Icebreaker Questions to Ask Your Coworkers
Fun questions Dejonckheere recommends bringing your conversations outside of the professional sphere to deepen your connection with your coworkers. Asking icebreakers is a great way to introduce non-work-related topics to your office. What's your favorite meme, and why? If there was a zombie apocalypse, how would you survive? What's your guilty pleasure TV show, and why should we be watching it? What’s your favorite breakfast food? If there were no consequences, what wild animal would you keep as a pet? What would be the ultimate scientific discovery? Would you like to be able to see into the future? Are you a spring, summer, fall, or winter person? If you didn’t have to work, what would you do with your time? If you could time travel to any event, where and when would you visit? What’s your favorite niche emotion? If you could grow any plant, what would it be? What was the moment you realized you were officially an adult? What’s the strangest tradition in your family? What’s the worst meal you ever cooked? What’s the naughtiest thing you got away with doing as a kid? What trendy phrase or expression did you use the most when you were younger? What is the best prank you ever pulled (or was pulled on you)? If you could only watch one TV show for the rest of your life, which one would you choose? If you could be the main character in any movie, who would you be? What sound or feeling gives you the shivers? If you were alive in the Middle Ages how would you make your living? If you could go back to the Stone Age, what cave painting would you make to confuse future mankind? If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be? What’s your biggest guilty pleasure? What’s an unusual skill you would love to master? You can only have one condiment for the rest of your life. Which one do you choose? If you came home and found a penguin in your freezer what would you do? If the world was going to end in 24 hours, what would you do? If you were suddenly shrunk to the size of a grain of rice, what would you do to draw attention to yourself? If your life was a musical, in what genre would you like the songs to be? If your house caught on fire, what’s the first object you would run to save? If you could give a TED talk on one thing, what would it be? If you could choose to stop aging at any age, which would you choose? If you could join mankind's maiden voyage to Mars, would you go? If you could have wings or breathe underwater, which would you choose? What do you think was the most important invention in history? What’s your all-time favorite movie quote? What’s your favorite dad joke? What’s the funniest pickup line you have either heard or used? If you could direct a blockbuster movie, what would it be about? What’s your strategy for breaking an awkward silence? What was your 15 minutes of fame? Tell us two truths and a lie. What’s the weirdest fact you know? What do you pretend to hate but actually love? If you had to choose, which animal would you say you most look like? Do you prefer to text somebody regularly or have phone calls less often? You’re on the run from the government, where do you choose to hide?
Quick questions Icebreakers are great get-to-know-yous, but if you’re with a large group of people, for example, at an assembly, it can be best to keep the introduction short. Try these quick questions so everyone gets the same chance to speak. Coffee or tea? Cream and sugar? Are you a night person or a morning person? If you could have an unlimited supply of one thing, what would it be? What’s the most interesting food you have eaten? Who is your favorite fictional character? Who is your favorite celebrity or famous person? What is your favorite thing to do at an amusement park? What is your favorite reality TV show? Who would you invite on your talk show? What fictional place would you like to visit? Are you a cat person or a dog person? Where would your dream house be? What is your favorite creature, real or imaginary? What’s your favorite word? What’s your biggest claim to fame? What’s your best party trick? Who is your favorite comedian? Who is your favorite actor? What is your favorite book? What is your favorite movie? What is your favorite song? Who is your favorite music artist? What is your favorite public holiday? What’s the best place you've ever visited? What is your favorite musical instrument? What hidden talents do you have? What’s your favorite cuisine? Who was your favorite school teacher and why? Are you a lone wolf or a social butterfly? Do you prefer the beach or the countryside?
Would you rather questions “Would you rather”s are easy to make inclusive, silly, and interesting. Ask these questions at the start of meetings, during awkward pauses, or during team building events: Would you rather meet your ancestors or descendants? Would you rather live in a world without music or movies? Would you rather live in a world without technology or nature? Would you rather be the funniest or most intelligent person in the room? Would you rather have a personal library or a personal movie theater? Would you rather never have to sleep or never have to eat? Would you rather have a photographic memory or a perfect pitch? Would you rather live in a treehouse or a houseboat? Would you rather that your pet could speak to you or that you could speak all other languages fluently? Would you rather have the ability to fly or be invisible? Would you rather have a job requiring lots of travel or a lot of public speaking? Would you rather live in the future or the past? Would you rather have the power to move objects with your mind or read other people's thoughts? Would you rather be a professional musician or an actor? Would you rather live forever or never age?
