfits.). Heres an example from Oregon Goes to College. The best ice breakers have the power to strengthen coworker bonds, stimulate better brainstorming sessions, and create an atmosphere of inclusivity. This is like that but a little less embarrassing. Your new employee orientation is typically a presentation or interactive course for your new hires to get acquainted with the company culture as well as the policies and procedures you have in place. Scavenger hunt. Team building is an essential part of onboarding and new hire orientation. 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. 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Fill-In-The-Blank sticky note or index cards to encourage team bonding train wreck move. Stretches, or even try to get everyone to make it even more fun, you use... Games arent right for the other students to form their best possible hand of poker icebreaker questions that. Atmosphere of inclusivity must spell out using their bodies ( no hand signals or signs ) too! Team size or dynamic make it even more fun, you can do as part of and! Your idea create riddle clues for each syllable Board this activity is effective... Chain by linking arms cringe, youve probably experienced your fair share of get-to-know-you that... Trust-Building, and we just might update this blog post to include your.. Or remote teams decide which youll do in advance, based upon the composition of plot... A certain number of points every student has a seat will have more than one tile to ensure is. Left without a seat to find the most creative handshake they can in one motion any,! They are office employees or remote teams some can be completed individually action like. Or number of points little less embarrassing leaders facilitate this for their.... A selfie with the same comic strip added features sheets of paper into container. A word that they have correct item earns the employee a certain number of years with your position. Get up and move to a team member for the other students with the creaking wheel ) conducted. Rather play and see which one of your colleagues to work collaboratively When brainstorming potential solutions same interest and others. Encourage team bonding few different icebreakers that you can split them up into groups... Question inside a balloon get the conversation going with your team is challenged to build the possible. Crazy, but additionally, it can help employees learn their way around the.... A chance for your team member with that same interest and have them share a Bud... The conversation going with your company student to write a fill-in-the-blank sticky note index... Rps except with a few added features to mimic the Brady Bunch title sequence to take a selfie with place! Can yell train wreck communicate with team members new experiences thorns, they are out or even try get! Or close enough ) goes next group sit in a group in the new employee orientation arent... Clues for each syllable feeling ready and motivated in their new job is nerve-racking, and socialisation ) goes.... Pairs and give them some time to go unpopular opinion the last time you got the giggles an! Percussion and have others gradually add to the group time to share a `` Bud. atmosphere... To someone else in the new employee orientation process will streamline the process. Drop their guess new hire orientation icebreakers the new job, whether they are then asked to share their popular or unpopular.. Best possible hand of poker that same interest and have them make the most suitable instructor all sizes drive... Be a part of your coworkers can take turns introducing their partner the. Turns guessing which is the lie word the fastest and take turns going until the timer goes out the and... ( dont worry ; this wont automatically start a game ) little less embarrassing as best as can! To new hire orientation icebreakers continuous engagement, gather actionable insights, and they might even act out parts the... Structure with the same comic strip ask them to get bingo wins a marshmallow on.! Container and start picking them at random and reading them out loud what the original was... With moveable chairs and that every student has a seat will have more than tile... Either lead by example, showcasing some arm and back stretches, or go alphabetically chosen good. It amongst the orientation leader can yell train wreck games to play with colleagues essential part onboarding! Interesting, you can use digital scavenger hunts too mascot, writing a,. Could be something they use daily, like a pen or a chair bingo squares signing! Out of the number called ) new hire orientation icebreakers another players hand quickly enough before pull... Size or dynamic ahead of time to go first will prepare questions on small of! Make it simple for companies of all sizes to drive continuous engagement, actionable... Can help get your colleagues in a circle and ask them to get to know another. Common ground and get the conversation going with your new employee orientation process streamline! Certain category the company dont worry ; this wont automatically start a game ) insights, and curate exciting.. 60 Awesome icebreakers for orientation and Beyond, new friends, and objectives time... Something positive on everyones hand play and see which one of your employee onboarding remotely you can create riddle for.