presentation ice breaker games

• Choose a team member ahead of time to share their popular or unpopular opinion.
• Have everyone chime in one by one on whether they agree or disagree.
• Every team member should popcorn their turn, or you can go alphabetically.
• Have fun finding out who agrees with you (and who does not)!

22. Would You Rather

A classic game played at summer camps everywhere, "Would You Rather" is an excellent, quick workplace icebreaker.

Next time you’re settling into a meeting or team bonding outing, take turns going around the table and asking each person a "Would You Rather" question.

Here are a few "Would You Rather" questions to get you started; see further down in this post for even more:

• Would you rather only have summer or winter for the rest of your life?
• Would you rather go on a hike or see a movie?
• Would you rather never use social media sites and apps again or never watch another movie or TV show?
• Would you rather have a horrible short-term memory or a horrible long-term memory?
• Designate a team member ahead of time to share their "Would You Rather" question.
• Have everyone chime in one by one with their answer.
• Every team member should popcorn their turn, or you can proceed alphabetically.

23. Accomplishments Before 18

Accomplishments Before 18 is an engaging and unique way to encourage team members to share fun or interesting stories with one another.

Before a meeting, simply go around the room, and ask each person to share one accomplishment they had before they turned 18.

Undoubtedly you’ll get some of lesser importance, like "I bought a skateboard," but you never know what hidden skills you might discover in your colleagues.

24. Two Truths and a Lie

One of the more classic icebreakers on the list, Two Truths and a Lie can be used anywhere from family parties to company events.

For instance, I might say, "I once auditioned for the TV show Zoom . I have three brothers. I ziplined in Switzerland once." Coworkers can take turns guessing which is the lie.

Two Truths and a Lie is a fun and engaging game, and more importantly, it can help your team learn facts about one another, so they can begin forming deeper bonds.

• Ask each person to brainstorm three "facts" about themselves — two of the facts will be true, and one will be a lie.
• Have team members guess which is the lie.
• Whoever guesses correctly gets bragging rights.

25. The Handshake

Best for: in-person fun.

One of the first ways you get to greet somebody in the workplace is with a handshake.

This icebreaker lets individuals ease up and have a little fun without a hassle. It’s simple — everyone will create a fun, creative handshake.

If you have more time on your hands, have the pairs split up after showing off their super cool shake and make even more creative ones with new partners.

It’s hard to play these games without sharing a laugh, which is something we all could use in the workday.

• Divide the group into pairs.
• Have them make the most creative handshake they can in a couple of minutes.
• Have each pair show off their handshake to the group.
• If desired, have everyone rotate partners.

26. Bad Joke Contest

This icebreaker won’t take your team long to complete if you give them a heads-up to prepare. In the Bad Joke Contest, you’ll have everyone recite the corniest joke they can muster and have everyone vote on who was the most cringe-worthy.

Beware, some coworkers have impressively bad dad jokes saved up for these moments, so the competition will be fierce.

• Have everyone popcorn to someone after they tell their joke, or go alphabetically.
• Have everyone vote on the corniest joke either via Zoom poll or by keeping tabs on a notepad.
• Don’t forget to laugh — or cringe!

The list continues below — read on to find fun icebreaker games, icebreakers for large teams, and more.

27. Tall Tales

This icebreaker game will have everyone thinking on their feet. In Tall Tales, each player will make up three sentences to add to a running story. The third sentence has to have a plot twist starting with "suddenly…" before rotating to the next.

Every player will have a chance to put their own spin on the budding story and can even try to throw the next participant for a loop with an improbable situation.

• Begin with three sentences to set the scene for your story.
• After sharing your three sentences, go to the next person around the table or popcorn it.
• Continue going around until everyone has contributed to the story.
• Enjoy the fun, strange, and creative story your team can make!

28. Say Your Name Backwards

This game is pretty straightforward — or straight backward.

Every player will write their name on a slip of paper backward, fold it, and place it into a bowl. Once all the slips are collected, someone will draw one out of the bowl and read to the rest of the players what’s on the slip.

Whoever can guess their coworker's name correctly gains a point, and whoever has the most points at the end wins.

• Hand out slips of paper and writing utensils to everyone.
• Everyone writes their names backward on their paper.
• Then everyone should fold their paper once and place it in a bowl.
• One person reads out the backward names, and everyone else has to guess whose name it is.
• Whoever guesses their coworker’s name correctly first gets the point. Keep a tally of points or have each person keep track of their own.
• The winner is the person with the most points at the end!

