Because those team-building activities can feel like they’ll take forever to create.
Let’s face it: the never-ending search for effective icebreakers for team meetings and team-building workshops can become exhausting.
So, to make your icebreakers as enjoyable as possible and ensure you get the results you want, we asked our experts to share a simple activity that anyone can use and that works every time.
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Let’s explore what they suggested.
Learning professionals offer so many icebreaker activities that just picking one can feel overwhelming. This is where we come in.
We searched through the options and chose the loop-de-loop activity. This activity is commonly used in workshops to promote communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
The purpose of the loop de loop is to have team members work together to untangle a human knot or loop that they have created with their bodies.
Instructions to Complete the Activity
To begin, have the team stand in a tight circle facing each other.
Have each person reach across with their right hand and grab the hand of someone standing across the circle.
Then have each person reach in with their left hand and grab another person’s left hand.
This will create a tangled loop or knot.
The goal is for the team to communicate and work together to strategize how to untangle the loop without letting go of hands.
They will need to step over and under arms and maneuver their bodies to “unloop” the knot.
The activity is complete when the loop has been untangled into a circle.
Cost and Resources
Let’s be honest: this activity requires no materials, just participation from the team. The cost is free.
Time Required
To keep your activity as frictionless as possible, only 10-15 minutes is needed. This is, 5 minutes to create the loop and 10 minutes to work on untangling it.
Number of Participants
Not all groups are created equal but a group size of 8-20 people work best, allowing for a challenging knot. Less than 8 makes it too easy. We hear this also from customers that regularly use of our training course materials.
Best Suited For
The loop de loop works for any team as an energizing, interactive activity to build communication skills. It’s good for new teams or teams with conflict. You can go with anything that meets your needs but the all tied up activity is also a great choice as a three person energizer exercise.
Facilitator’s Role
The facilitator instructs the group to make the loop, sets the time limit, ensures safety as the group untangles, and debriefs when done. The facilitator should not get involved in untangling the knot.
Participants’ Role
Participants should follow the facilitator’s instructions to make the loop, communicate to strategize how to untangle it, and maneuver their bodies carefully to untangle the knot within the time limit.
Reflection Strategies
After completing the activity, the facilitator can lead a discussion with reflection questions like:
- What strategies did you use to untangle the knot? What worked?
- How did you communicate or work with others in the group?
- What insights does this provide about teamwork?
Conclusion
The loop de loop activity is an interactive, engaging team-building exercise for every team to promote communication, collaboration, problem-solving and leadership skills.
With proper facilitation and debriefing, it provides an impactful learning experience for teams.
The simple activity brings teams together in a fun and challenging way.
We like to add a hand-clapping activity to generate greater energy with a group.
Catherine Fitzgerald is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Oak Innovation. With 30+ years of experience in the training and development industry, Catherine and her team at Oak Innovation are ideally positioned to help training professionals, business managers, and entrepreneurs access great training content.
