[VIDEO] WAYS to Engage your audience: breaking the icebreaker stigma
Not all icebreakers are bad. Just knowing the right one makes a difference.
Think about the experiences you’ve had at work, at conferences, or in meetings. Have any of those experiences been fun? Or enjoyable? Or did one of those have an aspect of fun?
Chances are the ones you enjoyed had some way of engaging you - not just talking at you.
Keep reading for one of my favorite ways to engage your audience right from the start.
How I Engage My Audience at the Start: I Use (the right) Icebreakers.
I know, I know - you hate icebreakers. (In case you’re like, ‘What’s an icebreaker?’ it’s a little activity or question to help participants in a room get to know each other a bit and “break the ice" in a meeting or training.)
But you’ve never had ME as your meeting leader! Icebreakers like, “Tell us about yourself” are a recipe for failure, or an opening for the blowhard in the room to yap for 10 minutes.
Short, fast, and fun icebreakers wake up the brain, add laughter, and generate discussion.
Some of my best icebreakers come from the website icebreakers.ws.
A sure-fire crowd pleaser is:
Ask, “What was your first concert?”
That question gets people laughing, talking, and often, you’ll find that some people in the room were at the very same concert!
Pro tip: Use this for groups of 5-15. Icebreakers work best in small-ish groups.
Want even more tips on how to liven up your presentations, training, or meetings? See my shorts on youtube!
If you’re struggling with making your meetings more interesting or engaging, book an hour of time with me here. We’ll make your training or presentation rock!
What to read or hear next:
How to practice your presentation when you don’t want to (Hi, procrastinators!)
Why working with an executive coach can improve your presentations dramatically
About The Author
Hi! I’m Marianna. I can help you rock your next presentation. And yes, I’ll give you LOTS of practice and feedback. I have coaching on demand available! I make public speaking easier (and fun!) for my clients. In addition to Presentation Skills workshops, I offer executive coaching and Keynote speeches. To learn more, schedule a call with me.