Networking Event Ice Breakers

Let’s face it - networking events can be pretty awkward at times. The goal is to interact with new faces and meet like minded individuals, but unless you happen to be that person who is totally confident walking up to strangers and introducing yourself, it’s nice to have easy ice breaker activities to get everyone in the talking mood. Though the activations can be a little corny, and sometimes silly, they really do help attendees get comfortable.

Whether you’re hosting a company retreat, a networking event or a professional summit, we recommend implementing various moments that encourage guests to work together in order to get the ball rolling.

Here are some of our favorite ice breaker activities that you can try at your next event!

1. TABLE TOP QUIZ:
   Provide table top quizzes and trivia for the whole table, to encourage whole table interaction, instead of just conversations with the people seated either side. Provide trivia in keeping with your event’s theme or random pop culture facts to get everyone involved. For the quiz, get everyone working from the outset by determining a time limit and have the winning team be the one with the quickest time and the most correct answers

2. HUMAN BINGO:
   This idea is so flexible and you can scale it up or down depending on the size, theme and demographic of your event. Create bingo cards in advance. On these cards should be human characteristics, qualities or interests that they need to find and cross off. Some examples you could try are:

   • someone who hates sprouts

   • a brown eyed male

   • someone who sings in a choir

   • a gemini

   • someone younger than 25

   • a person from a specific state or geographical location

   • (really the possibilities are endless)

   Whoever finds an attendee for each of the criteria first shouts bingo and wins. This is an excellent (and speedy way) to get people talking and learning about each other.

3. ONE WORD:
   This can be adapted to any situation and is a great on topic introduction to any conference. In small groups of up to five people ask everyone to think for a minute of one word that describes X (insert any topic). This will give a great variety of responses and insights which sparks spontaneous conversations as they question each other and discuss the meanings behind the chosen words. A few volunteers can then be asked to share with the wider group. The small groups can then delve deeper into follow up questions.

4. SCAVENGER HUNT:
   To encourage friendly competition, scavenger hunts are a great idea. Most people enjoy them and they involve putting people into teams and having them find preset clues to a main prize. If you want to use tech you can mix the hunt up a bit by using QR codes to scan for the clues and incentives at each stop. Working in teams in this way is beneficial for bonding and it is also an excellent team building exercise from the outset.

5. LETS MAKE A DEAL:
   Those old enough to remember this game show will remember at the end when the host would go out to the audience and ask them to hand him strange items in their purse. He might ask for a bolt or a can opener and the first person who could produce that item won the money. You can play a similar game with your audience. If your attendees don’t have bags with them, ask them to show you a picture of something on their phones.

6. SHARING EXPECTATIONS:
   Assign a scribe at the whiteboard and ask attendees to share their expectations or something they wish they would get out of your event.  This is not only a good ice breaker, you can get some important (and hilarious) information here so make sure you capture it before erasing it.

7. PAPER AIRPLANES:
   Give everyone a piece of paper, a pen, and a crash course in making a paper airplane. Before they fold their airplane, ask them to write a funny intro about themselves on the paper, fold it into a plane, and launch it when instructed. Next, tell everyone to pick up a plane (that’s not theirs) and take turns reading an intro. At the end of the intro, the person who wrote it should wave or claim their plane.

8. SECRET QUESTION:
   Hand a note to each person and ask them to write a question on the back. Then have them post it at the front of the room so the question does not show. Now make each person select one and give their answer.