Questions for new recruits Starting a new job can be daunting, especially if you don’t know anyone. By providing new hires a space to get to know the team, they’re more likely to feel comfortable in your company’s work environment. What’s something you’re passionate about outside of work? What’s your dream job? What would the title of your autobiography be? What’s something you’ve accomplished that you’re super proud of? What’s your favorite way to spend the weekend? How would your friends describe you? What’s your favorite sports team or athlete? What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever been to? Who would you choose if you could pick one person, living or dead, to have dinner with? What hobby would you like to try if you had the time? If you could learn any language, which one would it be and why? What did you want to be when you were a kid? What's your favorite movie soundtrack? What superpower would you want to have, and how would you use it? What would you choose an unlimited supply of in the office? What supernatural creature would you most like to be and why? What favorite fashion trend do you wish was still acceptable? If you were stranded on a deserted island with access to a stereo, what album would you bring with you? Which cartoon character would you switch lives with? What’s something you’re planning on doing in the next year that you’ve never done? What musical instrument have you always wanted to play? What's the most exciting thing about you that most people don't know? What would you choose if you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life? Which movie character would you most like to take a class with?
Interview icebreakers One of the key factors to landing a job is having a personality that fits in with the company. To help get people to open up and show off their personality, try using some of these icebreakers: What's your absolute dream job, and has it changed since you were 11? What is your attitude towards work? What interests you about this position? What’s the best piece of advice someone has ever given you? What’s the worst advice someone has ever given you? If you could give your past self advice, what would it be? What is it about this particular career path you like? What do you want for your future? How did you choose your field of study? If you could teach a course on any subject, what would it be? If you could only choose one word to describe your working style, what would it be? What do you like about your current job? What do you dislike about it? What’s the best thing you’ve ever achieved in the workplace? What’s one thing that’s been challenging for you recently? What are your professional goals for the next year? What’s something you’ve been reading or learning about lately that’s grabbed your attention?
Professional questions Sometimes icebreakers are great ways to learn about shared values and goals with people on your team and in other departments. Interdepartmental relationships help improve workflow, collaboration, and problem-solving skills by introducing new minds to a project. What’s one thing you’d like to improve about your work environment? What professional opportunity are you looking forward to in the next three months? What’s one thing you’d like to try in your role that you’ve never done before? Do you have any hidden talents outside of work you'd like to share? What motivates you most to come to work? What’s the most important thing about your job? Who has influenced you most when it comes to your work ethic? What was your first job and what was your experience? How do you prefer to start your day? What’s the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it? When are you most productive? Which professional skill are you currently working on? What’s one thing that surprised you about working for this company? What’s one improvement you would like to see at this company? What’s a work-related accomplishment you’re proud of? What company practices would you like to change? What thing do you do every day that often goes unnoticed? What’s your biggest pet peeve? If you were the manager for a day what would you change or do differently? How can people come to you for help and what can you help with best? What’s your go-to tactic for unwinding after a stressful day? Who do you usually go to if you need help with a work-related task? In what kind of environment are you most productive? How do you motivate yourself to take on difficult tasks?
What inspired you to pursue your current career path? What’s your favorite thing about your company culture? What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on in your career? What’s a skill you’d like to learn or improve? What’s your go-to productivity hack? What's something you'd like to see changed in your industry? What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy work week? Besides your phone, what's your favorite tech toy, and why can't you live without it?
Questions for meetings Meetings help people get on the same page and relate to the other members of their team, but sometimes it can be difficult to get people comfortable talking to each other. Try getting people to open up by asking some of these questions: What was your first job, and how long did you work there? Which historical figure would you most like to have a Zoom meeting with? Which fictional family do you think our work team is most like and why? If you could choose our work dress code, what would it be? What would your entrance theme song be for our end-of-year party? What advice would you give yourself if you were starting your career again? What’s your cellphone wallpaper today? Which fictional character would you like to invite to our next team meeting? Which team member would you nominate to join Mount Rushmore? What’s the best trip you’ve ever been on and why? What qualities do you value most in a friend? What do you think makes your team particularly unique? What’s your favorite way to collaborate with colleagues? If you could switch jobs with anyone in the company for a week, who would it be?
Virtual icebreakers Since the pandemic, many companies have switched over to a remote or hybrid model, which can make it difficult for people to get to know each other. By asking icebreakers on video conferences or over email, you allow your employees to get to know each other better and engage in workplace relationships. What’s the most important thing you have on or near your desk right now? What’s one productivity tool you couldn’t live without? Are you more productive in the evening or the morning? Do you have any routines for improving your energy and focus? What is your go-to drink or snack while working? What’s one thing you wish could be automated about your job? Which website do you most often defer to when procrastinating? What are some strategies that you’ve found to be helpful in your recent work? What’s a common slang phrase that’s used where you live and what does it mean? Would you rather someone took a boring task off your to-do list or invited you to participate in an interesting project? Do you listen to music while you’re working? If so, what type of music do you most like to listen to? What goals are you currently working towards outside of work? What’s something that puts you in a state of flow? If you had a magic button on your desk that could bring you whatever you wanted, what would you summon? Do you have a desk mascot? If so, please show it to us and tell us more. Which strange position do you most commonly find yourself sitting in? Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them! Be honest, how often do you work from your bed?
