7 Coaching Icebreakers for Your Sessions To Boost Participation and Energize Your Audience

If your coaching sessions feel like a one-way street, admit it—there must be something more you can do to spice them up. Ideally, you shouldn’t have a disconnect with your coaching clients. To encourage people to engage in a fun and interactive group activity, it’s time to break down those walls and make your sessions more engaging, interactive, and conducive to learning. Icebreakers can boost energy levels and enhance engagement, making the session more dynamic and enjoyable. The solution? Coaching icebreakers! Yes, like almost everything else nowadays, these aren’t confined to face to face sessions anymore!)

Research by Fraley and Aron shows that shared humor can build connections and closeness between strangers. Read on to see our list of the 10 most popular icebreakers you can use in your next coaching sessions.

The importance of icebreakers in training sessions

Do you want a simple and effective way to ease your audience into your session and set its tone? Kicking off your coaching session with an icebreaker is the way to go. Here’s why:

1. It energizes your audience.

Silent awkwardness among your participants? Don’t worry, coaching icebreakers can uplift the overall mood and energy levels. When there’s a refreshing break from the traditional lecture format, participants become more alert and more ready to engage with one another and you—further enhancing the effectiveness of the subsequent coaching activities.

2. It helps break down social barriers. 

Sometimes, participants enter group coaching sessions feeling nervous or unsure. After all, most coaching clients enter a program because they need help. Adding prompts like asking about their favorite food can encourage sharing personal experiences. This means that they will need to become vulnerable if they truly want to learn.

However, since icebreakers for coaching workshops often involve activities that require sharing experiences, they serve as a common ground that connects your clients—regardless of their backgrounds. Asking about their first job is another example of a low-pressure way to connect. Also, in many professional settings, hierarchical structures can inhibit honest communication—but icebreakers can suspend the usual power dynamics.

3. It triggers problem-solving skills.

Well-designed icebreakers can stimulate creative thinking and enhance analytical skills. How? Icebreaker jokes for coaches often introduce participants to unique, unexpected challenges that they haven’t encountered before. And this novelty encourages them to think quickly and apply their problem-solving skills in an unfamiliar situation. If the icebreaker has a time limit, it even adds an element of pressure.

4. It strengthens team bonds. 

Team building through coaching icebreakers means overcoming challenges or solving problems together. For example, an icebreaker that requires participants to work together as a team requires trust, cooperation, and shared goals.

5. It eliminates (or at least reduces) negative feelings

Icebreakers wake everyone up and set the mood (just like your cup of coffee!). So, when you kick off an event with something light that involves laughter or physical activity, it helps release tension.

6. It doubles as an informal assessment tool

Coaching icebreakers can also double as informal assessment tools. How? Well, an effective icebreaker doesn’t just get everyone comfortable. It also lets you peek into your participant’s behaviors—who jumps in eagerly, who hangs back, and how each generally interacts with one another. This informal assessment helps tailor your approach and content for next time.

7 most popular coaching icebreakers (and how to implement them online)

Now, if you don’t know which coaching icebreakers to use yet, no problem. Quick icebreakers are effective tools for initiating interaction. We’ve handpicked the five most popular icebreakers. These work whether you’re coaching newbies or seasoned pros—plus, we’ve included tips on how to implement them online. Icebreakers are important in both in-person and online formats, helping participants connect and create a positive atmosphere.

Icebreaker #1: One-word game

Why it works:

This game is so simple, yet it’s so effective. It gets people talking and totally participating through fun activities. It’s a great way to get people thinking creatively by asking them to create one word in response to a prompt. Pro tip: Tailor your prompts to your coaching topic for maximum impact.

Materials needed/guidelines:

• A list of thought-provoking prompts that’ll make your participants’ minds boggle (in a good way).
• Optional: A timer to crank up the pressure for a little adrenaline rush.

How to implement online:

1. Explain the rules, but clarify that there are no wrong answers.
2. Drop your first prompt. Give them a few moments to think of their word.
3. Once everyone has thought of their word, ask each participant to share their response.
4. Continue the game with several more prompts, letting each participant share their thoughts.

***BONUS TIP:***You can leverage apps like Mentimeter which generates a word cloud from the words that your coaching clients type in. This is pretty interesting because you get to see data and trends on common answers.

Icebreaker #2: Two truths and a lie

Why it works:

This another classic icebreaker is like a truth serum and a lie detector test rolled into one fun package. It encourages people to share personal tidbits while challenging others to play detective (discern fact from fiction). The result? Instant rapport, creativity boost, and a room full of laughs.

How to play/implement:

1. Explain to your audience that each member, in the first person, shares three statements about themselves—two true, one false.
2. The group’s mission? Sniff out the lie.
3. They can ask questions to gather more information or simply make their best guess.
4. Once everyone’s guessed, that member comes clean about which statement was the lie.

