If you had to give a presentation on the spot, what would your topic be? Icebreakers. The activity, not the gum. I thrive on meaningful conversations and, sometimes, a simple question can take me there.
Icebreakers are my survival kit in social settings. It has taken trial and error to figure out how to engage at the right moments and gauging the right level of prompts. If there were a scientific formula to get a consistent result, I’d really like to read that research.
The power of asking the right icebreaker question is extremely underrated. It’s an easy way for people to unite. At SiteCrafting, icebreakers have become a weekly routine. It provides a consistent point of connection, increases engagement and contributes to positive team culture.
Why Bother with Icebreakers?
An icebreaker is typically used when people that don’t know each other well meet for a specific common goal. While the meeting agenda may be to finalize the scope of work or project timeline, the unspoken agenda lies within the psychology of the icebreaker — building trust. Earning trust is one of our company’s core values. We believe that honesty and transparency help to build trust, which creates strong relationships.
Getting to know your team members quickly can help set the foundation for great work. With the right icebreaker, you can learn more about the team as individuals and how their potential contributions relate to the team as a whole. We can get a glimpse into how different minds work. For example, the three objects that this person would strategically bring to a deserted island are logical items or this person’s favorite hobby requires a lot of creativity and attention to detail. Each person here has something unique to bring to the table. Asking a simple question can be the starting point of a project, while building trust will successfully take you to the finish line.
Tailor Your Icebreaker Activities
Initiating an icebreaker is more than just asking a thoughtful question. It’s provoking a barrier that needs to be broken. When thinking of a question to ask, first ask yourself, what’s the ice that you’re trying to break in an icebreaker? We have to answer a question about icebreakers before we get to ask icebreaker questions. Sorry, those are the rules.
The session that you facilitate will depend on the group that you’re bringing together.
- Are you bringing together a group of people that have never met before? Break the tension with quick questions that allow people to share an interesting fact about themselves so everyone can get to know each other and feel more comfortable working together.
- Are there people coming from different levels of the organization? Are you collaborating with a different organization? Break down the differences and pose a question that brings people to a common ground.
- Do you want to get to know someone better? The most important ice to break is the one that allows you to see your colleague in a true light. Learning who they are in life is more valuable than who they are in the workplace.
Actually Fun Icebreaker Questions
Engaging in an icebreaker session gives participants a chance to bond. Break out the questions at the start of a meeting, a group lunch or anytime you want to get to know someone better. You can keep it light or you can keep it weird — it all depends on the setting. The internet is full of random icebreakers at the ready. You can even keep a deck at the office. Here are some of our favorites:
Personal icebreakers
- What would the title of your biography be? And what’s the name of the chapter that you’re on?
- Who was the first concert you saw? Who was the most recent you attended?
- What have you tried because it looked easy-peasy lemon squeezy but was actually difficult-difficult lemon difficult?
- If you had to sing karaoke right now, what song would you pick?
- Where do you feel most at home?
Work-related icebreakers
- How would you describe your job to a grandma in seven words or less?
- What professional development book would you recommend that everyone reads?
- When was the last time that you truly unplugged?
- If you had a magic button on your desk to bring you whatever you wanted, what would it summon?
- What’s something you’ve drawn inspiration from recently?
Getting to know and understand who you’re working alongside is a fun way to start a conversation or meeting. With enough time, it also helps build compassion and relationships between team members, and improves communication and teamwork. Try asking some of these questions at your next gathering, keep your ears open and your mind curious.