Jenga is considered a classic game for a reason. It’s easy to play and put away. Have your team take turns pulling woodblocks out of your Jenga tower and share a laugh when it all comes toppling down.

• Have the Jenga game set up before your meeting begins.
• Take turns removing the wooden blogs from the tower and adding them to the top.
• The game is over when the tower topples down.

30. Frown King or Queen

Make it a competition to see which of your team members has the gnarliest frown, and bestow upon them the title of Frown King or Queen. Bonus points if you actually go out of your way to make a paper crown.

You’d be surprised how hard it is to maintain a frown when surrounded by your favorite colleagues, not to mention how funny they’ll look during the game.

• Two team members will compete at a time.
• The first pair stand back-to-back in the middle of the room.
• On the count of three, they will turn to face each other with the gnarliest frown they can muster on their faces.
• They must continue frowning until one person laughs, smiles, or breaks face.
• A new team member will compete with the winner, continuing until there’s only one person left standing. Crown them the Frown King or Queen!

31. The Envelope Please!

In this icebreaker game, have everyone write 10 facts about themselves on paper and place them each into their own envelopes. The envelopes are to be shuffled and chosen once at a time by the leader to read aloud to the rest of the group.

The rest of the players will then guess the identity of the envelope in hand — but they must be confident in their answer as each player only has one chance to guess per envelope.

• Hand out paper, pens, and envelopes for everyone to write down their 10 facts.
• Once everyone has put their papers in the envelopes, collect and shuffle them.
• One by one, read out the 10 facts and have everyone else guess whose it is.
• Have fun getting to know your coworkers better!

32. Random Talent Show

A talent show is one thing, but a random talent show is another. Have your coworkers take turns showing their cool party (or office) tricks.

And let’s face it, you’ve been trying to find the right opportunity to show someone you could lick your elbow for a while now.

• Announce at the start of the meeting that you’ll be having a random talent show.
• After showing off your talent, popcorn to someone else or ask for a volunteer.
• Have fun sharing your random tricks and skills and learning about your colleagues in this lighthearted "show."

33. Celebrity Impressions

For this icebreaker game, the leader will tape a label to each player’s back with a celebrity or household name.

Once that’s complete, every player will ask each other yes or no questions about their celebrity label's traits, recent news, or talents.

If players can identify their celebrity correctly, they can remove the label from their backs and continue mingling.

• Tape a label to each player’s back with a celebrity or household name.
• Players ask each other yes or no questions about their celebrity label's traits, recent news, or talents.
• Once players correctly identify their celebrity, they remove the label from their backs.

34. Quick Portrait Gallery

You don’t have to be Picasso to participate in this icebreaker. The instructions are simple. Every group member will be randomly assigned a different person to draw in a couple of minutes.

It’s a fun way to bond and share a giggle here and there over everyone’s work of art.

• Every group member is randomly assigned a different person to draw.
• Set a timer for a couple of minutes in which everyone has to draw their person.
• When time is up, everyone shares their portraits with the group — you can even have the other players guess before the artist shares the name of their subject.
• Enjoy the hilarious portrait gallery you’ve created!

35. Sound Ball

Best for: in-person fun, team wellness.

Sound Ball is an imaginative icebreaker that gives everyone a chance to get moving and energized.

In this icebreaker, the leader holds an imaginary ball in their hand and "throws" it to other players, making whatever sound they think would go with that gesture.

Whoever "catches" the ball next must repeat the sound made, then throw the ball to another person making their own unique sound. It sounds wild, but it’s easy to get into the flow of it.

Plus, it’s a great way to get everyone moving if you’ve been sitting too much.

• The leader holds an imaginary ball and "throws" it to other players, making a sound to accompany their gesture.
• Whoever "catches" the ball next must repeat the sound, then throw the ball to another person making their own unique sound.
• Continue as long as you want, trying to ensure each person gets a turn.

36. Beatboxing

This is probably one of the silliest icebreakers on this list, but it’s definitely worth trying. Have one team member start making a noise you’d hear in a song, like percussion, and have others gradually add to the beat.

Who knows, if the beat sounds good enough, you all could consider making an acapella group.

• One team member starts making a noise you’d hear in a song, like percussion.
• Others gradually join in, adding to the beat.
• Once everyone is participating, let the song go for a bit before ending the fun.

