If you’ve landed here in search of something quick and easy to break the ice, without eating into your session time, you’re in the right place.
In this post, I’m sharing five of my favourite icebreakers, each of which can be run in less than five minutes.
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You don’t need a lot of time, or props, to get people talking, laughing, and connecting.
These five icebreakers are fast, fun, and simple to run, making them perfect for energising a group right at the start of your session.
This one is wonderfully simple and high-energy.
Invite one person to stand in front of the group and make a statement that’s true for them. For example:
Anyone in the group who can answer “Yes” to the question (in their head) steps forward and links arms with that person, maybe on their left-hand side.
If several people qualify, it’s the first person there who links up.
That second person now makes their own statement (eg “I love Indian food”) and the process continues, creating a growing human chain.
Eventually, the last person to join makes a statement that ideally connects back to the first participant.
It’s fast, it needs no props, and it’s always done in under five minutes.
For this icebreaking game, grab a standard deck of cards and spread some face-up on a table.
Without explaining why, ask participants to choose a card.
If they feel cautious, they might select a low-value card (eg, a three).
If they feel brave, they might grab a high-value card (eg, a nine, ten, or picture card).
Once everyone’s chosen, reveal the challenge: pair up randomly and share something about yourself for each number on the card.
For example, if I picked a three, I’d share three facts about myself, or if I picked a nine, I’d share nine.
It’s not about counting – it’s about sparking conversation and encouraging interaction.
A personal favourite that appears in many of my videos.
Simply demonstrate by sharing the story behind your own name—first or last.
For example, my surname “COLLARD” should actually be spelt “CALLARD” because my great-grandfather’s surname was misspelt on an official government form (an A was transposed as an O), and from that point on, it stuck!
Once you’ve shared, invite pairs or small groups to share their own stories.
No need to broadcast them to the whole group unless you want to – just the act of sharing will generate huge energy and connection.
Great for all groups, new or familiar with each other.
Arrange everyone in a circle and arm yourself with a stopwatch (your phone will do.)
Starting to your left, each person says their name in quick succession around the circle until it returns to you, then stop the watch.
Do it a couple of times and see if you can beat your own speed record.
You can also reverse direction and compare times.
It’s quick, a little competitive, and an excellent way to get people engaged.
Yes, that’s my name backwards – Mark Collard.
In small groups, ask participants to say their first and last names backwards.
It’s surprisingly tricky and often hilarious.
Then, for extra fun, invite each group to imagine where in the world that “backwards” name sounds like it could be from.
For example, “Kram Dralloc” might sound Scandinavian—maybe even Viking!
There are no wrong answers, no props needed, and guaranteed laughter – perfect for breaking the ice.
If you loved these icebreakers, here are some recent videos and articles I think you’ll also enjoy:
5 Quick Icebreakers for Facilitators with No Time to Prepare
Icebreakers don’t have to be long or complicated to make an impact.
In less than five minutes, you can shift the energy in the room, help people feel comfortable, and set the tone for collaboration.
The key is choosing activities that are quick to explain, easy to join (ie non-threatening,) and fun for everyone. If you’d like to learn more about what makes an experience effective as an icebreaker, click here.
If you’ve got a favourite speedy icebreaker of your own, share it in the comments so we can all expand our toolkits.
And remember – sometimes it’s the simplest activities that deliver the biggest results.
Original post August 2025, last updated September 2025.
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Just one more question:
These are fantastic ideas! Especially making connections and card talk, these are very creative and great to encourage sharing fun personal facts in a more relaxed setting. We also find in our team that splitting into smaller groups/pairs and playing a mildly competitive game, like trivia or quizzes, works well, and we choose a topic most people enjoy, like music.