How to Host a Successful Virtual Event

Source: https://www.evolutionculture.co.uk/making-learning-fun/

An icebreaker is an activity or game designed to welcome attendees and warm up the conversation among participants in a meeting, training class, team building session, or other activity. Any event that requires people to comfortably interact with each other and a facilitator is an opportunity to use an icebreaker. Icebreakers play a significant role in events in which communication and participant comfort level are important factors. They help to ensure that all attendees enjoy their interaction and they are fully engaged participants when you want them to own the outcomes of the session. An icebreaker can get people talking, generate laughter, and help participants start with an initial level of comfort. 

 As the name suggests, these sections are designed to “break the ice” in any meeting. But what is the ice? Over 70% of persons that use icebreakers don’t understand what we mean by “ice”. If you are working with people from different background, outlooks or cultures, the “ice” may come from their individual perception. If these people don’t speak the same language, that can be the “ice”. In case of like-minded people the “ice” can be because they have not met, or don’t relate.

• boost productivity

• bring fun and laughter to the process and relax the participants

• get the attention and involve all people quickly

• break down barriers that exist between people

• help clear people’s minds through a change in activity

• open the lines of communications in a relaxed manner

• revitalise any flagging energy and stimulate creativity and foster new ideas

• consolidate learning

• mental and psychological upgrade

• relate better and share ideas

Some examples for Ice breaker games. 

• Diversity bingo

After each player gets a bingo card, they mingle around introducing themselves and finding other participants who can sign their cards indicating that if a statement applies to him/her. To avoid having people only talk to one or two people and filling up their card, limit the signatures they can give to 1 or 2 per card. When everyone has reached bingo or is super close, you can share something you’ve learned about each other, yourself and the experience of this ice breaker activity.

•   One word exercise

Sometimes, the seemingly most simple icebreaker will help you more than an elaborately developed and painstakingly prepared complicated icebreaker. What is the one word you would use to describe yourself or the project you are in. Everyone writes down or says a word that comes to their mind in relation to it. It’s more than a silly way to start the meeting; it helps everyone get to know one another a bit better.

• Find ten things in common

It’s always successful, laughter-generating ice breaker. Divide the participants into groups of four or five people who don’t know each other. Tell the groups to find the ten things that they have in common with the other people at their table. Groups take no more than ten or fifteen minutes to do the exercise. Also, tell the groups that one person must take notes and be ready to read the group's list of ten commonalities to the whole group upon completion of the assignment.

• Speed dating icebreaker

It’s a good icebreaker that will warm up the group with action and movement. It will allow the participants to have a succession of very rapid conversations in a short time with as many people as possible. Attendees are paired with each person attending the session for two minutes. At the end of the two minutes, the people move to their next partner.

Sources:

https://www.creativebloq.com/advice/virtual-event-tips
https://www.socialtables.com/blog/event-planning/virtual-event-planning/
https://blog.bizzabo.com/virtual-event-ideas
https://medium.com/@marenhigbee/whats-the-difference-between-a-virtual-event-and-a-webinar-mighty-media-studios-a6621d7d8e68
https://visme.co/blog/virtual-event/
https://blog.hootsuite.com/virtual-events/
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-is-an-ice-breaker-1918156
https://www.eteambuilding.org/importance-of-icebreakers/
https://www.evolutionculture.co.uk/making-learning-fun/