Icebreakers, Warmups, and Energizers: Using Experiential Tools Effectively

As a 30-year experiential education practitioner (think challenge course, ropes course, group initiatives, etc.), I have had numerous opportunities to dig into my experiential toolbox and select an activity to match my group’s energy or need. I say activity intentionally, as these tools are not learning tasks per se, but interjections into the group flow to enhance the learning experience.

These opportunities have taught me to be thoughtful and purposeful in my selection, as the right tool serves to either ease tension and anxiety, get the group ready to learn, or provide a brain-break away from the learning. The wrong tool – used in the wrong situation or at the wrong time – can negatively impact a group’s safety and ability to be present for the learning.

Knowing the differences between icebreakers, warmups, and energizers and their intended purposes can greatly enhance a facilitators ability to select and utilize these experiential tools successfully. To become familiar with these means of intentional connection, I believe it would be helpful to revisit the 3C model and become reacquainted with the three connection points often focused on in a learning-centered approach:

  • Connection with SELF
  • Connection with CONTENT
  • Connection with OTHERS

(I highly recommend reading this GLP blog post – An Approach that invites Connection by Jeanette Romkema – before continuing.)

Icebreakers: connecting with others

Icebreakers, as the name implies, are meant to break the ice. They serve to safely introduce group members to each other and reduce the anxiety or emotional tension that often comes with meeting and working with others they may not know well. Icebreakers intentionally are not linked to the learning, as they focus on connecting participants to each other and not to the content.

Icebreakers are most effective when used in situations when the individuals involved do not have many – or any – shared experiences. They help participants get comfortable with each other, so they can move forward into the learning experience more easily. Groups that are new to each other may feel intimidated by the learning or unsafe to fully engage in it, when they are not provided with an opportunity to connect with others before connecting with the content.

There are also times when an icebreaker is not helpful and can impede the learning. For example, when a group has already established connections with each other, using an icebreaker often feels like a waste of time and energy. In this situation, a warmup is often the tool that best matches the energy and needs of the group and the learning.  

Warmups: connecting with others, the content, and self

Warmups serve the purpose of connecting participants to the content and to each other. While an icebreaker is most often a better fit for a group of new-to-each-other learners, warmups offer a deeper and more meaningful connection experience for established groups or teams.

In bringing the content into the mix, warmups change the way individuals connect with each other. The focus is shifted to how others are related to, or relate with, the learning at hand. This subtle change honors the connections already in place between group members, resulting in a more immediate connection to the content – an appropriate switch that shows respect for learners and increases relevance and engagement.  

Warmups also provide an opportunity for participants to connect with self by encouraging individuals to reflect on their connection to the content. A well-designed warmup encourages learners to consider the content in ways that link to their previous or current experiences; reflections that provide building blocks for learning.

Energizers: connecting with self and others 

Energizers are designed to do just that – increase the energy level of the group. The key with energizers is to realize that they are meant to be a brain break away from the learning to allow participants to clear their minds. This break is a recharge that readies individuals to refocus their energy on the learning. While participating in an energizer, individuals are not engaged in the learning – energizers are not an opportunity to connect with the content, but rather a chance to separate from the content and reconnect with self and others. This separation is the magic of an energizer, allowing a participant to reengage with the content, returning refreshed and ready to dig deeper.

Using experiential tools

Icebreakers, warmups, and energizers are all powerful tools that, when carefully selected and utilized, offer a facilitator the opportunity to enrich a learning experience. By understanding the purpose of each of these tools and intentionally connected them to the 3C model, those charged with designing and guiding learning experiences add an invaluable resource to their professional toolkit.


How do you differentiate icebreakers, warmups, and energizers?


Marta Koonz is a depth psychologist, group facilitator and life coach. In addition to being a Certified Dialogue Education Teacher, Marta is also a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coach Federation (ICF). She holds a PhD from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Depth Psychology: Jungian and Archetypal Studies. Her dissertation research focused on bringing a soul-centered approach to life coaching partnerships. www.rediscoveringsoul.com

Read more blogs by Marta.

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