7. "Who I Am" Ice Breaker

This icebreaker is used in many different forms in different contexts and for many different reasons, and will be familiar to many. In our case we had a mixed group of people who knew each other well and others who had met for the first time that day. In pairing folk up we encouraged them to find someone they didn't know, but because of numbers it didn't always pan out that way. Nevertheless the exercise was great fun and built trust and rapport in a beautiful way. 

I acknowledge that the handout we used for this exercise was based on one in Training New Mentors, a booklet published in 2007 by The National Mentoring Center at Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in Oregon. 

INTRODUCTIONS ICEBREAKER
Objective: 

To provide an experience that is somewhat parallel to the first meeting with a  mentoree

Length:  
30 - 40 minutes 
Handout:

"Who I am"  

If you have name tags, do not hand them out until the end of the activity.  

Tell participants you want them to introduce themselves to one another. Organize the group into pairs, (try and pair people who do not know each other well.) Then distribute the handout with open-ended questions. Each pair uses the handout as a guide for having a conversation in which they introduce themselves and learn about one another; each person should have about ten minutes each to respond. After twenty minutes each person introduces their partner to the whole group - allow about one minute per person. (We couldn't keep to that!!!)

Icebreaker Handout: Who I Am
• My name is …
• My most important role in life is …
• Outside the home I  …
• When I need to relax I ….
• One thing about me that is important for people to know is…
• Some of the strengths I will bring to a mentoring relationship are…
• One of my worries about being a mentor is…
• One thing I hope to gain from being a mentor is …
• The most important thing a mentoree will gain …

This exercise can lead into a discussion about how this activity is similar to starting a new relationship with a mentoree. How did it feel to reveal things about themselves? Did their partner do or say anything to help them open up? If so, what?

Quote of the Week: 

    "We must appreciate the relational nature of mentoring. 

Like all living things, mentoring relationships will deteriorate if they are not maintained.  

Remember there is no formula, no ideal model, and no programme of steps to success.  

We must work hard at nurturing the connection between us."      

(Charles Hewlett, Principal, Carey Baptist College)

Do you have an easy way to develop rapport with someone, 

or a surefire open-ended question? 

Why not post a comment and tell us? 

Godshaped Mentoring is the site where Rev Viv records material shared in the Mentor Training events held in a partnership between two Baptist Churches in Auckland New Zealand in 2012 and 2013. The blog has been set up to ensure people who missed some aspect of of the training can catch up on the themes covered and skills taught, and so we can add insights and feedback as the programme takes shape.