60 Icebreakers to Try At Your Next Virtual Team Meeting

Who would have thought that a global pandemic would turn our working world upside down and make virtual meetings the new norm?

As working from home becomes more common, virtual meetings have become an important part of business communication. Check out our blog on how to run effective remote team meetings.

Virtual meetings can be hard, especially when trying to bring people from different teams together and building relationships with them. Icebreaker questions can help break the ice in virtual meetings and make people feel more comfortable and friendly. In this blog post, we will give you all the Ice breakers you'll ever need.

Why use icebreakers during virtual team-building or meetings?

Icebreakers are a fun and effective way to get people talking and feeling comfortable with one another, especially during virtual team-building or meetings. In fact, they're even more important in virtual settings where fostering a good remote culture is more important than ever.

Here are a few reasons why you should consider using icebreakers during virtual team-building or meetings:

1. They help break down barriers: Icebreakers help people get to know each other on a more personal level, which can break down barriers and create a sense of camaraderie among team members. This can lead to better communication and collaboration down the road.
2. They promote engagement: By getting everyone involved in an activity or discussion, icebreakers can help keep people engaged and focused on the task at hand. This is especially important in virtual meetings where distractions can be more prevalent.
3. They boost morale: Icebreakers can be a lot of fun, and a little bit of laughter and levity can go a long way in boosting morale and creating a positive atmosphere. This can help team members feel more connected and invested in the work they're doing together.
4. They encourage creativity: Many icebreakers involve creative thinking or problem-solving, which can help stimulate the brain and encourage people to think outside the box. This can be a valuable skill in any team setting.

How to effectively use icebreakers in virtual meetings

Using icebreakers can be a fantastic strategy if you want to build stronger connections and relationships with your remote team. But to get the most out of your icebreaker sessions, it's important you use them in an effective manner. Here are a few tips to help you do just that:

Keep it short and sweet: Virtual meetings can be tiring, so keep your icebreaker session short and snappy, lasting at most 10-15 minutes. It will help energize your team and start your meeting on a high note.

Be inclusive: Make sure everyone has a chance to participate, and try to choose activities that are accessible to all participants. Avoid icebreakers that rely on physical proximity or require special equipment.

Listen actively: During the icebreaker, you should tell your team to practice active listening. This means listening carefully to each other and asking follow-up questions to get to know each other better.

What are good icebreaker activities on zoom?

Here are a few of our favorite activities to break the ice in your next Zoom meeting:

Virtual Scavenger Hunt: By setting up a virtual scavenger hunt, you and your team can have fun and get to know each other without leaving your homes.

You can give your team members a certain amount of time to find specific items in their homes. This activity is a fantastic way to get everyone moving and motivated.

Virtual Pictionary: A game of virtual Pictionary can help your remote team be more creative and work together. One person on the team draws a picture, and the others try to figure out what it is. The activity is interesting and fun, and it will help people get to know each other in a relaxed and fun way.

Virtual Karaoke: Take turns singing your favorite songs and bring high spirits to your team's virtual meeting. It's a great way to promote team bonding and warm those vocal cords.

The only list of icebreaker questions you'll ever need

Whether you want to get to know your team better or break the ice with new colleagues, we've got you covered. Here are some of the best icebreaker questions for virtual meetings, organized into different categories to suit your preferences and situations:

Best icebreaker questions for virtual meetings:

1. What's your favorite food and why?
2. How do you usually start your day?
3. What's your favorite movie of all time?
4. Do you prefer to work in a team or independently?
5. What's on your bucket list?
6. What's your go-to conversation starter during an awkward silence?
7. Have you ever worked with virtual teams before? What was your experience like?
8. What are your favorite virtual icebreaker questions to ask during team meetings?
9. Who's your favorite famous person and why?
10. Are you a cat person or a dog person?
11. What's your favorite song and why?
12. What's a common ground you share with most people?
13. What's your daily routine like?
14. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
15. What's your dream house like?
16. What fashion trend would you like to bring back?
17. Which historical figure do you admire the most and why?
18. What's your favorite piece of clothing?
19. What are your favorite team-building questions to ask during team meetings and why?
20. Have you watched your favorite childhood movie recently? How did you feel about it?
21. What was your favorite subject in school and why?
22. What's your favorite podcast and why?
23. What's your favorite holiday and why?
24. What's your favorite game and why?
25. What's the worst advice you've ever received?
26. What's the most interesting thing you've learned recently?
27. What's your favorite thing about the city or town you live in?
28. What's your favorite thing to cook or bake and why?
29. What's the best advice you've ever received and how has it impacted your life?

Fun icebreaker questions:

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Source: Pexels

1. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only bring one beverage of choice, what would it be?
2. If you could choose any entrance theme song to play whenever you walked into a room, what would it be?
3. If you had a time machine, which time period would you visit?
4. Which cartoon character do you relate to the most and why?
5. Which fictional character do you most relate with and why?
6. How would you survive a zombie apocalypse?
7. What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?
8. What's the funniest story you have ever heard?
9. What's your favorite breakfast food and why?
10. How would you describe our company culture in three words?
11. If you could go deep-sea diving anywhere in the world, where would you go?
12. If you could choose any piece of advice to give to someone, what would it be?
13. What's your favorite piece of furniture and why?
14. If you could bring back any embarrassing fashion trend, which one would it be?
15. What's your favorite childhood memory and why?
16. What's your favorite destination and why?
17. If you could have any celebrity as your boss, who would it be and why?
18. What's your favorite board game or video game and why?
19. What's the most interesting place you've ever visited and why?
20. What's the most interesting or surprising fact about yourself that most people don't know?
21. What's the most adventurous thing you've ever done and how did it make you feel?

