Scott On The Road: Icebreakers at NAWD

Motivational speakers, meeting planners and educators are converging this weekend in San Diego for the National Association of Workshop Directors conference. This is the eighth year I’ve attended this conference and I always have a great time. If you work in this field or are interested in leadership training, personal growth workshops or watching motivational speakers for schools, I highly recommend checking out this organization at http://www.nawd.com/.

I’ll be leading the entire group in icebreakers and mixers at the beginning. I enjoy leading these activities because I can’t stand doing them! Admittedly, they do work. Being forced outside your comfort zone with other people quickly alleviates the initial awkwardness among new groups and creates a more relaxed atmosphere. People bond over any unusual shared experienced – good or bad. I recently met a neighbor for the first time in three years because she was outside screaming when she caught someone breaking into her car. It sucks having crime on our street, but it does unite the neighborhood. Perhaps if my icebreakers don’t work at NAWD, I’ll just steal a few purses. Whatever it takes to break the ice!