# Unofficial Start

Arriving participants immediately receive a low-stakes prompt or micro-task to interact with peers or complete independently before the formal session begins. The facilitator closes the entry phase and transitions cleanly into the scheduled agenda.

**Time:** 15 minutes. 15 minutes running concurrently with participant arrival prior to and slightly overlapping the formal start time.
**People:** 4 to 24. Solo entry leading into self-selected pairs or informal standing trios

## Choose this exercise

**Purpose:** Give early and on-time arrivals an immediate, low-stakes task to eliminate awkward waiting and establish conversational momentum before the formal agenda starts.
**Use it when:** Use during the 10 to 15 minute entry window of a workshop, meeting, or training when participants arrive in staggered waves.
**Skip it when:** Skip when all participants must enter and receive instructions strictly at the exact same second, or when people need quiet personal prep immediately prior to an exam or formal evaluation.

## Materials and tools

- 1 flip chart pad or whiteboard
- 4 dry-erase or flip chart markers
- 1 pack of 3x3 inch sticky notes (approx 50 sheets)
- 1 digital countdown timer or visible clock

## Before participants arrive

1. Write the arrival prompt visibly on the board or chart before unlocking the door: 'Write on a sticky note: What is one practical tip that made your week easier? Post it on the board and share it with someone you have not spoken with today.'
2. Place sticky note pads and markers near the entrance on an accessible table.

## Say this to open

Welcome in! Before we officially begin at the top of the hour, grab a marker and a sticky note from the front table. Add your quick tip to the board, then feel free to read what others posted or introduce yourself to someone nearby.

## How to run it

### 1. Welcome arrivals and direct to prompt (5 minutes)

Stand near the entrance. Greet incoming participants, point out the materials table, and invite them to read the wall prompt. Do not force anyone to speak immediately.

### 2. Post responses and informal mingling (5 minutes)

Participants write their response and place it on the board. Those willing can read other notes and talk in spontaneous pairs or trios about what they see.

### 3. Signal transition to formal start (3 minutes)

Give a one-minute verbal notice before the scheduled start time. Invite everyone to find a seat and orient toward the front.

### 4. Acknowledge contributions and debrief (2 minutes)

Call the whole room to order. Read aloud two or three varied contributions from the board. Transition directly to the main agenda.


## Debrief questions

- Looking at the ideas on the wall, what is one practical thought you might try this week?
- How did having an immediate task change the first five minutes in this room?

**Finished output:** A shared board displaying practical peer tips and participants settled and ready for the formal agenda.

## Remote

Open the video call 10 minutes early. Display a welcome slide with the prompt and a link to a shared whiteboard or chat thread. Greet arrivals by audio and invite them to type their response in the chat or on the board. Read several aloud informally as people join.

## Hybrid

Display the arrival prompt on both the in-room projection screen and the virtual meeting slide. Remote participants add notes via a digital whiteboard while in-person participants use physical sticky notes. Assign a co-facilitator or designated participant to read two virtual posts aloud during the transition step.

## Access and participation choices

- Participants may read responses silently without posting or speaking to others.
- Offer both written sticky notes and verbal dictation to a facilitator for anyone with writing or mobility constraints.
- Passing or simply taking a seat quietly without completing the prompt is fully respected without question.

## If the session gets stuck

**Late arrivals walk in after the official start call.**

Leave the board visible. Let them sit down directly without requiring them to backtrack to the arrival prompt.

**Participants cluster silently and look awkward.**

Step over to the board, read a note aloud with neutral curiosity, and ask the author to tell the nearby group more about it.


## Terms used here

- Unofficial Start: An intentional micro-activity set up prior to the formal program agenda to occupy and orient early arrivals.

## Sources and adaptation

Observed on Playmeo, which attributes the activity concept to Mark Collard.

Retained Mark Collard's core Unofficial Start mechanic of setting an activity before the program begins to replace arrival awkwardness. UWT supplied a concrete, neutral micro-prompt (practical weekly tips), specific setup timing, physical/hybrid instructions, and debrief questions.

[Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/ice-breakers-get-to-know-you-games/unofficial-start)

[Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/ice-breakers-get-to-know-you-games/unofficial-start/)

Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/engaging-icebreaker-strategy-for-pre-program-unofficial-start-fun/