Have you ever been in a meeting, workshop, or training session that just seemed to go on and on? Or your mind started to wander to a totally different place? Or you just felt like you could curl up and have a nap? Well, you are not alone. We all have a limited attention span and our minds do tend to wander. This is where energisers come in.
Energisers are short activities of 5-10 minutes that enable people to refocus and refresh to be able to continue with a meeting or workshop. And a coffee and toilet break does not count.
Our three favourite energisers are:
1. Time Travel. Ask the group this question “If you could travel through time, either forwards or backwards, where would you go and why?” To get people moving from their chair, have them share the answer with someone on the opposite side of the room or to speak to someone different utilise online break out rooms. This energiser changes the brains thought process leading to increased creativity, connection to something of interest to the person, and improved connections as the team learns more about the person.
2. Riddle Me This. This requires some pre-preparation unless you are a dad joke master. Compile a list of riddles or dad jokes for attendees to answer.
Our favorite's are:
a. David’s father has three sons, Snap, Crackle and _____? (David)
b. How many months have 28 days? (All of them)
c. What breaks when you say it? (Silence)
d. What gets bigger and bigger the more you take away from it? (A hole)
You get the idea. Although people are not moving about, it should lighten the space with some laughter and eye-rolling.
3. Would You Rather. This one also needs some pre-preparation but you can also wing it on the day. Compile a list of questions in which there are two answers to choose. Read out the questions and have the group go to a part of the room based on their answer, or if you are on line they can stand/sit or raise one hand/put both hands on their head.
Some questions to get you start can include:
a. Would you rather go to Italy or Bali?
b. Would you rather own a dog or cat?
c. Would you rather be a famous musician or famous author?
d. Would you rather live at the beach or in the forest?
This activity revitalises the group and provides insight into what a person would rather do leading to opportunities to connect.
If you would like more information on Team Building or to engage us to bring some energisers to your next conference or planning day, please get in touch.
