Using these types of activities can have several important benefits for your Leadership icebreakers are games and activities to help employees build their leadership skills and get to know their teams better. The worse they draw, the more hilarious the outcome. You can lean towards the RACI matrix to provide the clarity you want. Change management exercises will allow you to anticipate future concerns, thereby reducing the nervous energy and the organizations resistance to change. Purpose: Reinforce the idea that relying on each other is a part of growth good for projects or teams with lots of dependencies. Download our pack of six change management templates to kick start your change process. Open a discussion on how teams were able to adapt to change. Who cares if they draw well or not? Define What Is Changing Organization Design Stakeholder Analysis system implementation, process re-design, manifesting a vision, etc.). Here is a list of 8 fun and engaging change management exercises to try before your next big change. 0000050235 00000 n This activity prevents any conflict or confusion that can arise in the team. (You see where this is going, right?). This has a ripple effect because when one person changes their mind, it influences the opinion of everybody else around them too! Change management activities can be implemented on all these key points. Here is the list of the thirteen best task management tools and detailed reviews to help you make an informed decision. Change management activities are designed to encourage team members to be more open and accepting of company transitions. Projects can be created by simply uploading a task list. Inventory management is a real issue. The switch places exercise is the simplest change management exercise; you can try this with your team members to provide a different perspective and gain more understanding of other team members viewpoints. Schedule the kick-off meeting, and make sure you ordered a set of Change Management Game cards. Have fun! This analysis ensures that participants dont directly jump to the solution part of the project before fully understanding the problem at hand. What are 4 things key to change management? A RACI matrix represents a set of activities mapped against theresponsible, accountable, consulted, and informedframework for stakeholders. If you think this way about project meetings, chances are others do, such as the team members youve called together to discuss a vital aspect of the project youre all working on. Employees may be used to long-standing traditions and systems, such as reporting to a certain person or documenting their work in a specific way. 0000019474 00000 n Because hey: you've already heard the worst ideas the group can come up with. This is because self-initiated personal change follows a top-down approach meaning that resistance will occur whenever someone has no choice but to undergo the transformation process. One way to overcome resistance is by putting more focus on culture. Group Size:This icebreaker can be used with groups of up to 24 participants. Person B rattles off 3 things that fit into that category as fast as they can. 0000004449 00000 n hbspt.forms.create({region:"na1",portalId:"6111124",formId:"0f7c30a4-c87e-4796-88b4-83ed801169ee",onFormSubmit:function(a){var e=a.find('input[name="email"]').val();setTimeout(function(){window.location.href="https://www.projectmanager.com/freetrial?email="+encodeURIComponent(e)},500)}}); Learn more about ProjectManager and how it can improve your business, Discover app combinations that improve your productivity, Set milestones, connect dependencies and track progress, Collect and view real-time data on your work for key insights, Manage portfolios, align objectives and get high-level overviews, Generate in-depth, easy-to-read reports to share progress, Prioritize and execute your work with transparency and agility, Organize and manage your tasks to boost team productivity, Share files, add comments, and work together in real-time, Create automated workflows and improve productivity, For small-to-medium teams that need to manage robust projects, For medium-to-large teams that need to optimize portfolios, For organizations that need customized security and priority support, Reduce lead time, ensure quality and perfect your process, Create schedules, manage crews and deliver under budget, Streamline IT processes and scale up with ease, Plan projects, track progress and manage resources, Build comprehensive project plans and organize tasks, Manage backlogs, create workflows and execute sprints, Schedule and assign work to bring your project in on time, Assign resources, balance workload and move forward, Manage your teams, collaborate and track progress, Take control of your work from start to finish, Track your teams time, whether theyre on-site or remote, Learn why 35,000+ users choose our software, Join us in transforming how work gets done, Watch video tutorials for ProjectManagers features, Read the industry-leading blog on work management, Get key insights on major topics in project management, Access documentation on using ProjectManager, Accelerate delivery on your next IT project, Keep track of all the phases of your build, Kickoff your next launch with a premade plan, Plan your sprints with out-of-the-box workflows, Make your next marketing campaign a success, Sync work across all your devices and access it on the go, The world's best teams use ProjectManager, Staff Meeting Ideas: 7 Creative Tactics That Your Team Will Love. Purpose: Focus on risk identification and mitigation. You might not be a comedian, but its harder than you think not to laugh. This is an excellent approach to demonstrate both openness and the need for improvement. Many businesses struggle to execute change successfully because they