(Keep reading and you may earn a free book!)
Ok, so you are having another boring corporate meeting meeting. Nobody wants to be there, and the doughnuts are just not enough to get people in a good mood, much less a creative and success-minded mood.
What do you do? Well, I have a ton of ideas for meeting ice breakers and warm ups, but one of my favorites is to print out an odd or unusual photo from the internet or some magazine, and have a brainstorming session of possible captions for that photo.
Before you give it a try, know that you’ll need to set some ground rules for this ice-breaker.: The rules for the brainstorm session need to be made clear. I use something like this in my creativity seminars:
“Ok let’s see if we can come up with some easy rules before we start. First of all, can we agree that only one person talks at a time?” (Of course they’ll agree.)
“Can we agree that there will be no bad ideas…. all captions are good, because we’re going for volume, not quality…. deal?” (They’ll agree, because nobody will want to feel stupid if they come up with something lame. Sometimes I take this a step further and ask them if they think that anybody who says ANYTHING negative has to put a dollar in the middle of the table for next week’s doughnut upgrade. This is really fun… they’ll love it.)
“Our goal is to just find a bunch of captions… not to be funny. So if you come up with a funny one, that’s great. But don’t feel pressure to be funny… just come up with a caption. Deal?” (If you set the goal to find a “funny” punch-line or joke, many people will seize up and shut down. Just tell them that you want a bunch of captions, and trust me, the funny will happen.”
That’s it! It’s easy. Just have somebody write down the ideas on a dry-erase or even a note pad. See how many you can come up with, and then increase that number at your next meeting. Set a time limit of 3 minutes or so, but if they are cranking them out at minute 5, let ‘em!
You’ll be amazed at the positive creative energy you’ll create with this simple little task.
What’s that? Put my money where my mouth is? Sure, glad you asked.
Earn a Free Book!
My entry for the mock caption:
“You should see what the Tin Man got!”
Brad Montgomery
Motivational Speaker, Humor in the Workplace Seminar Leader, Corporate Comedian
PS. Submit your caption to th at lion-and-woman photo and win a free copy of my ebook Humor Me!
A caption for the woman and lion:
I tried the frog last time!
Left by Barry on January 16th, 2007
Woman and Lion photo
- you have a little somehting right there. Here, let me get that for you.
- this is how they do it in the French Congo
-you are a cagey beast
- I wonder if his eyes are closed too?
- One one thousand, Two one thousand, Three
- Sigfried and Roy will never know…or care
- Carnivore, Shmarnivore. Just lick me you fool.
Left by Palmo Carpino on January 25th, 2007
Caption for woman and lion photo -
“Thank heavens for conjugal visits!”
Left by Brian Viscusi on February 7th, 2007
Lion: “You’re right. They DO taste like chicken!”
Left by Peggy Fernandez on February 7th, 2007
CAPTION FOR WOMAN AND LION
“I WONDER WILL SHE FIT THROUGH ?”
Left by renee on February 12th, 2007
So… who won?
You did say that it is volume that counts, right?
Brad, thanks for a great site and newsletter.
Palmo Carpino
Calgary, Alberta
Left by Palmo Carpino on February 16th, 2007
Kiss a frog, get a prince
Kiss a lion, get a King
Left by Brian on February 17th, 2007
The latest in Diversity Training -
leading by example - this “king” facilitator shows the other animals that people are animals too!
Left by Hermann Schulze on February 22nd, 2007
She wasn’t lion - she did kiss a king!
Left by Hermann Schulze on February 22nd, 2007
“We’ve got to quit meeting like this!”
Left by Jenny Herrick on February 22nd, 2007
Not now, my husbands/boyfriends looking!
I didn’t know lions kept thier cycs closed when they kiss.
MMMM-I hope no one is looking.
Left by Steve Smith on February 22nd, 2007
Note to self…no more liverwurst for lunch.
Left by Brett L. Phillips on February 22nd, 2007
“Hey buddy, not on the first date.”
“I don’t care if you are king of the jungle. You watch that tongue of yours!’
“Hey pal, have you been chewing on sandpaper.”
“What d’ya mean welcome to Honolulu? This is Africa buster!”
Left by Greg Wilson on February 22nd, 2007
I’ll give you here kitty, kitty, kitty.
Left by Jesse Felix on February 26th, 2007
“Wow…those pheromones really do work!”
Left by Pure Romance by Patrice Walborn on March 2nd, 2007
- It takes a WOMAN to tame a beast!!!
- (Lion) If I give you a kiss, will you let me out of this cage?
- Ooo—You are the KING!!!
- (Woman) Hey, can I have my gum back please???
Left by Peggy Aucoin on March 2nd, 2007
Love at first “bite”
Left by Tara Kennedy on March 5th, 2007
I told you you could get ANYTHING at Walmart!
Left by Keisha Truevillian on March 10th, 2007
You may now kiss the bride.
Left by Michael Cortes on March 18th, 2007
Love has no BARS; no age bar, no sex bar, no money, no religion and now no species……!!!
Left by Laxmikant on March 28th, 2007
King Karl Kissed A Kook
Loony Lady Loves a Lion
Lady Kisses Lion: Lives to tell Story.
Lion kisses Lady: gets laughed at by friends.
Left by Brian on April 20th, 2007
beauty and the beast.
Left by excelyap on May 26th, 2007
“I need to check what I put for my profile on e-Harmony.com”
“Have to stop wearing polka dots…gives the beasts the wrong idea”
Left by Dennis Buchanan on May 31st, 2007
Ok, one more, but leo this is the last time…. I think Juan suspects something.
Left by Dan on June 6th, 2007
His paws are gentle but oh so rough!
Left by John on June 8th, 2007
(woman) What part of NOT FRENCH don’t you understand?
Left by Bobbi G on August 21st, 2007
“Get a Room”
“Mom, is that what you mean when you talk about why heavy petting before marriage is bad?”
“Why don’t you pick on someone your own size.”
“I thought the sign said no feeding the animals?
“Mom, I thought you said it wasn’t good to play with your food?
“Look inside your self Simba, you are more than what you have become, Remember who you are…. “
Left by Donna on August 29th, 2007
Ma’am, this will have to be the last time.
Left by Jeff Jensen on November 29th, 2007
You don’t taste like Tony the Tiger!
Left by Ken Goldberg on November 30th, 2007
Let me Go, I said only 1 night.
Left by Harry Mann on December 11th, 2007
So this what was behind door number 3
Left by Susanne DeFabiis on December 17th, 2007
I’ll be out soon baby! These bars won’t hold me back forever!
Left by Sarah Raulerson on December 19th, 2007
Certs is TWO, TWO, TWO mints in one.
(They don’t pay me enough for this line of work)
Left by William Reed on March 21st, 2008