Icebreakers are a way of getting everyone off their devices, disconnecting them from distractions and whatever else they are thinking about, priming them for the session ahead and giving them a shared experience as a group that they can have as a talking point later in the day. I started with stretching as it is a good mind/body connector. And evolving that into flossing was purely to make people smile – which releases endorphins & dopamine – putting people into a state where they are open to learning.
Kim Wylie is Global Director, People Development at Farfetch and opened the 2nd day of the Excellence in Leadership: Delivering Through Uncertainty conference.