The Best Games To Play During Meetings in 2024

Looking for a way to kick-start your team's day with a bang? Say goodbye to the mundane morning meetings and hello to a burst of energy and fun with these innovative morning meeting games. These activities are not just icebreakers; they're ice demolishers! Get ready to transform your team's morning routine into an exhilarating experience that sets a positive tone for the entire day.

Why Morning Meeting Games?

Let's face it, mornings can be tough. But, with the right activities, you can turn those yawns into yay's! Morning meeting games are a fantastic way to wake up those sleepy brains, foster camaraderie, and set a dynamic and productive mood for the day. These games are the espresso shot your morning meetings need!

19 Kick-Off Games For Morning Meetings

1. Two Truths and a Lie

Playing a round of Two Truths and a Lie is a fun way to learn more about your coworkers in a easy and light-hearted manner. The game encourages a sense of openness and can often lead to hilarious and surprising revelations that break the ice and add boost connectivity at work!

How to Play:

Each team member shares two truths and one falsehood about themselves.

The rest of the team guesses which one is the fib.

Great for getting to know each other and starting the day with a few laughs!

2. Idea Pitch

Idea Pitch is all about getting the creative juices flowing and getting team members to think outside the box. It's a great, low stakes exercise for stimulating innovative thinking and can lead to hilarious or surprisingly insightful pitches, fostering a culture of open-mindedness and imaginative problem-solving.

How to Play:

Employees pitch a wild and creative idea for a product or service.

It could be realistic or completely outlandish.

Sparks creativity and lightens the mood.

3. Morning Meeting Bingo

Tired of people zoning out in your meetings? Customized Bingo turns the regular happenings of a morning meeting into a playful game. It adds an element of anticipation and excitement to the meeting, encouraging employees to pay attention and engage more actively with the meeting’s proceedings.

How to Play:

Create a bingo card with common morning occurrences or phrases.

As the meeting progresses, employees mark off their bingo squares.

First to get a line wins a small prize.

4. Rapid Fire

Get your team's brain's a-moving with Rapid Fire- a brisk, high-energy game that will wake everyone up! It'll get your coworkers talking and thinking quickly, perfect for shaking off the morning sluggishness and getting the team ready for a productive day.

How to Play:

Quick-fire questions are asked to each employee.

Answers should be spontaneous and brief.

Great for energizing the brain and getting everyone involved.

5. The Compliment Circle

The Compliment Circle is a heartwarming game that fosters a positive and supportive work environment. It encourages team members to focus on the good in each other, strengthening bonds and improving team dynamics.

How to Play:

Sit in a circle and give a compliment to the person on your right.

Builds positivity and strengthens team morale.

6. The Memory Game

The Memory Game is a classic that tests and improves memory and concentration. It’s a playful way to sharpen cognitive skills while providing plenty of laughs as the chain of words or phrases grows increasingly complex.

How to Play:

Start with a phrase or a word.

Each person repeats it and adds something new.

Tests memory and concentration in a fun way.

7. Charades: Office Edition

Charades: Office Edition is a workplace twist on the timeless party game. It requires creativity and teamwork, as players try to convey complex ideas or phrases without words, leading to hilarious misinterpretations and a lot of fun.

How to Play:

Act out a scene or concept related to the workplace without speaking.

Others guess what it is.

A classic game that never gets old!

8. Pictionary: Morning Edition

Pictionary is a drawing game where creativity meets guesswork. It provides insights into each other's mornings or job roles in a light-hearted manner, encouraging artistic expression and teamwork.

How to Play:

Draw something that represents your morning or an aspect of work.

Others guess what it is.

Promotes creativity and gives insight into each other’s mornings.

9. Guess Who

The Guess Who is game is incredible tool for creating a tighter-knit team as you uncover interesting and often unexpected aspects of team members' lives. It promotes curiosity and can lead to a greater appreciation of the diversity within the team.

How to Play:

Team members write a little-known fact about themselves on a piece of paper.

Facts are read aloud, and everyone guesses who each fact belongs to.

