Energizers that work in trainings and meetings
How to choose and run energizers that wake up a training room without wasting time: when to use them, what to avoid, and ten simple examples.
Short answer
An energizer is a short activity, usually two to ten minutes, that wakes up a tired group, helps people connect, or refocuses attention. Choose games that suit the group's age, culture and physical ability, keep them short, explain the rules in one minute, and link them to the session when you can.
Key points
- Use an energizer when energy drops, not by the clock.
- Keep it short: two to ten minutes, then return to the work.
- Check that everyone can take part, including people with limited movement.
- Make it optional. Never force someone to join.
- Mix competitive games with team-building ones.
What is an energizer and why use one?
An energizer is a short game or movement that changes the mood of a group. Facilitators use them to help people get to know each other, to raise energy, to build the team or to introduce a topic. The International HIV/AIDS Alliance, in its guide to energisers for workshops and meetings, says games that help people relax and meet are often called ice breakers, and games that wake up a sleepy group are energisers.
People learn less when they are tired. A two-minute stretch after lunch can save the afternoon. Energizers also make quiet participants more comfortable, because they see that the room is a place where it is fine to laugh.
When should you use an energizer?
Use one when you see these signs:
- People look at their phones or their desks.
- Answers become short and flat.
- The session before was long or heavy.
- It is just after lunch, or very early in the morning.
- The group is new and does not know each other.
Do not use an energizer to fill time or only because the agenda says so. If the group is working well, keep working.
How do you run an energizer in five steps?
- Pick the purpose. Wake up, get to know each other, build trust or refocus.
- Check the group. Age, culture, space, physical ability and comfort with touch.
- Explain in one minute. Say the rules, show one round, then start. Long instructions kill energy.
- Join in, or watch closely. Your own energy sets the tone, and you need to see problems early.
- Stop at the high point. End while people are still smiling, then link to the next activity.
The Alliance guide advises keeping energisers short and moving on once everyone has had a chance to move and wake up.
What should you check before choosing a game?
Most mistakes come from picking a game that does not fit the group. Use this table.
| Check | Question to ask | If the answer is no |
|---|---|---|
| Inclusion | Can everyone take part, including people with limited sight, hearing or mobility? | Change the rules or choose a seated game |
| Culture | Does the game involve touch or body parts that some people may find uncomfortable? | Choose a game with no contact |
| Space and safety | Is there room, and is the floor clear? | Play seated or in pairs |
| Age and status | Will senior staff and adults find it respectful? | Pick a word or thinking game |
| Choice | Can people opt out without being singled out? | Offer a "helper" or "observer" role |
Two more points help. Do not force people to take part. And after a learning game, set aside a few minutes to ask what people noticed and how it applies to their work.
Which simple energizers work well in Myanmar training rooms?
These examples need no equipment. Adapt them to your group and language.
- Count together. Stand in a circle with eyes down. The group counts to 20, one number at a time, with no order. If two people speak together, start again. It trains focus.
- Whisper down the line. Pass one short sentence from ear to ear. The last person says what they heard. It shows how messages change.
- Stand up, sit down. Read statements such as "Stand up if you travelled more than an hour today." It is a quick way to learn about the group.
- Pass the clap. Pass a clap around the circle, then reverse it, then speed up.
- Find someone who. Ask people to find a colleague who shares a hobby, a birth month or a favourite food. It builds connections.
- Mirror pairs. One person moves slowly and the partner copies. Swap after one minute.
- Thumb vote. Ask a topic question and have everyone show thumbs up, sideways or down. It works as an energizer and a quick poll at once.
- Two truths and a lie. Each person shares three facts. The group guesses the lie. Use it in small groups for new teams.
- Stretch and breathe. Thirty seconds of shoulder rolls and deep breaths. Good before a hard topic.
- Draw it together. In pairs, one person describes a simple shape and the other draws without seeing it. It links to communication skills.
Match the game to your topic when you can. A communication game suits a session on messages. A trust game suits a team-building day.
How do you keep energizers useful and not just fun?
Add a one-minute debrief: "What did you notice?" or "How does this connect to our work?" Keep the answer short. This turns a game into learning. If you are planning a full day, build energizers into your agenda from the start, as described in our guide to designing a training people remember. For general session skills, see facilitation skills for workshops and trainings.
How EMPO can help
EMPO is a reliable, Yangon-based training and consultancy provider and one of Myanmar's leading names in practical NGO training, with 1,200+ people trained and 15 partner organisations. Our facilitation training covers energizers and session design, in English and Burmese. We also sell energizer books in the EMPO store, including a handbook of 50 games in Burmese. See our training services to plan a session.
Sources
- 100 Ways to Energise Groups: Games to use in workshops, meetings and the community — International HIV/AIDS Alliance
Questions people ask
How many energizers should I use in a day?
Use one whenever people look tired or between two heavy sessions. In a full training day that is often three or four short ones. Watch the group rather than the clock.
What if participants think games are childish?
Choose activities that suit adults, explain the purpose in a sentence, and keep them brief. Movement, quick pair talks and simple word games are usually accepted well.
Can I use energizers in an online training?
Yes. Use stretching, quick polls, chat challenges or a one-minute pair talk in a breakout room. Keep them shorter than in a room, because people are already tired from the screen.