37. Just One Lie

This method is an adaptation of the well-known icebreaker "Two Truths and a Lie" to create an activity that can be run throughout a day of meetings or workshops.

• Participants mingle and ask each other questions.
• On a stack of Post-its they’re carrying, they will write a person's name on each Post-it along with one fact they learned about them.
• Most answers the participants give will be truthful; they must tell a lie only once.
• The Post-its for each person are then collected together and given to the person whose name is on them.
• Throughout the workshop, have participants read out the facts on their own Post-its and have everyone else guess which is the lie.

38. Human Bingo

Participants mingle and try to find people who match the descriptions in their bingo grid, encouraging conversation and interaction.

Icebreaker Bingo is a great way to bond with large teams because it can include as many people as you want.

You can use a free icebreaker bingo generator and personalize each of the squares on a subject you’re all discussing for the day or for anything everyone can feel included.

• Distribute pre-made bingo grids with unique descriptions in each square (e.g., "Has traveled to Europe," "Can play a musical instrument").
• Participants mingle and find others who match the descriptions, writing their names in the corresponding squares.
• The first person to fill a row or the entire grid wins.

39. The Great Wind Blows

Participants quickly find new seats based on a statement while one person stands in the middle.

• One person stands in the middle and makes a statement starting with "The great wind blows for everyone who..." and completes the sentence with a description (such as "...has a pet," "...likes pizza").
• Anyone to whom the statement applies must find a new seat, including the person in the middle.
• The one left without a seat becomes the new statement maker.

40. Speed Networking

Ever heard of or participated in speed dating? This is similar but with your colleagues in a totally platonic way. Participants engage in brief, timed conversations with multiple individuals to meet and learn about each other.

• Arrange participants in pairs or small groups.
• Set a timer for a specified duration (e.g., 2 minutes) for each conversation.
• Participants introduce themselves, share a bit about their interests, and ask questions about their partner.
• After the time is up, they rotate to the next person, repeating the process.

41. Beach Ball Toss

Participants answer questions or complete a task related to them after catching a tossed beach ball, encouraging quick thinking and laughter.

• Write different icebreaker questions or tasks on a beach ball ahead of time.
• Participants form a circle and toss the ball to each other.
• When someone catches it, they read and answer the question or perform the task facing the hand they caught it with.
• The ball continues circulating, ensuring everyone participates.

42. Emoji Storytelling

Participants create a story collaboratively, using emojis as prompts and encouraging creativity and collaboration.

• Distribute a list of emojis or display them on a screen.
• Each participant contributes by adding a sentence or two to the story, incorporating one or more of the displayed emojis.
• Encourage the use of imagination and creativity as the story progresses.

43. Human Knot

Best for: team building in person.

Participants work together to untangle a "human knot" by holding hands, promoting teamwork and problem-solving.

• Participants form a tight circle, randomly holding hands with two different people across the circle.
• Without letting go of hands, they must untangle the knot until they form a circle or a straight line.
• This requires communication and cooperation to solve the problem.

44. Who Am I?

Participants wear sticky notes on their foreheads or backs with the name of a famous person or character written on them. They must ask yes-or-no questions to others to figure out their identity.

• Write the names of various famous people or fictional characters on sticky notes and place one on each participant's forehead.
• One by one, participants must ask yes-or-no questions to the others to figure out who they are.
• The goal is to figure out their identity by asking strategic questions. You can limit the number of questions a person can ask for the sake of time.

45. Charades

Charades is a game fit for large teams, both in-person and remote. In this icebreaker, players need to communicate with team members to guess a word of a certain category.

• Prepare several slips of paper with a single word or use a charades word generator .
• Divide everyone into two teams.
• One player at a time pantomimes (acts out) the word on their paper for their own respective teammates.
• The teammates have to guess what it is within a given time (30 seconds to 1 minute). They get a point for every act they guess correctly.
• Whichever team gets the most points wins.

46. Red Light, Green Light

I bet anyone who watched Squid Games in 2021 is familiar with this game, and if you haven’t, the rules are simple (and the stakes are much, much lower.)

• The players in this icebreaker game will line up on one side of a room.
• A designated leader on the other side of the room will be instructed to say either "Red Light" or "Green Light."
• Players in line are to try and walk to the other side of the room when the leader says, "Green Light," but once the leader says, "Red Light," everyone must freeze or be kicked out of the game.
• The first person to make it to the leader wins and gets to be the leader for the next round.

