Picking the Best Icebreaker Questions to Use Over Zoom
“Say your name, your position at [insert company name here] and a fun fact about yourself!” The dreaded ice breaker. Let’s be honest, it’s tough trying to connect with people over Zoom and it’s even more difficult when the ice breaker is literally always the same. After hosting over 800 virtual games for hundreds of Fortune 500 companies, start ups, universities, and individuals all over the world, Bar None Games has determined that ice breakers, well, they really help break the ice! But there is a caveat to that finding: You have to make sure you are asking the right questions!
Make the Icebreaker Relevant
No matter where you live, no matter who you live with, no matter what position you hold at your organization, one thing that is currently affecting everyone is quarantine. One way to bring people together over this shared experience is by asking:
“What are the best and worst meals you’ve made during quarantine?”
This question allows for you to learn something new about each and every person on the Zoom while simultaneously acting as a good cautionary tale to make sure you stay away from the culinary skills (or lack thereof) of certain members of the group.
Ask Something Completely Random
At this point, we have all grown accustomed to ignoring the fact that the fingers crossed emoji is prominently featured in our “frequently used” emoji group, but have you ever wondered what emoji is your boss’s go-to? Now is the time to find out! Every emoji says something totally different about the conversations your co-workers are having with their family and friends. Whether you find out that your old officemate constantly uses the monkey with its hands over its eyes because he constantly CC's the wrong “Andrew” on his emails, or whether he uses the ice cream cone because it really is never too cold for ice cream, we promise you that this question will help you glean a little more insight into those around you.
And Make It Funny
The more random the question is, the more likely you are to get some truly hysterical answers. Like, have you ever wondered if your coworker were a wrestler, what her entrance theme song would be? Probably not. But, there’s no better time to ask than during a Zoom icebreaker. These questions allow you to get to know each other while sharing a laugh.
Pose a Thought-Provoking Question
At Bar None Games, we have also seen people form strong bonds in answering a thought-provoking question. The question doesn’t have to be overly serious, but rather can be a question that people can make light of. One question that we have seen many groups enjoy is:
“If you had to delete all but three apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep?”
Give the participants a few minutes to brainstorm their answer to this question before just jumping in, so that each person is able to craft a thoughtful response. Think about it, what would you do? Tough one, isn’t it?
Get Personal
The best part of these icebreakers is that you can use them to really get to know one another. I know it’s difficult to imagine but many of your coworkers actually have a life outside of work! Have you ever wondered what your coworkers do outside of working hours? Now’s the time to find out. Ask them:
“If you were famous, what would you be famous for?”
This allows the group to really get to know each other’s hobbies, and also could lead to a great icebreaker talent show for the next event!
Need more ideas for icebreakers? After hosting over 800 virtual games, Bar None Games have seen them all! Feel free to reach out and we are happy to share more of our favorites!
