The Introvert's Guide to Icebreaker Prevention
I have found that dampening the enthusiasm of those extroverted trainers
requires more than just a reticent spirit and dour look. When they
suggest to the group that an icebreaker is in order, take the bull by the
horns and ask them if it is possible to use one of your own icebreakers
instead. The inexperienced trainer will easily fall for this ruse,
especially if you have prompted several classmates to smile and nod in an
extroverted fashion.
Once they have given you the reins, stand up and announce that everyone
needs to pair up in groups of two. After the five minutes of shuffling
that usually ensues, announce that each team must now decide on a leader.
Now that's a job for a pair of introverts!!
After some minutes, or after some leaders are actually selected, announce
that everyone must get a sheet of paper and something to write with.
Again, this is usually good for a minute or two of fumbling. Then write
the word "empowerment" carefully inside a large grid that you take five
minutes to draw on a chalkboard and tell the group that their icebreaker
is to think of as many other stupid buzzwords as they can in five minutes.
This will kill another five minutes, after which the poor trainer will be
so far behind schedule that further icebreakers are unlikely. Since
trainers will compulsively attempt to use the results of an icebreaker to
make some relevant point about the lesson, the poor trainer will then
attempt to make sense out of all this. Just nod your head and say,
"there, there...it isn't so bad is it?"
--Lon Badgett lonbadgett@aol.com "I once considered bringing an ice block and a sharp pick to a training session in hopes that the unavoidable icebreaker would finally produce something useful." Emil Gobersneke, from The Gullible American
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>