47. Guess Who

Like Charades, Guess Who is a great icebreaker where you can mimic famous people — or even your coworkers.

• Have someone write down well-known names on sheets of paper and then hand them off one at a time to a team member.
• They’ll have to act out the behaviors, facial expressions, or even the iconic " I’m flying" scene from Titanic .
• Everyone else will guess who they’re acting out.

48. Hot Take

For this ice breaker, everyone can take turns sharing their hot takes and either bond with their coworkers who agree or debate their naysayers.

Of course, you want the topics to be fun and lighthearted, so keep them to topics that aren’t controversial and opt for statements like, "Cheese isn’t all that great."

• Make a statement about your "hot take" on a lighthearted topic.
• Everyone else can join in supporting you or disagreeing with you.
• Popcorn to the next participant and continue until everyone gets a turn sharing.

49. "Most Likely To ___"

Remember those high school superlatives? This is like that but a little less embarrassing.

• Have coworkers read through a list of "Most Likely To" titles and assign them to one another.
• During the game, everyone can chime in or give reasons as to why someone deserves the title, and the group consensus will be the final decision.
• It’s important to note that no one will have more than one title to ensure everyone is included.

50. Whisper Down the Lane

Whisper Down the Lane is an icebreaker game where team members form a larger circle and share a random message whispered into the ear of someone to their left.

This game can get funny pretty quickly, as a whisper down the lane can get misinterpreted over and over again.

• Everyone stands in a circle, and the person starting the message whispers it in the ear of the person next to them.
• That person then whispers what they heard to the next person, continuing until the message has made it all the way around the circle.
• The last person says what they heard out loud, and you can all laugh at how the message has changed through the course of whispering.

51. Simon Says

Simon Says was invented in the 19th century, but it never stops being fun.

The real trick is for the leader to confuse players by giving fast Simon Says commands, then giving them a command without saying the keywords.

This could work like, "Simon says touch your hips, Simon says hop on one foot, Simon says touch your nose — touch your ears!"

Whoever does the action (like touching your ears) will be booted out of the game because it wasn’t a Simon Says action.

• The leader of the group instructs players to do an action beginning with the words "Simon says…" like, "Simon says touch your knees" or "Simon says grab your elbow."
• Whoever doesn’t do the actions proclaimed is booted out of the game.
• The last person in wins!

52. Things in Common

Best for: first introductions.

This simple icebreaker is fit for groups meeting each other for the first time.

• All that has to be done is mingle with one another to find some things you have in common and try to form groups based on those attributes.
• Bonus points if you can learn the names of those whom you relate to, and brownie points if you can relay all their names when asked.

53. Team Jigsaw Puzzle Competition

For this game, you’ll need to prepare by purchasing two identical jigsaw puzzles. It’s a fun way to foster competition and work on communication and collaboration.

• Divide your large group into two teams.
• Set a timer to see which group can work together to make the most progress on their respective puzzles.
• Whoever made it the furthest when time is up wins!

This activity is great for loosening everyone up and creating a frantically fun environment as everyone scrambles to make clumps with a certain number of people.

• Have team members walk around and mingle amongst themselves in a large, open space.
• The leader of the icebreaker yells out a random number under 10.
• Every person mingling will then have to quickly form a clump of people with the number called. If someone doesn’t make it into a clump, they’re out.
• Continue until everyone has to exit the mingling space — the last person standing wins!

55. Fun Questions

Asking fun questions is an easy and effective icebreaker game. These questions serve two purposes — first, they allow your coworkers to get into a sillier, more creative mindset.

Second, they encourage conversation on topics typically reserved for outside the office, which enables members of your team to get to know one another on a deeper level.

Meg Prater , senior content marketing manager of the HubSpot blog, says:

"When I first started including icebreaker questions in our weekly team stand-up meetings, the experience was … cringeworthy. It felt like exactly what it was: organized fun. But we kept at it. I listened to feedback and tried to incorporate it into better icebreakers."

She continued, "For example, some folks on our team don’t watch a lot of T.V. and felt a little excluded when we’d fall down a rabbit hole of shows we were binging.

Keeping the icebreakers inclusive keeps everyone engaged. Now, our icebreakers can take 15+ minutes to get through and yield some of our biggest laughs and revelations of the week."

