<h2>CHAPTER 1</h2><p><b>WHY: Purpose-Driven Icebreakers</b></p><br><p>Begin with the end in mind." You've heard it before. But what does that mean foricebreakers? It means two things: First, know what you want the conversation ormeeting to accomplish. Second, based on that, know what you want your <i>icebreaker</i>to accomplish. These phrases will help your icebreaker do the heavy lifting ofopening your interaction or meeting in a way that will lead to the desiredoutcome.</p><p>Note that this section contains many more phrases intended for groups, markedwith a diamond, [??], than many other sections. It also contains many phrases tostart activities. Those are marked with the movie clapper symbol: [??].</p><br><p><b>Perfect Phrases to Highlight the Conversation or Meeting Topic</b></p><p>What is the meeting about? The meeting organizer can publish a meetingPAL—statement of purpose, agenda, and length, and use a topic-centeredicebreaker to focus attention on the conversation or meeting subject. That wayyou'll be talking about the same thing.</p><p>• Thanks for meeting with me. I'm curious, why did you accept my offer to meetto discuss (topic)?</p><p>• What interests you about (topic; example: social media)?</p><p>• How long have you been (studying, using) (topic; examples: organizationalchange, social media)?</p><p>• When you (saw, heard, discovered) what this meeting is about, what thoughtsdid you have?</p><p>* Who was told they had to be here today?</p><p>-> What went through your mind about the topic?</p><p>* If you created an e-mail subject line about this topic, what would it be?</p><p>* Why have you come to this meeting? What brought you here?</p><p>* We're here to talk about (topic; example: leadership). I find that means a lotof different things to different people.</p><p>-> What does it mean to you?</p><p>-> How do you define (topic; example: <i>leadership</i>)?</p><p>-> How does your perspective on the topic differ from most people's?</p><p>* What do you want to explore about (topic)?</p><p>-> What do I need to know about (topic)?</p><p>-> What about (topic) lights a fire in you?</p><p>-> What do you know about (topic) that other people don't know?</p><br><p><b>Perfect Phrases to Uncover Assumptions, Desires, and Expectations</b></p><p>Do you need to know what people want? What people know? What people expect?Well, ask! Use an icebreaker to uncover assumptions, desires, and expectations.</p><p>• I'll cut to the chase. What can I do for you?</p><p>• I know why I'm here. I'd like to know why you're here. Can you tell me whatyou hope to get out of this?</p><p>* Imagine you have a magic wand. What would you like to change by the end of the(conversation, meeting)?</p><p>* Let's go around and fill in the blank.</p><p>-> One thing I'm hoping to learn today is ____________.</p><p>-> One thing I find confusing is ____________.</p><p>-> One thing I'd like others to learn today is ____________.</p><p>* What are your outcomes and objectives for this (conversation, meeting)? Pleasewrite the answers to these questions.</p><p>-> What is you fondest, dearest wish for today?</p><p>-> What are you hoping to get out of today?</p><p>-> What would make this discussion a success for you?</p><p>-> Let's go around and share our objectives.</p><p>-> Did you notice I asked the same question three different ways? That's becausedifferent ways of phrasing questions evoke different responses. I really wantyou to walk out of here with what you came for.</p><p>-> What will you contribute to the success of this session?</p><p>* I'm going to role-play something. Ready? (Stomp in the room, slam the door,sigh heavily, throw a book on the table, and peer at the group).</p><p>-> Describe what just happened?</p><p>-> How do you know that's what happened?</p><p>-> What part of what you described is objective? How do you know?</p><p>-> Did you directly observe that?</p><p>-> What did you directly observe?</p><p>-> How many of you found it difficult to separate your observations from yourinterpretation of your observations?</p><p>-> How common is it for us to make assumptions without realizing we're doing it?</p><p>-> How can we keep fromm doing that today?</p><br><p><b>Perfect Phrases to Get People to Focus on Outcomes</b></p><p>There are times when banter, small talk, and tangents are useful. Other times,it's distracting. When the conversation or meeting needs to maintain a strictfocus, these opening phrases will help.</p><p>• As much as I enjoy checking in before getting down to buusiness, today we needto focus if we're going to (outcome; example: create an action plan.)</p><p>• Let's start by picturing ourselves walking out of this meeting happy with whatwe did here. What did we accomplish?</p><p>* Let's stay focused on our task of (purpose) today. We have a lot...