Forget Icebreakers: Try This For Better Brainstorms with Jan Keck

In this episode of Now Go Create, host Claire Bridges welcomes facilitator, connector, and author Jan Keck, who is on a mission to make meetings more meaningful by moving beyond cringey icebreakers. Drawing from his own experiences with the anxiety and dread of the standard “go around the room and share a fun fact” activities, Jan reveals how these methods often backfire, leaving participants feeling disconnected, anxious, or locked in competition rather than genuine connection.

Instead, he introduces us to "ice melters," a concept that reframes how we help groups bond, collaborate, and take creative risks together. Using stories from his forthcoming book Ice Melters and real-world examples, he shares practical tips for facilitators, leaders, and anyone eager to empower their team whether you’re leading an in-person workshop, training session, or Zoom call.

Key Takeaways:

• Traditional icebreakers often ask participants to take bigger risks than they’re ready for, undermining true connection
• The physical environment matters, think more “campfire” and less “boardroom” when designing group experiences
• A thoughtful, layered approach (like customising name tags) creates authentic inclusion from the moment people walk in
• Great facilitators adjust to the group’s energy and needs like a thermostat, not a fixed agenda
• Building trust is a gradual process; creative breakthroughs happen when people feel safe
• Managing your own energy and creating flexible structures is as important for facilitators as for participants.

Something to Try:

At your next meeting or workshop, replace your standard “let’s go around and introduce ourselves” with a low-risk “ice melter.” Give everyone a choice like picking a sticker for their name badge or answering a simple visual and let conversation flow naturally. Notice how this shifts the room’s energy and paves the way for deeper, more creative collaboration.

About Claire Bridges:

Claire Bridges is Chief Spark and Founder of leading creative training consultancy Now Go Create, whose philosophy is that everyone can be creative.

Claire worked as a PR agency Managing Director and Creative Director working with global brands including Starbucks, Kellogg’s, Unilever, P&G and Danone in her previous PR career. Upskilling individuals, teams and organisations with practical creativity tools is Claire’s mission.

She’s one of only 250 people globally to hold an MSc in Creativity, Leadership & Innovation, and authored an Amazon best-selling creative handbook In Your Creative Element based on her academic studies.

Claire and her hand-picked team of experts have worked on thousands of creative projects and trained over 50,000 people around the world since starting Now Go Create in 2011.

Connect with Claire:

Website: https://nowgocreate.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowgocreate/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NowGoCreate

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-bridges-b6205b14

About Jan Keck:

Jan Keck is a trainer, facilitator and experience designer.

He is driven by a simple belief: real, deep connection beats small talk, every single time.

During the pandemic, Jan has taught thousands of trainers, facilitators and educators how to recreate the “magic” of in-person gatherings online

There’s nothing that breaks his heart more than witnessing individuals trapped in awkward icebreakers, feeling more isolated despite being in a group. This is why he is currently dedicating his time and energy into writing his first book “Ice Melters”, where he advocates ditching traditional Ice Breakers and shares his framework to increase engagement, build trust and foster deep connections - without making people cringe.

Connect with Jan:

Website: https://www.jankeck.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jankeck

YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/mrjankeck

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjankeck

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk