The Follower Avoider icebreaker is a fast, interactive team-building activity where participants silently choose one person to follow and one to avoid, then move around the room trying to stay close to one and far from the other. It is often used in corporate training workshops as an icebreaker and energizer.
This activity is one of many powerful group icebreaker activities that can help trainers create an engaging and positive learning environment at the start of a session.
The Follower Avoider icebreaker is a short, high-energy group activity that works particularly well in corporate training workshops. It takes around 5–10 minutes to run, requires no materials, and is designed to help participants relax, move around, and build social connection at the start of a session.
- In-house corporate programs
- New teams who do not yet know each other
- Trainers who need a quick engagement boost
How Long Does the Follower Avoider Icebreaker Take?
- 10 minutes
- Free
Who Is This Icebreaker Suitable For?
This is a great activity, whether the delegates in the training session are completely new to each other or if the participants are known to each other (i.e., this is an in-house corporate training program you are providing).
Activities like this are particularly effective in new teams where trust is still developing.
This is a very easy game to play, and yet it provides delegates with a great way to laugh and get acquainted in a relaxed manner.
What Is the Purpose of the Follower Avoider Icebreaker?
In this activity, the task is quite simple. Delegates must mentally (they do not need to write it down) focus on one other person in the room whom they will follow and one person they will avoid, for the purpose of this game.
Once the game starts, they then have to try to get as close as they can (without touching them or being unfairly close) to the person they are following and as far as they can from the person they are avoiding, in the room.
Each participant chooses one person to follow and another to avoid. In the activity, you will try to follow one person as closely as possible, while simultaneously trying to be as far away from the person you are avoiding as possible. It can be hilarious.
This is a wonderful icebreaker that gets people laughing and relaxed.
As a trainer, this activity also needs very little preparation and is very easy to organize and to explain to participants.
How Do You Run the Follower Avoider Icebreaker?
The Follower Avoider icebreaker is very easy to run. Ask everyone to pick two people in the room, one they will try to stay close to and the other they will try to keep away from. Give them five minutes to move around and see how they get on, then bring everyone back together to talk about the experience.
Activity Instructions
1. Ask each person to silently select one person that they will follow and one person that they will avoid.
Suggest that they do not choose their best friends if they have any in the room, and that they should pick from anyone in the room who is involved in the training.
This selection should be done silently, so it does not need to be written down, and their selection should not be shared with anyone else.
2. Inform the participants that when the game starts, they will try to get as close to the person they are following and as far away from the person they
Before starting, make sure there’s plenty of space for everyone to safely walk around. Remind participants to walk rather than run and to avoid bumping into each other. If anyone prefers not to move around, they can observe the activity and join in the discussion afterward.
3. Start the game and inform participants that they have 5 minutes to complete the game.
4. Once the 5 minutes have ended, stop the game and ask participants to take their seats.
5. Ask participants for their thoughts on the game and leave a few minutes for discussion on the experience.
The activity usually gets people laughing and gives them something to talk about afterward.
What Are the Benefits of the Follower Avoider Icebreaker?
This is one of the simplest and easiest icebreakers to organize, and it works in just about any type of training session.
You can also run a three-minute version as a quick energizer when participants need a boost or an opportunity to connect.
If you’re looking for other quick energizers, you may also like these short training activities:
Other Free Training Games
Make sure also to take a look at these free training games:
FAQs
Is the Follower Avoider icebreaker suitable for large groups?
Yes, it works well with both small and large corporate training groups as long as there is space to move safely.
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