Do your virtual get-togethers never quite manage to catch fire? Is a jam-packed agenda sending attendees to sleep during business meetings? If so, it’s time to reach for the reignition with energizers.
Energizers can be used to break the ice, sharpen focus, or encourage collaboration. They’re an invaluable meeting tool if you do most of your business online, with remote teams notoriously difficult to engage. With the right energizers, you’ll never have to worry about a lack of participation during meetings ever again.
15 Online Energizers for Meetings and Workshops
Looking for an online energizer or two for your next team meeting? Read on for a selection of online energizers that are guaranteed to go down well with small and large groups alike.
1. Google Yourself
For the first few minutes of your get-together, ask everyone to Google themselves and see what information they’re able to mine. Once everybody has reconvened, pick a few attendees at random to share what they’ve found. The perfect game for a larger group.
2. Things in Common
However, you’ll be replacing numbers on a bingo card with quirky personality habits. Have everyone circle the things that apply to them, then give them a few minutes to mingle to find which colleagues share their unique and usual quirks.
3. Random Object Pitch
Pick out a selection of random objects, then assign everybody one or two of them. Your team members then have a minute to enthusiastically pitch their object to everyone else.
4. Online Scavenger Hunt
Feel as though attention is drifting during a longer meeting? Put the spark back into your team by testing their gray matter with a virtual scavenger hunt. Hide clues on the pages of your website or conceal riddles in folders on shared servers.
5. Doodle Time
When someone starts doodling, it’s a clear sign that they’re not really invested in a meeting. Instead of fighting it, make some time in your agenda for it. Use virtual whiteboards so everyone can doodle digitally.
6. Show of Hands
Virtual polls are an effective way of reading the room, but this energizer puts some physicality into things. Rather than get your team to click a button to give a yes or no answer, have them raise their hand or stand up instead.
7. Who’s Snapshot?
Ask your team to send in vacation photos, pictures of their home setup, or any candid snap, and reveal a few of them during your meeting. Everyone else then has to guess who the snapshot belongs to.
8. Truth or Tall Tale?
This bite-sized icebreaker involves someone revealing two statements about themselves. One is true, the other is a complete fantasy. It’s down to everybody else to guess which is which.
9. Talent Swap
Ask everyone to pick out their signature talent, then assign everyone into pairs. Each person in a pair needs to learn the other’s talent, before demonstrating their attempt the next time you meet.
10. Online Mini-Meditation
If a virtual meeting is getting a little heated, take a step back and encourage everyone to breathe through it. A group meditation session will help thaw the ice and clear the air before you return to your agenda.
11. Camera On, Camera Off
Ask a series of basic questions with only yes or no answers, then get attendees to use their camera settings to reply. They’ll keep their camera on if they want to reply in the affirmative, or disable their camera feed if it’s a no.
12. Shared Traits
Great for team building, this activity forces employees to find common ground. Get one person to start things off by sharing a statement about a private passion or hobby, then encourage everyone else to reply if they share any of the same interests.
13. Combat Crosstalk
This energizer is an effective way of reminding everyone about the importance of meeting etiquette. Groups create lists, taking turns to add new entries. You can use a series of numbers, titles of a long-running book or movie series, and more.
14. Good Times, Bad Times
This energizer tasks everyone to name their weekly highlight, as well as spotlight something they’d rather forget. By encouraging employees to open up, it’s easier for your team to see each other as real people and forge stronger connections.
15. How Are You?
This energizer involves you asking your team how they’re feeling, with two-word answers being mandatory. By having to dig deep for something other than “okay”, your team will start to think more honestly about how they’re actually doing.
Energize Every Online Meeting with Gloww
With online energizers, it’s easy to maintain focus and keep spirits high during a remote meeting. However, you’ll need to have sufficient software and tools at your disposal. Fortunately, Gloww has everything you need to turn every meeting into a memorable one. Create custom meeting sessions in moments or use ready-made templates if you’re short on ideas. Then, personalize your session with online energizers like virtual whiteboards, surveys and polls, icebreaker games, and more.
You can start creating your next meeting session with Gloww right now. If you’re interested in discovering our more advanced features, take a look at our premium pricing packages. Need to ask a question? Get in touch with the team today.
FAQs
What’s the point of online energizers?
Think of an online energizer as a warm-up exercise for a virtual meeting. Whether it’s a mini icebreaker or something more involved, energizers get everyone in the right frame of mind for a productive meeting. They can also be brought into play during a meeting if energy levels have dropped or focus has waned.
How can I implement online energizers?
Some energizers work better than others in certain situations, so always read the room before deciding on which one to use. If you’re struggling to get meeting attendees to participate, use an icebreaker.
When should you bring online energizers into play?
Whenever you feel fatigue settling in, think about using an online energizer to reignite interest in your virtual meeting. If you’ve planned an agenda for a meeting longer than an hour, it’s a good idea to have several in the bank should you need them.