***BONUS TIP:***You can use the forum feature on upcoach so every client has a chance to post their statements.

Icebreaker #3: The unusual uses

Why it works:

This popular icebreaker encourages participants to think outside the box. It helps alleviate initial awkwardness among participants by providing a fun and engaging way to break the ice. This is particularly effective in coaching contexts focused on problem-solving, innovation, or overcoming mental blocks. The often humorous and surprising suggestions can also lighten the mood and boost group cohesion.

Materials needed/guidelines:

• Choose a common object, such as a brick, a paperclip, or a shoe.

How to play/implement:

1. Present the chosen object to the participants via video conferencing.
2. Ask participants to brainstorm as many unusual or unconventional uses for the object as possible. Let them be creative and think differently.
3. Engage in discussion and debate about the creativity and practicality of each suggestion.
4. Optionally, you can choose the most creative or unusual use as the winner.

BONUS TIP:* You can also conduct an asynchronous version of this. Still using the forum feature of upcoach, you can post a photo and have the rest of the week for your clients to input their answers.*

Icebreaker #4: Scavenger hunt

Why it works:

The traditional scavenger hunt works like this: Participants work together toward a common goal while moving and exploring their environment. This activity can be refreshing in coaching sessions, as it promotes physical engagement. Each team member can take turns being the next person to find the clue, fostering collaboration and sequential idea sharing. Not only does it increase the energy of everyone but also their attentiveness for subsequent activities.

Materials needed/guidelines:

• Create a series of clues that lead participants to different locations or require them to complete specific tasks.
• Make it extra fun by giving out prizes to the winning team or individual.

How to play/implement:

1. Divide participants into teams of equal size.
2. Give each team the first clue, which will lead them to the location of the second clue.
3. The first team to complete all the clues and reach the final destination is the winner.

How to execute online:

1. Create the groups
2. Similar to the traditional version, give each team the clues. However, the items must be things they can find wherever they are (home, office, etc.) so they can still do a “remote” scavenger hunt. The first team with a member who is able to show the item on screen wins.

Icebreaker #5: Charades

Why it works:

Charades is a must-play game in every coaching setup because of how it can energize and engage participants. Since the icebreaker requires participants to use their creativity, body language, and acting skills to communicate a word or phrase without speaking, it creates a fun atmosphere. Participants can also shout their own name while acting out the word or phrase to increase interaction and help others remember names.

Materials needed/guidelines:

• A list of words or phrases that are appropriate for your group. Consider the age, interests, and preferred difficulty level.
• A timer

How to play/implement:

1. Divide participants into two or more teams.
2. One player acts out a word or phrase in complete silence. The player must use gestures, facial expressions, and body language to convey the word or phrase without speaking.
3. Their team tries to guess within the time limit by typing their guesses in the chat box.
4. Teams take turns, keeping score of correct guesses.

Icebreaker #6: The common ground 

Why it works:

The “Common Ground” creates a safe space for vulnerability in a controlled environment. By encouraging participants to share personal experiences and find similarities, this activity taps into the fundamental human need for connection and belonging. Workshop participants can share personal experiences to find common ground, making the workshop more engaging and interactive.

Materials needed/guidelines:

• This icebreaker requires no additional materials.

How to play/implement:

1. Explain that participants will take turns sharing a personal experience or anecdote.
2. After each person shares their story, the group identifies any common themes or experiences. This helps participants connect on a deeper level and feel more connected to each other.

Icebreaker #7: Stand up, sit down 

Why it works:

The “Stand Up, Sit Down” icebreaker is a fun activity. It requires rapid cognitive processing and decision-making, as players must quickly determine if a statement applies to them and react accordingly. Playing this game in smaller groups can facilitate better interaction and engagement among participants. It’s also a great way for you to get to know your participants better. Pro tip: Mix lighthearted statements with more thought-provoking ones to maintain engagement and gradually increase the depth of sharing.

Materials needed/guidelines:

• This icebreaker requires no additional materials.

How to play/implement:

1. Explain the rules: Stand if the statement is true for you, sit if it’s not.
2. Continue making statements about yourself and observe participants’ reactions. You can make statements about your hobbies, preferences, or experiences.
3. To make the game more challenging, you can introduce a twist, such as having participants stand up if the statement is true for someone else in the group.

Bonus: The Life Line App by upcoach

The Life Line App can help your coaching clients unlock some deep personal reflections. It’s essentially a chart that visually represents major milestones or trends in your life so far. For example, clients can start by typing in their birth date then plotting key events and choices in their life and how they felt about them using a scale.

There are no strict rules on what can and what cannot be added. Some add milestones like weddings or anniversaries, while some add career beginnings.

You can set aside a few minutes before coaching sessions to let interested clients share their life lines.

Build rapport and break the ice—try some icebreakers today.

Want to liven up your training session? Add some coaching icebreakers to build rapport with your clients, set a light mood, and engage them. Pick it from our list if you want to try it as early as now.

Yes, some are physical, short exercises. But some, you can bring online! If you need an online coaching platform that can integrate icebreakers and enhance your coaching practice, checkout upcoach. Sign up now with a 14-day money-back guarantee.