In every workplace on average 30 to 50% of the people are introverts. By using the right icebreaker questions at the right time you are able to make them feel comfortable and open up with you.
Icebreaker questions will help you build a strong communication that will last longer in the minds of the people with your team.
You can use these icebreaker questions in person also in zoom or Google meet calls.
In this blog, you will learn how and when to use icebreaker questions in the workplace
Table of Contents
Quick and Easy Icebreaker Questions for Work
Two truths and a lie
It is the most common and easiest icebreaker question to shoot in the workplace.
Each person has to share three statements about themselves, two true and one lie.
You have to find out which one is a lie.
Examples of two truths and lies.
1. I once met a former US president.
I have a twin sister.
I’ve run a marathon.
2. I speak three languages.
I’ve never had a cavity.
I’ve lived in five different countries.
3. I’m allergic to chocolate.
I’ve won a national cooking competition.
I have a pet tarantula.
4. I used to be a professional dancer.
I’ve climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.
I can solve a Rubik’s cube in under 2 minutes.
5. I’ve written a published novel.
I’m a certified scuba diver.
I’ve never broken a bone.
6. I once appeared as an extra in a Hollywood movie.
I can juggle five balls at once.
I’ve eaten insects as a delicacy in Southeast Asia.
7. I’ve never had a cup of coffee.
I’ve met the Queen of England.
I can play four musical instruments.
8. I’ve participated in a TEDx talk.
I have a black belt in karate.
I’ve won a local radio contest.
9. I’ve skydived three times.
I’m distantly related to a famous historical figure.
I’ve never had a cavity.
10. I once lived in a treehouse for a month.
I can recite the first 100 digits of pi.
I’ve been on national television.
11. I’ve never owned a smartphone.
I’ve completed an Ironman triathlon.
I can speak backwards fluently.
12. I’ve had dinner with a Nobel Prize winner.
I’m an amateur beekeeper.
I’ve visited all 50 US states.
13. I’ve won a stand-up comedy competition.
I can wiggle my ears independently.
I’ve met three different astronauts.
14. I’ve never had a social media account.
I once swam with sharks.
I can touch my nose with my tongue.
15. I’ve been in a hot air balloon race.
I’ve eaten at a 3-Michelin-star restaurant.
I can name all the US presidents in order.
16. I’ve participated in a flash mob.
I’ve been on a game show.
I can sleep standing up.
17. I’ve performed at Carnegie Hall.
I’ve never had a brain freeze from eating ice cream.
I’ve raised prize-winning chickens.
18. I’ve shaken hands with three different countries’ prime ministers.
I can do a one-handed handstand.
I’ve never worn glasses or contacts.
19. I’ve competed in a national spelling bee.
I can read upside down as fast as right-side up.
I’ve been in a commercial for a major brand.
20. I’ve never had a cavity.
I’ve been on a safari in Africa.
I can name every country’s capital city.
Would you rather
It is also the easiest icebreaker question to use in the workplace. You have to give two scenarios and ask which they’d prefer.
These questions can be work related or more fun questions.
Examples of would you rather, questions.
1. Would you rather have a four-day work week or unlimited paid time off?
2. Would you rather be able to read minds at work or have the ability to predict project outcomes with 100% accuracy?
3. Would you rather have a standing desk or a treadmill desk?
4. Would you rather have lunch with the CEO every day for a week or get a week of extra vacation time?
5. Would you rather be fluent in all programming languages or be able to speak every human language?
6. Would you rather have the ability to undo any mistake at work or the power to speed up time during boring meetings?
7. Would you rather work in a completely silent office or in an office with constant background music?
8. Would you rather have a personal assistant or a state-of-the-art AI to help with your work?
9. Would you rather have the ability to type at 1000 words per minute or never need to sleep?
10. Would you rather have all your meetings as walking meetings or virtual reality meetings?
11. Would you rather have the power to read any document instantly or the ability to remember everything you’ve ever read?
12. Would you rather have an extra hour of sleep every day or an extra hour of productive work time?
13. Would you rather have the ability to teleport to work or have a self-driving car for your commute?
14. Would you rather have a photographic memory or the ability to multitask perfectly?
15. Would you rather always know what your boss is thinking or always know what your clients are thinking?
16. Would you rather have an office with a breathtaking view or an office next to all your closest coworkers?
17. Would you rather have the ability to automate any task at work or delegate any task to someone else?
18. Would you rather have every Friday off or every Monday off?
19. Would you rather be able to eat anything without health consequences or never feel tired at work?
20. Would you rather have the ability to slow down time during deadlines or speed up time during slow work days?
Virtual Icebreakers for Work
Virtual background stories
You have to ask your team members to change their video background with a meaning. Once they choose a wallpaper they have to explain why they choose the background and its significance.
Online Personality Quizzes
Conduct Quizzes such as Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, or work style assessments.
Collaborative digital workboard
Create a collaborative digital workboard where your team members can draw or write simultaneously. Ask your team to draw something about their dream vacation.
Conclusion
The key to shoot successful icebreaker questions in work lies in how you deliver. Choose questions and activities that align with your team personality and goals.
Be mindful of time constraints and ensure the exercises remain relevant to your work context. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different icebreaker questions to find what works best for your team.
The small investment of time in these activities can yield significant returns in team morale, productivity, and overall workplace satisfaction.
Learn more icebreaker questions.
[…] Work and career-related icebreaker questions are often used by interviewers in job interviews to make the interviewee feel comfortable and to start the communication process. […]