tend to overload their staff with work and expect near-instant results. There is an innate fear of changing something that has been instilled in their routine for so long, which can make it very difficult to maintain and achieve success with new habits. This allows them to see the importance of being flexible and agile throughout the change management process. Notes:Avoid the temptation to brief this exercise in any way. This game forces the participants to focus on their team building, communication, and problem-solving skills. Inevitably, the final drawing is a hoot. If youre trying to bond an organization with many disparate departments or remote teams that mostly interact by email or text, get them all together and direct them to discuss among themselves what they have in common. Now the fun begins. Break the project down into stages and walk your staff through each one to ensure that adaptations are taking place as planned to support the next step of change. Funny Icebreaker Questions. Check out more morning meeting ideas. If my pet could talk, it would say________________. Read More Terrible Presents When you interact with another person you are normally looking to influence them around to your way of thinking in some way. 0000004605 00000 n Place an object in the center of the circle. 1. Everyone loves candy. These exercises and activities will boost your employees morale and help them see eye-to-eye on the companys vision. Problem-solving is a major element of management and is necessary for students. 0000308439 00000 n Make sure you have a safe place to run this exercise. While change might affect employees trust in management, any existing trust-related issues will be amplified. Employees fear being deprived of relationships with co-workers and the activities they participate in at work each day as well as losing their jobs. 1) Have everyone on your team, or maximum of 12 people, write one letter on a piece of paper. Repeat for two or more rounds. The Quick Change activity is a fun and engaging ice breaker that can provide powerful lessons about change management. In post-training surveys, frequently learners would cite the Quick Change activity as a surprisingly effective way to get everyone on the same page. I actually learned something from the ice breaker! Exorcise the Demons (10 mins) Best for: Topic exploration How: Best for groups of three or more, this is one of the most popular Shuffle the team members and ask them to prepare a new presentation by incorporating the feedback of their new members. Keep an open mind when thinking about what constitutes the common threads. Notice how the point of the exercise wasnotto figure out which fact goes with which person? This will give them an opportunity to serve as positive role models for their peers while also influencing them with their own thoughts about new ideas youre introducing into the workplace environment. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 30 minutes for completion. Similarly, when you allow a select few to make decisions that impact a larger group of stakeholders, you will often face resistance. Spencer Johnson has rightly said in Who Moved My Cheese?, what you are afraid of is never as bad as what you imagine. Then put all the papers face down in the middle of the table and go through them, trying to figure out who belongs to which description. Theres one rule, the marshmallow must be on top. A small prize for the winning team would be nice, though not essential. Just let your brains relax so your neurons can fire quickly. Interestingly, intelligence has little to do with resistance. You can have some fun figuring out what the questions are. 0000006355 00000 n Others may see one change as an indication of more possible changes coming down the line which would pose a threat to their current situation. It happens gradually through casual banter at our desks or before meetings, pick-up ball games at lunch, team dinners, etc. What song would play when they walk into a scene? Would recommend that you give it a try. This ice breaker quickly melts the hard exterior of unfamiliarity and builds partnership. This activity makes your team ready to adopt change by allowing them to explore the new procedure; the why and how of the change management process. This icebreaker game will make your team members laugh and it works for in-person or virtual meetings. and then has to get the others to guess the word or phrase by acting it out, without speaking. Notes:Small prizes for the winners would be a nice touch. After a few minutes, step back and take 'em all in (we dare you not to bust up laughing!). Fill in all the cells by assigning each with responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed. Learn more about driving digital adoption for your organization. Remember to take time to prepare properly so there will be no surprises, and more importantly, keep an open mind when considering new ideas or initiatives that may not seem relevant at first glance! Aims: To welcome the participants. To introduce the facilitator(s) and participants to each other. To introduce the facilities. To agree the course objectives and timetable. Change management is based on one simple fact: it takes time. Keep in mind: Any effort to change things that your coworkers see as posing a danger to their existing status will be met with resistance. As an employee, youre comfortable with the existing software and dont necessarily see the need for a new one. Spot the Difference Spot the Difference challenges players to use observational skills. They can plan projects, schedule work and collaborate on tasks. Encourage your companys executives to lead by example, and everyone else will follow. trailer <<2ED076E2B40A11E2BBB4001B639A1311>]>> startxref 0 %%EOF 80 0 obj<>stream Looking for words to have