What are you bringing to the meeting? - Ice Breaker Game
🎯 Quick Summary
Participants briefly share their current energy, distractions, and state of mind to build empathy and help everyone transition to being fully present.
✅ Why This Ice Breaker Game Works
- •This ice breaker has been used by 1,384 teams worldwide
- •Rated 4.9/5.0 by 75 facilitators who used this icebreaker game
- •Perfect ice breaker for: Team Building, Deep Talk
📝 How to Play What are you bringing to the meeting? Ice Breaker (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Setup & Framing
2 min💬 Say This:
"Before we dive into our agenda, let's take a few minutes to check in. We all arrive here with different things on our minds—maybe you're still waking up, or dealing with something at home, or eager to connect after being isolated. I'd like us to go around and briefly share: What are you bringing into this meeting? How's your energy? What's on your mind? This isn't about revealing secrets or diving deep—just a quick acknowledgment of where you're at. You can always pass, but I encourage sharing at least one thing."
📋 What to Do:
- 1.Arrange seating so everyone can see each other (circle or U-shape)
- 2.Explain the purpose: to understand what others are dealing with and help everyone be more present
- 3.Set expectations: brief shares (30-60 seconds each), option to pass, no judgment or advice-giving
- 4.Clarify this is not therapy or problem-solving—just acknowledgment
- 5.Give everyone 20-30 seconds to silently check in with themselves first
💡 Pro Tips:
- •Model vulnerability by going first as the facilitator
- •Emphasize confidentiality: what's shared here stays here
- •Make it clear passing is okay—some people need time to warm up
- •Set the tone with your own authenticity
Step 2: Main Activity - Sharing
6 min💬 Say This:
"I'll start. [Share your own check-in]. Now, who would like to go next? Or should we go around the circle?"
📋 What to Do:
- 1.Go around the circle or accept volunteers
- 2.Each person shares briefly: energy level, what they've been dealing with, what's on their mind unrelated to this meeting
- 3.Examples: 'I slept late and I'm just waking up now,' 'I've been dealing with my child being sick,' 'I'm packing for a trip and my head is full of details,' 'I'm eager to catch up—I've been isolated with my computer'
- 4.Thank each person warmly after they share
- 5.No cross-talk, advice-giving, or problem-solving during the round
- 6.If someone passes, that's okay—continue to the next person
💡 Pro Tips:
- •Keep a steady pace—this shouldn't take more than 30-60 seconds per person
- •If someone goes too long, gently redirect: 'Thank you for sharing. Let's hear from others too.'
- •Listen actively and nod to show you're receiving what they're saying
- •Note patterns or themes you might reference later
Step 3: Closing & Transition
2 min💬 Say This:
"Thank you all for sharing so openly. I appreciate your honesty and trust. Now that we've acknowledged what we're each bringing, I invite you to mentally set those things aside for the next [X] hours so we can be fully present together. If you need support from the team on anything you shared, please feel free to talk with someone during a break or after we're done. Let's now turn our attention to [the agenda/task at hand]."
📋 What to Do:
- 1.Express gratitude for the vulnerability and sharing
- 2.Acknowledge any common themes (e.g., 'Several of us are dealing with low energy today—let's be compassionate with each other')
- 3.Explicitly invite people to 'set aside' their outside concerns for now
- 4.Offer that team members can talk further later if needed
- 5.Transition clearly into the main content of the meeting
💡 Pro Tips:
- •This ritual helps create psychological safety for the rest of the session
- •At the end of the meeting, consider asking: 'Was this check-in helpful? Should we do it at future meetings?'
- •For recurring teams, this can become a regular practice that builds trust over time
⚠️ Common Questions (Avoid Problems)
Q: What if someone shares something really heavy or emotional?
A: Thank them for sharing, acknowledge it briefly ('That sounds really challenging'), but don't try to solve it in the moment. Remind the group: 'This is about acknowledging, not fixing.' After the meeting, check in with that person privately to offer support or connect them with resources if needed.
Q: What if someone passes or doesn't want to share?
A: Always honor that choice without making them feel bad. Say, 'No problem, thank you,' and move on. Some people need more time to build trust. They can observe this round and might feel comfortable sharing in future meetings. Never pressure anyone to participate.
Q: How do I debrief this activity at the end of the meeting?
A: Before closing, ask: 'Remember our check-in at the start? Was that helpful for you? Did it help you be more present or understand each other better? Would you like to continue this practice at future meetings?' This gives the team ownership over whether to make it a regular ritual.
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