Introductory Question

Firstly when starting a new team-building activity, your team can acknowledge your need to ask themselves to open up and share something about them. Often this can be a little scarey for the shy type people as your asking them to let everyone in on their personalty and it does get personal(not in a bad way). A wonderful first question to use is when they were in primary school; “what did you want to be when you grew up?” Along with a follow question of “Why?”.

An example below:

“What did you want to be when you grew up?”

If they answered “A rich business man”.

You may ask them “Why rich? What would you do with lots of money?”

If they then answer something like “So I could travel the world” then they really value traveling more than anything else. This line of questioning will get to the core of who they really are and what they truly desire in life. Given unlimited opportunity and money.

Likes and Dislikes

Asking likes and dislikes of peoples preferences is a great way to build trust with each other. Find out who opts for paper and who opts for plastic by asking questions concerning each member’s likes and dislikes. Consider asking each person to share his biggest pet peeve. Find out what gets your team dancing by asking them to name their favorite song or go way back and ask them their favorite TV show growing up. By asking questions like these, your team may find out they have more in common than they thought.

Trivia

Consider making a game out of your questions by starting a round of people trivia. Have each individual answer four to five questions on a sheet of paper. Questions may be, “What TV character are you most like?” or “Where would we most likely find you on a weekend?” Once all of the answers have been turned in, its your turn to play the host. This game can go on for a long time so it is advisable to take a break in the middle so people don’t get overloaded with information and get to have a nice intermission etc.

Humorous and Serious

Nothing breaks the ice like a good laugh. Ask silly questions like, “If you could get any tattoo, what would it be?” or “What animal would you be and why?” Another could be, “What reality TV star would you be?” For serious questions, consider asking what each person would be willing to lay down their life for or who they most admire. Once you’ve completed all of these exercises listed above you should have a pretty happily communicating team! Well done.

Whether your goal is to kick-off a meeting in a light manner or to simply break the monotony of an ongoing activity, having the appropriate meeting ice breaker is essential. What is key to having a successful ice breaker is knowing the bounds that need breaking, knowing the audience that will take part in the activity, and deciding the most appropriate icebreaker questions for the group. 

For groups with a large number of participants that do not know each other, having a fun and simple ice breaker could establish good rapport and could build connection among them. 

1. The participants could be asked to creatively introduce themselves to the audience. They could state their name, what they do, who they work for, and something interesting about them outside the usual work they do. For example, they could add “I love painting and making crafts” to the usual information they are asked to give. This gives everyone a chance to jump start a creative flow of ideas. This simple self-introduction could also break the tension among participants who have different job positions or come from different backgrounds. It is important to note that when people come from varied work a stratum, breaking the unspoken barrier is key to having a successful activity and creating a sense of community among participants. Self-introduction ice breakers level the differences and somehow decreases the discomfort felt by the participants.

2. Another idea is to divide the group into smaller clusters by having them count off. Participants who know each other usually sit together in activities or seminars. Having them count off will enable everyone to interact with participants they do not know. Once everybody is clustered, you can ask them to share 3 things that they like, or 3 books they have read, or 3 hobbies that they enjoy. It could be any topic e.g. love quotes that the participants won’t have a hard time sharing. This type of activity fosters better interaction among those who are typically shy or quiet. Speaking in a smaller group also eases the anxiety of those who are generally uncomfortable speaking in large crowds.

3. Another meeting ice breaker is done by writing the names of all the participants down and by having each participant pick a name. Once everybody is settled in their seats, you can ask them to mingle and find the person whose name they drew. They will be made to introduce themselves and share some things to each other. After this, they will introduce each other to the group in a short and creative way. This activity enables people in the group to remember names and somehow have fun on the process without spending too much time.

When doing the ice breakers, it is essential to keep it short and simple. Lengthy and too complex ice breakers may do more harm than good in establishing a sense of identity and unity among participants. Most of all, do not forget to add the element of fun. Creating a light atmosphere sets off a positive mood among the participants and therefore leads to the overall success of an activity or seminar.

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Meeting new people in a seemingly new environment makes it hard for people to open up and communication without hesitation. Most often than not, people keep to themselves their thoughts and opinions and tend to limit their actions especially when in a social event such as a meeting and even in team buildings wherein people are already somehow acquainted to each other. The most probable for this one is fear of getting rejected. That is why most if not all of us follow some sort of protocol when dealing with new people.

When placed in an awkward situation, one can get by with this through ice breaker questions which may serve as a jump start of a fruitful conversation. Ice breaker questions as usually coupled with icebreaker activities which are done as tools to make social events such as team building activities proactive and successful. They help people become more relaxed, engaged, and involved in the process of achieving the desired goal of the activity.

What Icebreaker Questions Would Want to Accomplish

Icebreaker questions serve two main purposes. First, it helps in acquiring new knowledge or information about the certain person(s) that is(are) involved in the event. It should be interesting yet suitable enough to both entertain and not insult the other party.

Secondly, it has to be created with wit and humor as a perfect combination of both may set up a light mood and help both parties enjoy each other.

Fun Icebreakers questions may be adjusted depending on the situation. They can be too personal, business-like or just plain humorous questions that aim to know something about the other person. When one begins to learn new things about the other, trust is gradually created. Once there is trust, communication becomes easier and effective.

Icebreaker Questions Examples

Funny Icebreaker Questions. These types of questions are perfect starters especially for informal events such as a group party for friends and also in social meetings. It tends to break the ice and bring out a good laugh for everyone.

• If you won in the lottery, how will you spend your money in one day?
• If you were an animal, what would you be?
• If you were the president, what would be the first thing that you would do?
• What is your most embarrassing moment?
• What’s your sort of fun?
• What do you usually do during your leisure time?
• If you could change your name, what would it be and why?
• What makes you giggle?
• If you could pick a song that describes your life, what would it be and why?
• What brings you here today?

Team-Building Icebreakers. These questions help create an open environment for team building activities. It helps foster communication between participants.

• What part of you is your best asset?
• Who is your hero and why?
• What legacy do you want people to remember about you?
• What makes you happy?
• How do you cope with a bad day?
• What are the things that you are willing to change to become better in the workplace?
• What are your unknown talents?
• What is your idea of socializing?
• What is your most memorable moment thus far?