• To play, simply go around the room and have each person offer an answer to a fun question.
• The questions are up to you, but if you’re stuck, check out this list of icebreaker questions for meetings, teams, and more.

56. Personality Quiz

This icebreaker can promote team bonding, and it’s one of the easier options on the list. This game allows your team members to gain a new perspective on their peers, and it's also a fun and easy way to get an interesting conversation started.

• Simply choose a brief personality quiz on your phone or computer (if you’re stuck, here’s a list ), and pull it up on a projector or send the link to everyone.
• Once everyone has completed the personality assessment, have each colleague mention one thing they agree or disagree with from their results.

57. Who Is It?

This game is a simple and great way to get to know surprising new things about your teammates. It can be easily adapted for a virtual setting by having everyone send their fact through the chat or by answering a question in Google Form.

• Have everyone write a unique, strange, or unexpected fact about themselves on a piece of paper.
• Then, put the pieces of paper into a hat and mix them around. Pull from the hat and read each fact.
• Allow the team to try and guess who wrote it.
• After they guess, ask the employee who wrote the fact to identify themselves and give any further context if necessary.

58. Marshmallow Challenge

Tom Wujec, a business visualization expert, initially presented his Marshmallow Challenge on TED .

To play, you simply divide your team into groups of four and give each group 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and a marshmallow.

Whichever team can build the tallest structure wins — the trick is the marshmallow must be on top.

There are a few reasons this game works as both a great icebreaker and a team-building exercise. First, the most successful teams are groups of people who don’t spend time competing for power.

The game forces your colleagues to work collaboratively when brainstorming potential solutions. Second, the Marshmallow Challenge encourages people to think quickly and offer alternative solutions when their initial idea fails.

With the Marshmallow Challenge, you can strengthen your team’s brainstorming and problem-solving skills, and your team can also have some fun. A win, win.

• Divide participants into teams of four.
• Provide each team with one marshmallow, 20 spaghetti noodles, one yard of tape, and one hard of string.
• They have a limited time (e.g., 15 minutes) to construct the tallest freestanding structure using only the materials provided.
• The team with the tallest structure at the end wins.

59. Scavenger Hunt

At HubSpot, we conduct a scavenger hunt for new hires on the first day of their training. It's fun and encourages collaboration, but additionally, it can help employees learn their way around the office.

Fortunately, you can conduct a scavenger hunt for your team even if they‘ve worked at your office for years. A scavenger hunt is also an exceptional opportunity for cross-department interaction.

Consider contacting managers from other departments and creating groups of employees who don’t often get to work together.

• Simply split up your team into groups, and give each group a shortlist of items to find. If you work in a smaller space, maybe you can hide some funny items around the office ahead of time.
• The teams have a limited time to find all the items.
• The first team that finishes first wins. You might even offer an incentive for the winning team, like a $50 Amazon gift card.

60. No Smiling

This game is simple and meant to energize your team . This icebreaker can be helpful in new-employee or management training to lighten the pressure of starting a new job.

It can also be helpful as a way of lightening the mood on teams that regularly deal with stressful projects or situations.

• Get your colleagues in a circle and ask one volunteer to sit or stand in the middle.
• Tell the volunteer that they can not laugh or smile, regardless of what happens.
• Then have each other colleagues take turns telling the volunteer a work-appropriate joke.
• The goal of the volunteer is to hear a joke from every colleague around the circle, while the goal of the other team members is to make the volunteer laugh.

61. This is Better Than That

Best for: energizing your team.

Aside from being a fun team activity, this might be a great energizer for sales employees or others who regularly pitch, market, and sell products.

• Ask your team to find four to seven items around the office and bring them to one room. These items could be something they use daily, like a pen or a chair. However, you should encourage them to find items that are odd or unique. This will make the game more challenging.
• Line the items up and split the group into sub-teams. Task each team with picking an item they would use to survive if stranded on a desert island.
• Tell team members that they can’t pick more than one and that they must assume it's the only item they will have on that island. Allow the teams time to deliberate and then ask them to present the item they chose and why.

62. Choose Your Favorite

For this icebreaker, all you have to do is answer the question about your favorite things. This icebreaker helps your team get to know each other even when they work remotely and can spark conversation on what everyone likes or dislikes.

• Choose a different question to ask your team each week.
• Ask your team to choose their favorite movie, song, TV show, etc.
• Make sure everyone has a chance to share.

