I have just started managing a newly employed team of support staff and wonder if you have any tips on ice-breakers. Are they a good idea or should I just let the group get to know and work together in their own time?

Ice-breakers may break something that will simply refreeze the next day.

I’d organise something less formal than the usual truth or dare circle of chairs and trust in the fact that, nine times out of ten, colleagues try hard to work together. Look out for the groups and pairs that form naturally and use them to your advantage when delegating work.

send your dilemmas to Don Short at shortbuttall@hotmail.com