If you could icebreaker questions for virtual meetings:

1. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
2. If you could travel back in time to any period, which one would it be?
3. If you could go back in time and relive any moment in your life, what would it be and why?
4. If you could switch lives with anyone for a day, who would it be?
5. If you could meet any famous person, who would it be?
6. If you could survive the zombie apocalypse with only one other person, who would it be?
7. If you could time travel to any historical event, which one would it be?
8. If you could have any cartoon character as your best friend, who would it be?
9. If you could design your dream house, what would it look like?
10. If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?
11. If you could have any quotation as your life motto, what would it be?
12. If you could learn any skill instantly, what would it be?
13. If you could be any age forever, what age would you choose?
14. If you could only listen to one musician/band for the rest of your life, who would it be?
15. If you could only wear one color for the rest of your life, what would it be?
16. If you could live in any era, which one would you choose?
17. If you could switch places with someone for a day, who would it be?
18. If you could be the lead singer in any band, which one would it be?
19. If you could have any historical artifact, what would it be?
20. If you could switch lives with any animal for a day, which one would it be?
21. If you could only watch one sport for the rest of your life, what would it be?
22. If you could have any language instantly mastered, which one would it be and why?
23. If you could have any famous director direct a movie about your life, who would it be and why?
24. If you could magically learn any instrument, which one would it be and why?

Would you rather icebreaker questions:

1. Would you rather have a time machine or a teleportation device?
2. Would you rather live in a world with zombies or aliens?
3. Would you rather have a million dollars or have your dream job?
4. Would you rather live in a small town or a big city?
5. Would you rather be a famous actor or musician?
6. Would you rather go on a virtual scavenger hunt or play a trivia game?
7. Would you rather wear the same piece of clothing for a week or go without showering for a week?
8. Would you rather have your favorite food for every meal or never eat your favorite food again?
9. Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?
10. Would you rather have a personal chef or a personal assistant?
11. Would you rather be stranded on a deserted island alone or with someone you can't stand?
12. Would you rather have a lifetime supply of your favorite beverage or your favorite snack?
13. Would you rather have your dream house or a dream car?
14. Would you rather have your favorite holiday every month or never celebrate your favorite holiday again?
15. Would you rather be the funniest person in the room or the most successful?
16. Would you rather have a dream job with low pay or a high-paying job you hate?
17. Would you rather have a dream job with no co-workers or a job you hate with great co-workers?
18. Would you rather have a dream job that requires a lot of effort or an easy job you don't like?
19. Would you rather have all your bucket list items complete or have a million dollars?
20. Would you rather have unlimited energy or unlimited time?

General icebreaker questions for virtual meetings:

1. What is your favorite thing to do in your daily routine?
2. What's your favorite way to relax after a long day?
3. What's your favorite memory with your family and why?
4. What is your favorite morning routine?
5. What's your favorite caffeinated beverage?
6. What is your favorite piece of advice someone has given you?
7. What is your favorite piece of clothing?
8. What is your favorite childhood memory?
9. What is your favorite holiday movie?
10. What is your favorite podcast?
11. What is your favorite video game?
12. What is your favorite quotation?
13. What is your favorite scent?
14. What was your favorite subject in school?
15. What is your favorite destination?
16. What is your favorite breakfast food?
17. What is your favorite virtual team-building activity?
18. What is your favorite Zoom icebreaker?
19. What is the worst advice you could give to someone?
20. What is the funniest icebreaker you have ever done?

Icebreakers for specific types of teams

Source: Pexels

When it comes to questions or activities to break the ice, different teams may have different requirements. Here are some examples of good icebreakers for different types of teams:

First up, we have cross-functional teams. These teams require icebreakers that encourage people to learn more about each other's roles and expertise. To do this, you can ask team members to share a project they've worked on in the past or describe a challenging problem they've solved. This way, everyone can appreciate each other's skills and accomplishments.

Next, we have newly formed teams. These teams need icebreakers that help people get to know each other quickly and build trust. You can start by asking team members to share something unique about themselves or describe their preferred working style. This will help break the ice and create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

Lastly, we have remote teams. These teams need icebreakers that help people feel connected despite being geographically dispersed. Read our blog on how to run effective remote team meetings. 

You can use an icebreaker that asks people to share a photo or video of their workspace or describe how they stay motivated while working from home. This will help everyone feel more comfortable and connected, even though they live miles apart.

Tips for creating your own icebreaker questions

If you're looking to create your own icebreaker questions, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Be specific: Avoid asking questions that could lead to generic answers. Instead, ask specific questions that make people want to talk about themselves or their experiences. For example, instead of asking, "What do you like to do?" ask, "What's a hobby or activity you've always wanted to try but haven't yet?"

Keep it light: While icebreakers can help build trust and rapport, it's important to keep the questions light and fun. Avoid questions that could be too personal or uncomfortable for people to answer.

Be inclusive: When creating icebreaker questions, consider your team members' diverse backgrounds and experiences. Try to develop questions that everyone can relate to and answer comfortably. For example, instead of asking, "What's your favorite holiday tradition?" ask, "What's a winter holiday that you celebrate, and what's your favorite part of it?".

Final thoughts on icebreakers

Incorporating icebreakers into virtual meetings can help your team bond and create a more productive and positive work environment!

You can also incorporate icebreaker games or activities into your virtual meetings! These games can help your team members connect on a deeper level and help you foster a good remote culture.

Whether you're using icebreakers to kick off a meeting or to facilitate team-building activities, the key to success is to keep it light, fun, and positive. One more thing you can do to make your meetings a breeze is to use Dive.

Dive is a meeting intelligence platform that makes running best-in-class meetings a breeze. Our intelligent meeting assistant helps your team efficiently prepare for your meetings and tells you what happened in your meeting, who said what, and what you should do next - all in one place

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