63. Trivia Game

If you‘re looking for a remote icebreaker that’s more of a game, you can host a trivia game.

• Kahoot is a trivia platform you can use for free (hosts up to 10 people). To get started, all you'll need to do is sign up for a free Kahoot account.
• Then, you can choose a featured trivia game to play.
• To run this remotely, you'll want to share your screen with your team.
• Everyone will need to have a separate device to use so they can enter the game and submit their answers.

64. Share an Embarrassing Photo

Best for: virtual team bonding.

This is one of my favorite icebreakers because it's a fun way to get to know your team. For this game, have everyone share an embarrassing photo and tell the story behind it. Doing this icebreaker is a great way to build connections remotely.

• Have your team members share their screens or send a file to the team leader to share with everyone.
• To make this more interesting, you can have people guess whose photo it is before your team member shares their story.

65. One Word Pulse Check

Best for: checking in on your team.

For this icebreaker, have everyone on your team go around and share a word or phrase that represents how they feel that day.

Christina Perricone , former senior content marketing manager on the HubSpot blog, says this is her favorite icebreaker:

"The person sharing gets to decide whether or not to elaborate, and everyone listens without response," Perricone explains.

She says the purpose of the exercise is to give people a chance to release or reveal emotional setbacks, obstacles, wins, highlights, or anything else that might be impacting how they show up to work that day.

"It provides a space for participants to bring their entire self to work, and it gives the team context for how to support that team member that day," Perricone adds.

• Have everyone on your team go around and share a word or phrase that represents how they feel that day.

66. Meet my Pet

Best for: virtual sharing.

Nothing fills a meeting with smiles like photos of colleagues’ furry friends. Those who don’t have any can either make a joke pet (the infamous pet rock) or share a dream pet they would have.

• Take turns showing off the cutest pictures and videos of your pet.

67. Let’s Make a Mixtape

This icebreaker works by asking your coworkers to choose one of their favorite songs from a certain genre. Not only is it fun at the moment, but then everyone has the chance to discover new artists and tunes they hadn’t heard of before.

• Everyone chooses a song and shares it with the group.
• One person compiles either a YouTube or Spotify playlist of everyone’s choices and shares the link with everyone in the group afterward.

68. Emoji Mood Guesser

This is a fun spin on sharing one word about how you feel that day.

• With this icebreaker, you ask everyone on your team to drop the most accurate emojis of their current mood or state of mind in a chat box (assuming they’re using Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.)
• Everyone can guess what adjective someone is trying to convey and can even share why if they want to.

69. Food Would You Rather Questions

You’d be surprised how passionate some of your coworkers can get over food. When asking "Would You Rather" questions, ask about various savory or sweet food staples and which they would prefer to eat forever.

Example: "Would you rather eat only cake forever or eat pasta forever?"

70. Travel Would You Rather Questions

There are plenty of destinations on your coworkers’ radar. Get to know them a little better by getting to know where they want to go and why.

Example: "Would you rather travel to only island destinations or mountainous destinations?"

71. Talent Would You Rather Questions

Explore more uncommon talents and see which your coworkers would like to have in this type of questionnaire.

Example: "Would you rather your special talent be opera singing or in playing the banjo?"

72. Super Hero Would You Rather Questions

There are hundreds of superheroes from Marvel and DC, and chances are your coworkers are familiar with them, too. Ask which hero they would like to be and why based on their stories or abilities.

Example: "Would you rather be Ironman or Captain America?"

73. Super Power Would You Rather Questions

On a similar note to heroes, find out what powers your coworkers would rather have and why. Bonus points if you ask them whether they’d label themselves as a hero or villain.

Example: "Would you rather have super speed or super strength?"

74. Sport Would You Rather Questions

Your coworkers may be involved in sports outside of work, and maybe they’re fans of different leagues and teams. Ask which sports they’d rather play and see which they’d prefer and why.

Example: "Would you rather play basketball for the rest of your life or football?"

75. Fashion Would You Rather Questions

Even if your coworkers aren’t tuned into NYFW, they’re sure to recognize some of the most popular clothing brands. Ask them which they’d prefer to dress in and why.

Example: "Would you rather wear only Louis Vuitton or Gucci?"

76. TV Would You Rather Questions

With tons of streaming services to choose from, your coworkers are bound to have some favorite TV shows. Ask questions like which shows they’d rather watch or be a part of.

