The Power of the Icebreaker
In our previous blog post, we discussed the challenges companies face in trying to measure their diversity and inclusion initiatives, particularly inclusion and getting people to mingle outside of their comfort zone. With that in mind, we wanted to take a moment to discuss how we can help make that happen.
It’s natural instinct, to stick with what we know, and that is inherent in all of our social interactions - gravitating to people and situations that feel familiar and comfortable. And generally, it’s hard to get people talking - especially when they feel like they have nothing in common. But that last part? It’s not true. We all have shared interests, hobbies and more, and one of the most effective ways to take the pressure off is to start small and find some common ground.
At Proxfinity, our back-end data has proven this many times over. At a recent women leadership summit that deployed our CUE smart badge to track activity, an overwhelming number of connections were made over a shared bucket list item - ranging from seeing the 7 wonders of the world to running a marathon. It made a fun bridge into conversation that bore networking fruit - as participants went on to connect with others who shared similar roles, meaning they could have robust conversations about the challenges and opportunities they see in similar environments.
This data is key to illuminating the fact that often times in networking, the hardest part is simply starting the conversation. It can be uncomfortable, paralzying even, to approach someone you know nothing about - which is why one of the most powerful things in a networking event is the icebreaker.
A good icebreaker, be it a shared area of interest or an activity or game, immediately puts people on sturdy ground to interact. It removes the unpleasant awkwardness and silence that can cripple an event intended to bring people together. Particularly as we navigate more diverse audiences, varying in age, ethnicity, gender and responsibilities, understanding all the ways that we are the same will help encourage more and better socializing.
When we create our surveys for clients, no matter what the objective, we always find it important to include some fun, light-hearted questions that allow people to match on subjects that aren’t as imposing. Maybe it’s a favorite type of music or a dream vacation spot - but it gets people talking, and serves as a gateway for more meaningful conversation.
With CUE, these common traits immediately register - meaning that the icebreaker is involuntary. It’s not based in participation, but simply mirrors back shared information.
As companies continue to create more cohesive workplaces, establishing comfort among employees is paramount. To get there, all we need to do is start small and remember we’re all people with more similarities than we realize.
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