Someone Just Lost their Cool in Your Meeting. Now What?
The win: A fast, no-pressure way to kick off your first September meeting that gets your team feeling connected again. The 6-Word Challenge Remember writing about ‘what you did on summer vacation’ every September during back-to-school? This is the grown-up version, and it works whether your team spent August on the beach, in the office, […]
The 4 Words That Stop a Tug-of-War Conversation Before It Starts
The win: One simple question that helps your team see that changing their minds is a strength, making it easier to stay curious, have better conversations, and get unstuck in arguments. Both Sides Now Organizational psychologist Adam Grant has built a habit of asking people, “What have you rethought lately?” It’s his way of tapping […]
You Can’t Thrive at Work if You Never Actually Leave
The win: A fun way to build connection before your next meeting with zero prep needed. Laughs guaranteed. First Job, Worst Job This icebreaker takes about 10 minutes, works for any size of team, and can be done in person or virtually. How it works: Step 1: First Job Split into groups of 3-5. Each […]
Are You Playing Checkers or Chess with Your Team?
The win: A fast, funny icebreaker that brings out some friendly competition and gets your team laughing before you get down to business. Virtual Scattergories This one works just as well virtually as it does in person, and it never gets old. If your team has 5 or fewer people, play individually. If you have […]
The One Thing Leaders Forget to Talk About During Change
The win: When teams feel more connected, better work can happen. Want a fast way to read the room before you dive into the agenda? Try the Mood Meter. In just a few minutes, it helps people name how they are arriving and gives leaders a better sense of what the room may need. How […]
What AI can’t replace in leadership
(1 min read; 5 min team activity) The win: because icebreakers help teams feel more connected, better work can happen. This month’s featured icebreaker is Best Day / Worst Day, an activity we use every month here at Leaders for Leaders. While it can work well as a one-off icebreaker, we find it is very […]
It doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong—it means you’re doing leadership
(1 min read; 5 min team activity) The win: because icebreakers help teams feel more connected, which helps better work get done. This month’s featured icebreaker is The Cell Phone Challenge and is great for kicking off a meeting, reconnecting after a busy week, or anytime you want something quick and fun for your team […]