Recently, I had a colleague ask me for a suggestion for an icebreaker to help a new team get to know each other better.  I suggested one of my all time favorite icebreakers: The Life Map. This a great icebreaker for a team building workshop or to start an extended training session. I frequently use it with cohort programs,  orientation training, and coaching relationships as it helps connects participants to one another.

Overview:  Have each person take a piece of paper and create a “map” of their of life. Have them start with their birth and draw images of key events leading up to today’s, “X marks the spot.” The events can be a mix of personal and professional events.  Anything that tells the group a little about themselves and how they ended up in that room. Give the group 10 minutes to prepare their life map and then have them present to the group. I’ve had participants do as much as cutting out pictures from magazine and as little write words instead of draw pictures. The important thing is that their map expresses their journey. For large groups, 15+ people, I will split the group up into smaller groups, and have the smaller groups present within their group and then call on a couple of people from each group to present to the room. If you have time for one large group, it works a little better. If you’re short on time, this can still be a very effective ice breaker.   Below is an example of a very simple life map. A more creative option is to provide magazines, scissors, and glue and allow participants to cut out images and use those instead of drawing images.

• Time requirement: 45 minutes
• Materials: Paper, markers, pen. (optional: Magazines, glue, colored pencils, poster board)