

In planning a team retreat, customer appreciation dinner, educational session, or any other event, there are many logistical and practical details to work out, such as the place, agenda, food, etc.
To help participants feel warm and comfortable, try using icebreaker activities. Using these comes with some risk. Done wrong they can make the event MORE awkward and create the feeling of insincerity. But by doing some deliberate thinking and planning in advance, you can help increase the likelihood that people will rate your event as a worthwhile experience.
Now that you have consciously considered who is coming and where you want to take them, you can select the right ice breaker activities or games.
After selecting the activities, enlist the help of a few other people working the event, and go through the process of informing, starting, and closing the activity. By playing this out, you can work out all the important details. Have contingency plans to be ready for changes in timing, attendance, etc.
After the event, ask for feedback from participants. Make notes on what worked well and what did not.
Jeanne uses her 20 years of marketing know-how to help small business owners reach their goals. Before becoming an entrepreneur, she held a variety of marketing positions with DuPont and General Electric. Jeanne regularly hosts online webinars and workshops in both English and Spanish.
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