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misslynn
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« on: June 14, 2006, 10:27:23 pm » |
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I got approval to have a meeting for the administrative assistants in my area, I'm very excited about it! Some of the girls haven't even met before, although they've maybe talked on the phone a couple times, so I'm hoping for a good day of learning and bonding.
I'm looking for suggestions for an icebreaker, something with a good "getting to know each other" tie-in. Any other tips people may have for the day would be appreciated, we don't get together very often so I want to make them feel as special as they are. I'm thinking of putting together goodie bags for them and I've got lunch lined up at a local hotel (I have a good contact there & they are paying for lunch!).
Also, I'm going to bestow upon them a new title - "Psychic Detective Administrative Magician" (gotta have a little fun!)
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Jackie G
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« Reply #1 on: June 16, 2006, 04:09:42 pm » |
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Write names of well known characters - Disney, Shakespeare, celebrities - whatever - on post it notes. Stick a note on everyone's forehead (the individual is not allowed to see their own) They then have to establish who they are by asking a series of questions with the others - the answers have to be YES / NO only!!! Hopefully people can whittle down who they are - obviously everyone's final question should be Am I XX? and hopefully a YES answer!!! Jackie, Peer Moderator www.iqps.org |
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adminbydesign
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« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2006, 09:18:27 pm » |
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That's a great game, Jackie! We did that with a bunch of project managers from all over the US. The only problem was that some of the names (put together by our Chairman of the Board, of all people) were a bit obscure for some of these folks (yes, everyone should know who Marie Antoinette was, but some people slept through world history in school, I guess). Someone did not know who Pocahontas was and another did not have a clue about Ramses II. The person who won, who guessed his "identity" the quickest, was . . . . ELVIS!
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Jackie G
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« Reply #3 on: June 21, 2006, 02:49:40 pm » |
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Yes, if you do this, you need to make sure it's names that most people will know - for instance when The Weakest Link US version was shown over here in the UK, I found some of the general knowledge questions very hard - because they were things Americans would know, but we wouldn't, and I guess vice versa too. Jackie, Peer Moderator www.iqps.org |
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dettu
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« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2006, 03:52:44 pm » |
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Definitely, Jackie--I've never felt as ignorant as I did the night I watched Mastermind while I was on holiday in England! I knew NOTHING!
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misslynn
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« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2006, 02:24:26 am » |
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Thanks for the suggetions!
The training manager in my office had a great idea I think I'm going to use, thought I'd share. I'll have a bowl of different colored skittles (or something like that). Everyone picks a couple skittles and then we go around the room and, based on the colors of the skittles they chose, they answer some sort of question about themself. For example, green might be 'What's your favorite movie?", purple might be "What was your first job?" and things like that. I just need to build out the questions.
I've got a couple other tricks and surprises in store for them, I'll let you know how it goes (still have 2 weeks to plan!).
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trulyjulie
Newbie
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« Reply #6 on: June 23, 2006, 07:06:23 pm » |
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Not to sound like a wet blanket or anything, but some of your icebreakers sound kind of juvenile to me. I'm assuming some of the "girls" are over 30??? I would much rather skip the fun and games and have a productive meeting. Instead of playing with Post-Its and Skittles, how about having each admin introduce herself, talk about her job, whom she supports, how long she's been with the company, what her biggest on-the-job frustration is. Maybe this would result in some genuine bonding, as opposed to the contrived kind.
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misslynn
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« Reply #7 on: June 23, 2006, 08:41:10 pm » |
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Thank you for your input. For this particular meeting, I would like to have some focus be on having fun. We are frequently facilitating very serious meetings, I think a little silliness can promote bonding amongst a group of girls.
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dettu
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« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2006, 08:43:02 pm » |
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Julie, you'd be surprised at how much some people enjoy "juvenile" activities. I never do, but I play along for the sake of others--and invariably everyone else has a blast. So when I have to plan events like these, I include activities that seem too silly for my taste, and people like them.
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spitfire78
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« Reply #9 on: June 23, 2006, 09:35:52 pm » |
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Julie - I'm with you! I absolutely detest these types of things. I like to have fun as much as the next person, but to me this is just a waste of time at a meeting when I could be doing something productive! I know some people do think they're a wonderful thing, but I always think about the person who is shy and doesn't like to be "put on display" or the person who just wants to get in, get the job done, and get out.
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countrigal
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The ice-breaker that was used at my training I found to be a good one. Things that were obviously a pair (socks and shoes, cream and sugar, mashed potatos and gravy, Mickey and Minnie) were written on a card, 1 per card (ie: card for socks, card for sugar) and these were passed out randomly to everyone. Then when they turned us loose, we mingled looking for our match. Once we found that person, we introduced ourselves, gave a bit of history (work and personal) and basically "met" each other. Once everyone had a few minutes to do this, we then found our seats and by pairs went up front and introduced our "partner" and shared what we had learned about them. This was a great ice-breaker, but it also allowed everyone to get to know who everyone was and what experience we have and it didn't take that much longer than any other avenue, to include just introducing ourselves.
CountriGal
Peer Moderator
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Jackie G
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For those who hate such things, you need to time limit whatever you do - 5-10 minutes, 15 absolute max - so that nobody is thinking they could be better using their time. Jackie, Peer Moderator www.iqps.org |
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elkiedee
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The icebreaker suggested by Jackie sounds ok, and I'm a very very shy person. But stick to one icebreaker and then schedule the real content. Are there changes planned in your organsiation? Training needs, career development, what matters most to those involved. Maybe send out an email to those this is organised for to try and get some tips on what matters most to them, what they'd like to discuss? or is it part of a wider scheme - our admin support group was linked to restructure plans and eventually folded. Luci
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misslynn
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The meeting is on Tuesday, so I think I've got the day set now. Here's my agenda:
10am Welcome and ice-breaker
10:30am Work exercise
12pm Go out to lunch
1:30pm Wrap-up the day, I have a special surprise for them
3pm Meeting ends
Just in case any of them read this, I don't want to give away any of the secrets. I have a great exercise planned for some good sharing and learning. I have goodie bags for each of them and a special surprise at the end. I'm really excited about it!
No, there is no other agenda or scheme to this meeting, no restructuring planned or anything like that. It's just a time to bring them together to meet each other, learn from each other and grow as a team.
I'll let everyone know how it goes afterwards and then I can share some of the secret surprises I have planned.
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