the teams act out? Sometimes people dont trust that changes are worth what is being given up or whether a manager knows what they are doing; this can lead them into resisting any new changes that will inevitably occur. Put the cards on the wall, randomly. WebChange Management Word Search Time: In total we estimate this exercise will take 20 minutes. For this icebreaker activity, ask the team to imagine theyre in a movie. Not only is there evidence that standup meetings are more efficient, but youre likely to have a faster and more productive meeting because people will get tired of standing around. You'll Need: Blank sheets of A4 paper. Pens/pencils with which to draw. It builds skills such as creativity, negotiation and decision making, as well as communication and time management. As you probably realize, its very important for managers to directly and fully address resistance when implementing changes within an organization. What is one thing you're grateful for today? Theyre more inclined to dismiss a change as a new tedious process or a power play by the management if they dont know why its needed or how it could increase their productivity. Purpose: Remembering what it feels like to be on the customer side of a bad product or service puts us in a compassionate frame of mind before discussing trade-offs or designing a new user experience. It can be run as a stand-alone exercise on brainstorming, or as part of a session looking to develop the continuous improvement skills of a team. Games that help people toget to know each other and to relax are called icebreakers. Change Game 2: Change Your Seat Duration: 5 to 15 minutes (depending on debrief) Number of participants: unlimited Materials required: none Description/Process: Depending on how big your meeting room is, this might be an absurd assignment, but that just makes it a better ice breaker. 0000004581 00000 n The Alien at 14-Day Free Trial, with an extra 30-Day Money Back Guarantee! WebThe Quick Change activity is a fun and engaging ice breaker that can provide powerful lessons about change management. Youve undoubtedly played this as a kid or maybe at a party. Heres how it works. Lets take the installation of new software in an organization as an example. Now, savvy leaders are realizing a team's strength comes from trust and belonging. The more information your employees have on these topics, the less likely they are to resist any changes or become complacent in their work environment. The catch is that fewer shared skills and experiences means it takes longer to build trust between teammates. Examples include two peas in a A surprise scavenger hunt is a great icebreaker game to get everybody to know each other and collaborate. I love the Trainers' Library wordsearches! In this age of cross-functional agile teams, team membership changes depending on the project, with members filling a variety of job roles. Have them create a chatroom where they can discuss the meeting to come. Once the scavenger hunt is finished, everybody can have a productive meeting. Dont worry about them, go and train a few natural leaders first. 0000270951 00000 n However, it can be easily adapted and used not just to review a year, but, for example, a challenging experience or significant change that participants have been through. For example, employee resistance to a companys new initiatives may force executives and managers to pick their battles wisely. Write an upcoming change that you want to manage on a whiteboard. 0000003635 00000 n In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 20 minutes for completion. The Fishbone Analysis is an issue analysis technique; you can use it for identifying the scope of all concerns in the change management process. Identify all the project stakeholders and list them horizontally on the top. You'll Need: A printed copy of the large (A3) Trainer version of the Word Search grid provided, affixed to a flipchart. Using the popular show as a starting point, ask the group to come up with things they played in childhood. They are scared that they will not have enough time to learn the new skills required of them, which makes them feel insecure. When they're done, the entire group give a clap and yells "Three things!". Changing Behaviours - Responding to Change, Course Introduction - A Basic Introduction to Training Events. Trust me, even managers hate it. Fuel your product's growth by creating power users. This change management exercise encourages your team members to leave their comfort zones and explore a new perspective. B4A+C[5vV$2dI%ADfBf ]]6)iS#K.\, Im not crying! But theres nothing to be ashamed of. A lot of employees dont like change because they are afraid. WebEmployee engagement Understand your employees via powerful engagement, onboarding, exit & pulse survey tools. They should be collaborative. Refer to the RACI matrix below for a better understanding of the exercise: Successful change implementation depends on whether or not your team can see the bigger picture. 0000141366 00000 n Have the goal for the group be listing 10 things they share. If not handled properly, any changes to the org chart may cause dissatisfaction and, in the worst-case scenario, a staff exodus. Your team, or whoever you've assembled for a meeting or offsite. According to the open-systems approach theory of organizational behavior, an organizations environment has an influence on it because it exchanges information, energy, or resources. Employees are more likely to resist change if there has already been a lack of trust between the management and employees. Stand up, mingle, and find cards that align to a theme or are of a type. When everyone on the team opens up about that tearjerker that hit them in the heart, whether its Bambi or The Shawshank Redemption, it will accelerate team bonding. A review has not been posted for this item. Its great for team bonding because it requires people to work together to build a structure using 20 spaghetti sticks, 1 yard of tape, 1 yard of string and a marshmallow in 18 minutes. CP|!