60 Icebreakers to Try At Your Next Virtual Team Meeting
Boost your virtual team meeting engagement by starting off with asking icebreaker questions. Here are 60 that you can choose from!
Boost your virtual team meeting engagement by starting off with asking icebreaker questions. Here are 60 that you can choose from!
Knock knock.
Who’s there?
An icebreaker.
An icebreaker who?
Exactly.
Yes, we know. Not everyone is fond of icebreakers. They’re a quick reminder of that time your friend made you go to that party where you didn’t know anyone, so your friend decided to host a game where everyone introduced themselves and stated one fun fact about them that no one knew about. Plot twist: it reminded you that there was nothing fun about your life.
But all jokes aside, virtual icebreakers can actually help teams bond (especially when they work in remote setups) when they’re used right. But before we melt into a puddle of anxiety about the thought of answering questions, we have to do something really important.
First, let’s learn exactly what a virtual icebreaker is, and why it’s good to have one up your sleeve for your next virtual team meeting.
Icebreakers are, well, a great way to break the “ice” at the beginning of a team meeting or even a quick one-on-one. They are great conversation starters – icebreakers help energise people, drive lively discussions and encourage everyone to be more (pro)active throughout the meeting.
Though its disambiguation can be debated, here’s what we think: an icebreaker is a ship that breaks the ice to allow said ship to keep sailing along smoothly, instead of getting stuck in one place (hello, Titanic). In a traditional meeting, icebreakers do just that: they keep the conversation going (goodbye, awkward silence).
As the world shifts to a remote-first approach to work, virtual icebreakers are a way for us to feel connected to people we can’t meet in person right now. The primary goal of an icebreaker is to have fun, create a bond between attendees, and build their confidence when addressing the team.
Which is why it’s important to make sure you’re asking the right questions.
Here’s the thing. Not all icebreaker questions are equal. A bit like a joke – you do one wrong and it can make you fall flat on your face. Whether it’s being asked to state “an interesting fact about yourself” or “what your ideal partner is”, there are some icebreakers that can make people die inside a little.
Our goal is to prevent that from happening and give you a list of great icebreakers that will help you build team cohesion. In fact, we’ve got some great tips right here:
Theoretically, there are infinite icebreaker questions you can use for a virtual team meeting, but we’ve compiled some of the most effective ones, so you don’t need to go looking. Most questions can be grouped into six broad categories - we’ll go through each of them in detail with some quick examples - below.
Icebreaker questions come with one important goal: to build team rapport. So, questions designed specifically to help your teammates figure out how they best work with others are a great starting point. Think of them as a way to segue into the crux of the meeting while encouraging deep critical thinking.
Here are some great examples of team-building icebreaker questions you can use:
This one is quick and lighthearted - it’s perfect if you think you’re hard pressed for time and have a group of strangers sitting across each other on their laptop screens. You simply throw out two options, and the participant chooses the option they most identify with. It’s a great way of understanding your team’s preferences, likes and dislikes (so that it helps you stay away from topics in the future).
Here are some great examples of ‘this or that’ icebreaker questions you can use:
Yes, we all love a good laugh, but let’s face it. Work isn’t typically fun. You can change that with a batch of funny icebreaker questions. Humour can be super refreshing for team members who come into your meetings tired. Plus, it’s a great antidote for the disconnectedness that many employees face when they're working remotely.
Here are some great examples of funny icebreaker questions you can use:
Albert Einstein said that creativity is intelligence having fun. What a hardworking team needs is not a casual friday (every day is casual friday when you’re working remotely), they need an outlet for all their stress. Creative icebreaker questions get people involved and use their imagination to its fullest. Plus, creativity is contagious. It needs to be passed on.
Here are some great examples of creative icebreaker questions you can use:
If you're really looking to push the envelope out of the box, thought-provoking ice breakers can really help. They’re designed to get participants to stop and think for a second before they actually answer the question. It draws the whole team back into the game. And that’s exactly the point here!
Here are some great examples of thought-provoking icebreaker questions you can use:
The best way to get to know someone is finding out what they’re really passionate about - it could be a book, a movie, a show or even a favourite food - it can get the staunchest of introverts out of their shell. So much so that this category needs no explanation.
Here are some great examples of like-minded icebreaker questions you can use:
As you can see, virtual icebreakers don’t have to be awkward. It’s all about assessing the group’s dynamics and picking the right questions.
With these virtual icebreakers, you’ll be on your way to improving team communication and building trust. Plus, you can rest assured knowing that you’ll never have to ask anyone for a “fun fact” about themselves ever again.
Stay up to date with the latest remote work insights from our research lab
Free forever plan
No credit card required
Cancel anytime