Great for uncovering surprising facts and stories about your colleagues.

10. The Silent Line-Up

The Silent Line-Up is a game of non-verbal communication and teamwork. It challenges employees to think creatively about how to communicate and work together without speaking, enhancing understanding and cooperation among team members.

How to Play:

Arrange yourselves in order based on a certain criterion (like birthdays) without speaking.

Challenges communication skills and teamwork.

11. Story Time

Story Time fosters creativity and teamwork as each participant contributes to an evolving story. This game often leads to amusing and unexpected twists, encouraging imaginative thinking and a shared sense of humor.

How to Play:

Start a story with one sentence.

Each person adds a sentence.

Ends up in hilarious and unexpected storylines.

12. Desert Island

Desert Island is a thought-provoking game that reveals personal preferences and survival instincts. It's a conversation starter that encourages team members to share more about their personalities and thought processes.

How to Play:

Each person chooses three items they'd take to a desert island.

Share and discuss choices.

Fun and revealing.

13. Emoji Decode

Emoji Decode is a game that resonates with the digital age, requiring players to communicate complex ideas using only emojis. It's a fun test of interpretative skills and creativity, often leading to amusing misunderstandings and laughter.

How to Play:

Convey a message or a phrase using only emojis.

Others try to decode it.

Modern, relevant, and super fun.

14. The Human Knot

The Human Knot is a physical and mental challenge that requires teamwork and problem-solving. It's an excellent activity for building trust and cooperation, and often results in a lot of laughter and closer team bonds.

How to Play:

Stand in a circle, grab someone's hand across from you.

Untangle yourselves without releasing hands.

Great for physical activity and teamwork.

15. Would You Rather

Would You Rather is a game of dilemmas and decisions. It's a great conversation starter that can range from the serious to the absurd, helping team members to understand each other's perspectives and values.

How to Play:

Pose two scenarios and choose one.

Can be work-related or purely fun.

Sparks conversation and laughter.

16. The Energy Circle

The Energy Circle is a rhythmic and engaging game that enhances concentration and group coordination. It's a powerful tool for creating a sense of connection and synchronicity among team members.

How to Play:

Stand in a circle and pass a clap around with eye contact.

The goal is to keep the energy and speed up without breaking the rhythm.

It’s a simple yet effective way to build focus and unity.

17. Quick Sketch

Quick Sketch is a visually creative game that allows team members to express their feelings or thoughts through drawings. It can be a therapeutic and revealing activity, promoting empathy and understanding within the team.

How to Play:

Each person quickly sketches something that represents their current mood or a recent project.

Share and discuss the sketches.

Fosters artistic expression and offers insights into each other's state of mind.

18. The Name Game

The Name Game is a playful and effective method for learning and remembering names, especially useful in larger teams or with new members. The use of adjectives adds a fun twist and can lead to lots of laughter.

How to Play:

Each person says their name along with an adjective that starts with the same letter (e.g., Jolly John).

Helps in remembering names, especially in large or new teams.

Creates a fun and memorable way to learn about each other.

19. Word Association

Word Association is a fast-paced game that sharpens the mind and often leads to unexpected and amusing connections. It's great for getting the creative juices flowing and can be quite revealing about how different team members think.

How to Play:

Start with one word and each person quickly says the first word that comes to mind.

The game continues, with each word associating with the last.

It's a rapid-fire exercise that stimulates quick thinking and can lead to hilarious chains of thought.

FAQs

Q: How long should these games last?

A: Aim for 10-15 minutes. It’s just enough to energize without eating into the workday.

Q: Can these games be played virtually?

A: Absolutely! Many of these games can be adapted for virtual meetings.

Q: How often should we play morning meeting games?

A: It depends on the team's schedule and preference. Some teams enjoy daily games, while others prefer once a week.

Conclusion

Morning meeting games are a great way to break the ice, ramp up the energy, and foster a positive work culture. They're an easy and effective way to get the work day started on the right note. So, next time you gather your troops in the morning, remember, it’s not just a meeting, it’s an opportunity to energize, engage, and excite. Let the games begin!