Holiday icebreakers Company holiday parties are excellent spaces for people from all departments and seniority levels to interact and learn about each other. To help build cohesion with your company, offer up icebreaker activities and questions. Keep in mind that not everyone celebrates the same holidays—only ask Christmas-specific questions if you know everyone can participate. What’s your favorite holiday tradition? What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? Do you have a special dish you like to cook for the holidays? What do you like and dislike the most about the festive season? What is your favorite holiday movie? Where is the furthest place you’ve traveled for a holiday? If you could only listen to one Christmas song for the rest of your life what would it be? Are you more like Santa Claus or the Grinch? What thing did you do this year that would put you on the naughty list? If you could receive any present this year what would you get? What age were you when you stopped believing in Santa Claus? How did you find out that Santa Claus isn’t real? What’s your favorite part about Christmas dinner? If you could, would you ban Brussels sprouts forever? How big is your Christmas tree this year and where have you put it? Present a show-and-tell about your favorite Christmas decoration. Do you do all of your shopping online or in person? How early (or late) do you start preparing for Christmas? What snacks did you put out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve when you were younger? What food is a must-have on a Christmas buffet table? Have you ever regifted a present? What’s your favorite drink at Christmas time?
How to Choose the Right Icebreaker
Choose your questions based on what answers you expect. Ask questions that allow people to open up on the topics you’re interested in as a team. Think about what you want to get from your icebreaker session: do you want to learn about the career goals of new recruits, the personal values of coworkers, or justget a team to open up to each other? For example, if you’re introducing new hires to your workplace, you may ask everyone to share what they think makes a good working environment.
Ask fun, nonthreatening questions. Icebreakers are supposed to be fun, not just informative. Use icebreakers that get people engaged in a positive way, and steer clear of questions like “What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done,” or “What’s something about yourself you’d like to change?”
Aim to be inclusive. While icebreakers are meant to be lighthearted, there are times when questions can be unintentionally harmful. For example, asking people about their gender, religion, sexuality, or financial situation can cause an uncomfortable situation. When in doubt, stick to neutral questions about things everyone can relate to, like their roles in the workplace. Questions like, “What would your gangster name be?,” or “What accent is least attractive to you?” “What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever done while drunk?” are generally not appropriate for work.
Icebreaker Best Practices
Ask icebreakers at the beginning of a meeting. If the subject of the meeting doesn’t require too much prep time, asking an icebreaker at the beginning can help get the creative juices flowing. If a meeting requires a lot of preparation and focus or if it’s covering a serious subject, consider leaving the icebreakers for later. You can also end tense meetings with fun questions, just be sure to respect the time of everyone participating: if you’re running late, skip the icebreakers.
Create a space where people feel comfortable sharing their opinions. Workplaces are more productive and profitable when people of all backgrounds are able to have open conversations about their opinions. Make sure your peers and employees feel that they won’t be punished for honest, good faith communication. Dejonckheere advises employees should be encouraged to step back and check in with their core values. Allowing your employees and coworkers to step out of their comfort zones and interrogate company policies (and their own actions) can help your workplace foster new experiences that are beneficial for more people.
Consider giving time beforehand. If you’re running a meeting where people are being introduced to each other, some participants may feel put on the spot. However, if they can prepare for a potentially stressful situation, they’ll be more equipped to handle it. For example, you could say in an email:Hey everyone, I’m excited to get the ball rolling on this project tomorrow. We’re going to start with an icebreaker—What superpower would you have and why?—so please come up with a quick answer to share with everyone. If you want to lower the stakes even further, you could have people write down their answers, put them into a bowl, so you can read them out loud, yourself.
Ask open-ended, one-sentence questions. Icebreakers are supposed to be brief and not require too much thinking; if you find yourself asking a question in several parts, that’s a good sign that it’s too long. Still, try to ask things that have more than a “yes or no” or “either, or” answer.
If you’re meeting virtually, ask everyone to turn on their cameras. Asking icebreaker questions is a great way to get people engaged with each other online, so be sure people are fully present during your meeting. Ask people to call in from a place with good reception and low noise so they can fully participate.
Follow up with people about their answers. To form relationships with your coworkers, Dejonckheere recommends starting conversations about your mutual interests by asking them questions and actively listening to their answers: “[T]he moment that you find something like, “Wait, I’ve been there,”...you can go deeper and start a conversation…that builds some trust.”
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