/furqb#!G.B.\\A xx. By continuously changing places, people realize that change is a continuous process. That's on purpose. Drop a question or comment on the Atlassian Community site. Show the person at the back of the line a word to act out silently, but don't have them do so just yet. You'll Need: One set of Changing Behaviours Cards for each participant (provided). I had to amend the debrief questions quite a bit at the end but it was a useful energiser activity that refocuses on the importance of resilience. Plus, with unlimited file storage, they can upload as many documents and images as they need to get the work done. These steps build ownership in the solution throughout the organization. Here are a few popular corporate icebreakers that your team is likely to enjoy: M&M game. Members proactively provide their experience and insights to make the group moreeffective. Communicating a change to an employee can be difficult. Aims: To identify common barriers to change. Once theyre ready, each team member will throw his paper airplane to the other side of the room. You'll Need: A bouncy rubber ball for each participant. Plenty of space to run the exercise. Aims: To explore the effects and reactions to change when communication is limited. Notes:This can be a particularly useful exercise for anyone facing potentially difficult change. Everyone picks one and then theyre referred to by that name throughout the meeting. If you're struggling with team cohesiveness, or shared understanding on yourHealth Monitor, running this play might help. Management should employ emotional intelligence to assist in resolving issues and ensure a smooth transition for all the parties involved. Change is inevitable, but the natural reaction to it can be very uncomfortable. 0000027263 00000 n 0000005995 00000 n 0000002408 00000 n In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 25 minutes for completion. Time:This exercise will take about 20 minutes to complete. UserGuiding 2023 - All rights reserved. What is resistance to change and why does it occur? Trust me, you dont want to do that. When youre a child, playing an icebreaker game in the mud with a stranger ends with you both best friends. It could be books, music, food, etc. While they are still in the second position, ask them how this small change made them feel. Notes:You will need to have pre-prepared flipcharts with the statements listed as per the handout. Preparing your in-person or virtual meetings and adding icebreaker games its a process, of course, so lets start at the beginning. Another approach could be to start a Change project. One____________is better than ten________________. WebChange Management Icebreakers and Energizers Short Getting To Know You Team Building Activities Play with the concept of change in fun, quick segments. One constant is that everything changes. 0000051403 00000 n Im pretty sure that you perfectly understand that communication is crucial, but its even more important when youre trying to implement a major initiative like this one! During transitional periods, hidden employee issues will arise, so make sure you have mediation systems in place. Time:This exercise will take about 10 minutes to run. Others could be worried about losing important workplace relationships or having to report to a new supervisor. Celebrate even the oddest contributions and set an anything-goes tone before diving into more cerebral, strategic activities. Once the ice is broken and the team is formed, the real work begins. Each person states three facts, two truths and one lie. Aims: To get participants in the right mindset for thinking creatively or embracing new ideas. So, break the group up into threes and have them get drawings as you set up the meeting. They are also afraid of looking incompetent in front of their coworkers due to a lack of time to adapt. You can do this yourself, which gives the team a chance to further bond as they work together to help you out. Objective of the Cross Your Arms exercise: The main objective of this activity is to steerchange communicationand highlight that change can be uncomfortable and tricky at first. Admit it! And every time we had to leave there was this unpleasant feeling. Have each group read their cards and share the theme they identified. Whenever you are planning to implement a new change, multiple driving and restraining forces will act simultaneously. The Ups and Downs of Change 5. It was a challenge for me, delivering the session, not to explain why I was asking the group to do so much but the effect it had following was worth the exercise. Change management exercises are games or simulations that motivate employees to accept change and actively engage with the change process. There istrustandrespectacross the group. Repeat steps 4-6 until everyone in the line has seen the pantomime. WebChange Management is an iterative process that must be managed throughout the life of the project. You can use variations of this exercise by introducing role-play scenarios or swapping the initial participants with observers. The change management team must anticipate resistance from those who will be affected by the change, and then build a strategic transition plan for those who will be leaving or taking up new positions. Not only is this interesting, but it is a team bonding activity that provides an avenue for people to know each other in a more intimate way. Your employees take their cue from the executive team, and if they dont follow the change management strategy, its very likely that your organizations behavior will change as well.