Successful teams in the workplace need to know each other well and be able to incorporate new members into the culture easily. Though that can seem like a big challenge, icebreaker questions can help with both.
Icebreaker questions for work are a simple but fun way to help teams learn more about themselves and other members while making it easier for newcomers to feel like they fit in with the team.
Why are Team Icebreaker Questions Important?
Before we dive too deep, it’s important to understand why team icebreaker questions are important. Many see icebreakers as childish games that take away from work time, but that’s a huge misconception.
One of the key characteristics of high performing teams is that they know each other well. They have familiarity with each other’s personalities, likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, and more. This allows teams to more effectively plan, delegate roles, and collaborate.
Icebreakers can also help foster employee connections, which increases engagement, motivation, retention, and more. In the event of an organizational merger, they can bring those opposing teams together.
On top of all that, icebreakers are an effective way to onboard new team members. Icebreakers provide an opportunity for new team members to learn more about their teammates, get familiar with the culture, and start building connections.
The point is that icebreakers provide many benefits for teams. From increased performance and retention to better onboarding, icebreakers can be a powerful resource that businesses shouldn’t overlook.
25 Icebreaker Questions for Work
Coming up with questions to break the ice is often more challenging than one would think. However, finding the right icebreakers for your team is key.
To help, we’re going to provide a whole bunch of potential icebreakers. We’ll break them up into different categories, and then provide five questions for each—resulting in a grand total of 25 potential questions for icebreakers.
Just remember to keep your team and their personalities/preferences in mind while choosing questions.
Classic Work Icebreaker Questions
Classic work icebreakers are a great way to foster interpersonal relationships at work while learning more about each other. These questions are a classic for a reason—they work. So here are five examples of classic work icebreakers:
What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on in your career?
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received at work?
What’s one skill you’d like to learn or improve in the next year?
What’s your go-to productivity tip?
What do you like to do in your free time outside of work?
These are all simple, straightforward questions that help you and your team members learn more about each other. Though they may not be as fun or exciting as some on this list, they are still very effective.
Fun Icebreaker Questions
Though the point of doing an icebreaker is serious, that doesn’t mean they can’t be fun. Fun icebreaker questions are great since having fun with others is one of the best ways to bond and develop friendships. Here are a few fun icebreakers to try out:
If you could have dinner with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be?
If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?
If you could live in any fictional universe, which one would you choose?
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
If you had a time machine, would you visit the past or the future?
These can be more effective when it comes to learning about who someone really is personally, and they’re also great for lightening up more tense situations.
Silly Icebreaker Questions
For those looking to get a bit goofy and let loose, silly icebreaker questions are perfect. Sometimes you just need to get a bit silly and have some fun to better understand your coworkers, so here are some silly icebreakers:
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
What would your superhero name be, and what’s your superpower?
What’s the weirdest food combination you’ve ever tried?
If you could be any animal for a day, what would you be?
If you could turn any mundane activity into an Olympic sport, what would you win a gold medal in?
While you might not get any deep insights from these icebreakers, you will have some fun and develop stronger bonds with your teammates that in turn can help boost your performance, engagement, and satisfaction.
Funny Icebreaker Questions
Sometimes we all need a laugh. Laughs can also be one of the best ways to create friendships, build bonds, and encourage camaraderie. So why not some funny icebreaker questions? Here are a handful to get you started:
What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you at work?
What’s the strangest talent you have?
If you were arrested with no explanation, what would your coworkers assume you had done?
What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever bought?
If you were a wrestler, what would your entrance theme song be?
These questions will help you and your team share some valuable laughs, encouraging you to grow closer and collaborate more effectively. And as expected, that will help your team be more productive and efficient in the long run.
Deep Icebreaker Questions
Though icebreakers are typically thought of as fun and unserious, there are deep icebreaker questions for adults too. These questions can help you really learn more about your teammates and how they think. Here are a few examples:
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
What’s a book that changed your perspective on something?
What motivates you to keep going on tough days?
Who has been the biggest influence on your life and why?
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
These questions go beyond the typical lighthearted fun and make you think a bit harder. When it comes to bonding as a team, deep questions are often some of the most effective. Plus, they can spur interesting conversations.
Other Ways to Break the Ice
Though icebreakers are the most popular way to break the ice, they are far from the only way to do so. There are many different ways to learn more about employees and get the conversation started.
For example, team building questions for the workplace and supporting employee development via team building can both be effective ways to break the ice and start building bonds among team members.
It’s important to be aware of all the tools available to you. If not, you can’t utilize them all to the fullest extent. So, let’s take a look at three alternatives to ice-breaking questions you can use to get to know your team better.
Two Truths and a Lie
Most of us probably played Two Truths and a Lie in school, but the premise is simple for those who aren’t familiar. Each person has to come up with two truths about themselves and a lie, and everyone else has to figure out which is the lie.
It’s a simple game, yet fun and impactful. Everyone gets to learn more about each other via the two truths, all while having fun trying to figure out what everyone is lying about. This is one of those games that’s somehow always fun, no matter how many times you’ve done it.
Interactive Polls
Another option you can consider is interactive polls. Polls like Kahoot allow people to vote on questions you arrange, such as favorite shows or food. These are great because teams get to vote and see their results in real time, spurring discussions and friendly arguments.
They’re also very easy to set up if you go with something like Kahoot. All you have to do is write out your questions, send the link out to everyone, and you’re ready to enjoy your icebreaker.
Speed Networking
Lastly, speed networking is also a great way to break the ice. Speed networking events force employees to talk to each other, learn as much as they can in a short period of time, and make sure no one gets excluded.
Our Nexus speed networking event for example uses a series of fun and engaging activities combined with discussions that encourage camaraderie and help enhance relationships. It’s a relatively short but also incredibly impactful and effective event perfect for breaking the ice.
Go Beyond Team Icebreaker Questions
Strong, high-performing teams need to have a good understanding of each other. They should know each other deeply and have deep relationships that help empower collaboration, innovation, and creativity.
One way to foster that understanding is with icebreakers. These questions can help foster understanding, build bonds, and create better, more effective teams. If you need help with planning an icebreaker, TeamBonding can help.
We have decades of experience helping teams break the ice and bond as teams. We have a plethora of team building activities, so get in touch with us today to go beyond icebreakers and embrace the power of team building.
