There are plenty of great resources online if you are looking for FREE training games and activities ideas that you can download and re-use.
1. Free 54-Page eBook with 25 Corporate Training Activities
Let’s get started by firstly reminding you of the completely free eBook you can download from us here at Symonds Training.
Designed by our CEO Dr Valeria Lo Iacono, this eBook is a great resource to draw on if you need an activity such as an ice-breaker for training employees or corporate staff.
Just use the form below and you will receive a link to instantly download the eBook.
2. Symonds Training
We are Symonds Training and our Free Ice breakers are not a bad place to start if you are looking for ideas for games and activities that you can use as you wish, in your own training sessions.
You can find our FREE Ice Breakers here.
3. Skills Converged
Skills Converged has a decent list of free team-building games that you can download here.
Depending on the type of group you are training, you might, for example, want to try an activity such as the ‘Keep your feet on the sheet’ team-building game.
This is a very similar game to our ‘Turn the Sheet’ team building game whereby teams stand on a cotton sheet and then gradually fold it several times, without any member of the team stepping off of it.
4. Trainer Bubble
UK-based Trainer Bubble (or Trainer’s Bubble as I call it) also has a good selection of downloadable free training games (view here).
Their ‘Millionaire‘ game is a classic team-building activity in that it gets participants engaged in conversation and based around a topic we all love to imagine: Winning the lottery!
If you find the idea of winning the lottery (or Lotto in the USA and other countries) then the Symonds Training ‘Lottery Win Game‘ is also one we recommend for team building.
The basis of this particular team-building game is to, in essence, evaluate how people would spend their winnings, and then, as the trainer, to list the answers into logical groups, to ascertain what the main motivations are that the group would have for winning the money.
If you are looking for an ice breaker activity that tends to really get participants engaged and in a good mood, then the ‘Follower and Avoider Game’ is one of our favorites.
Attempting to follow one person around the room whilst trying to avoid the person following you, always leads to great laughter and fun. Some of the very best ice breakers are the simplest to organize and run.
5. Business Balls
Business Balls also have some interesting free training games that you can view and use.
One thing I especially like about their team building or as ice breakers is the information they give in their section on the ‘Risks and dangers of socially irresponsible events and activities’.
In this day and age, very careful attention does need to be given to cultural sensitivities.
In this respect, as Business Balls explain, you need to pay attention to things such as avoiding the need for anyone to be put in a position where they could be embarrassed in front of colleagues.
Likewise, care and attention should be paid to participants with various cultural backgrounds.
If you are interested in intercultural communications skills training materials, by the way, then you will find more information here on diversity, inclusion and equality training packages for trainers.
6. Oak Innovation
Oak Innovation is an Irish company that is also involved in the training sector and they have some good suggestions on their free ice breakers page.
I like their ice breakers page particularly because they write about exactly why you should use ice breakers and they give advice on how to best use these types of activities.
Their explanation of the rationale surrounding icebreakers resonates with me.
Oak Innovation makes the vital point that you should always ensure that “the icebreaker chosen reflects the rationale and goals of the training event”.
I cannot emphasize enough that any free energizer activities of training games you do include in the training you offer, must tie in with the topic and goals of the teaching.
This may seem obvious to say but I very often see training used without proper thought regards how they integrate into the topic being taught.
>> This is an issue that I talk about in the Train the Trainer Course that I offer that you can study online.
7. Training Course Materials.Com
Trainingcoursematerials.com has a bunch of free training games on their site.
They have some interesting communication skills activities including the ‘Name Game. This is a variation of the ‘Who Am I’ game that can be a great free training game for those of you teaching team building.
8. Trainers Library
Trainers Library is slightly less forthcoming on their site in providing freebies and free resources for trainers.
You can though complete their free trainer samples form to receive a batch of materials including their ‘Witch of Glum’ stereotypes trap listening exercise.
If you have an interest, by the way, in materials related to stereotypes, then, although not free, you might be interested in our Unconscious Bias training here on Symonds Training.
9. Business Training Works
Business Training Works provide 15 great free ice breakers and these can be used in meetings, corporate training, and any training you offer as an HR department or freelance trainer.
One of the best icebreakers that they offer in my view is the ‘Magic Genie’ activity.
In essence, this game involves splitting people into small groups and imagining that you have been granted the chance to make 3 changes in your workplace.
At the end of a discussion in small groups, you can then collate the ideas on a flipchart or board and group any ideas that are similar. You can then allow a discussion at the end.
The ‘magic genie’ ice breaker is especially good because it is very much business and work orientated and so works well as a business training activity.
10. The Balance Careers
On the balance Career site, they have 10 icebreakers that are very good for meetings.
Check out their ‘Meet and Greet teambuilding icebreaker as this is great for helping employees to learn about each other and to engage better in terms of communication.
Dr Valeria (Lo Iacono) Symonds
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