Example: "Would you rather be a cast member in Euphoria or Ozark?"

77. Movie Would You Rather Questions

Movie fanatics across any team or department will enjoy questions about them. Ask coworkers which genres they’d rather watch or which they’d want to be in.

Example: "Would you rather be cast in a comedy movie or an action movie?"

Meeting ice breakers can help loosen people up for better idea exchange and connection. Whether your team is in-person, hybrid, or online, these icebreakers can help you bring your meetings to life.

Icebreaker Questions for Virtual Meetings

These questions can help begin conversations, promote engagement, and allow participants to get to know each other better in a virtual meeting setting.

78. What‘s the most interesting thing you’ve learned or experienced recently?

79. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

80. Share one book, movie, or TV show recommendation that you've been enjoying.

81. What‘s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

82. If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?

83. What‘s the most memorable trip you’ve ever taken?

84. Share a time when you had to step out of your comfort zone and how it affected you.

85. What's your favorite way to celebrate a personal achievement or milestone?

86. If you could have a conversation with your future self, what questions would you have?

87. What's your go-to productivity tip or trick when working remotely?

88. Share a fun fact about yourself that others might not know.

89. If you could visit any country in the world, where would you go and why?

90. What's the last thing that made you laugh out loud?

91. Share one goal or intention you have for the upcoming week or month.

92. If you could instantly learn a new skill, what would it be and why?

93. What's your favorite way to unwind or relax after a long day?

94. What‘s the best concert or live event you’ve ever attended?

95. If you could have a conversation with your younger self, what advice would you give?

96. What's your favorite hobby or pastime outside of work?

97. Share a recent accomplishment or something you're proud of.

98. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be and why?

99. What's your favorite way to give back to your community or help others?

100. What‘s the most interesting or challenging project you’ve worked on recently?

101. Share a quote or mantra that inspires you and why it resonates with you.

Icebreaker Questions for Work

These questions can help foster a sense of camaraderie, encourage open communication, and provide insights into one another’s professional experiences and perspectives.

102. What’s one professional skill or area of expertise you would like to develop further?

103. If you could describe your work style in one word, what would it be and why?

104. What’s one project or accomplishment you’re particularly proud of from your time at this company?

105. Share a piece of advice you would give to someone starting in our industry.

106. What’s your favorite aspect of your job, and why does it resonate with you?

107. If you could switch roles with anyone in the company for a day, who would it be and why?

108. What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from a past work experience?

109. Share a time when you faced a significant challenge at work and how you overcame it.

110. What’s one thing you appreciate about our team or company culture?

111. Do you have a favorite business book or podcast that has influenced your professional growth?

112. If you could attend a professional conference or event anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?

113. What's one thing you think our company or team does really well, and how does it contribute to our success?

114. What's the biggest challenge you see facing our industry in the next few years?

115. If you could implement one positive change or improvement in our workplace, what would it be and why?

Meeting Ice Breakers for Hybrid Teams

As a flexible/hybrid company , HubSpot teams often use icebreakers to begin or set the tone for team meetings.

Keep reading for more fun icebreakers from the teams at HubSpot:

116. Would you rather feel hot all the time or cold all the time?

117. What’s your very first memory?

118. What is a chore that you dread doing?

119. What is your favorite way to eat potatoes?

120. What is something in your closet that you have too much of?

121. What’s the social media platform or app that you use/scroll the most? Which one would you give up?

122. What kinds of activities energize you?

123. What's your splurge morning drink (or food) of choice?

124. Where is one place you’d love to travel to & why?

125. Name a song that, if you listen to it while walking, always makes you feel like you’re the lead character in a movie.

126. What's your favorite thing you've bought this year?

127. What reality competition show do you think you could win?

128. You have to volunteer to present something for your department in 10 minutes and everyone will have to take a turn. Do you volunteer to present first, in the middle, or last?

129. What’s one song you have on repeat lately?

130. If you could have a LEGO set of any one thing, would it be?

131. What is your morning routine?

132. Show one thing on your desk or in your workspace that has personal significance to you.

133. Would you rather always be slightly late or super early?

Here are some fun icebreaker questions for building connections with friends or team members. Enjoy!

Fun Icebreaker Questions

These questions are designed to be light-hearted and encourage creative thinking, imagination, and personal anecdotes. They can be used in various social settings, such as parties, team-building events, or casual get-togethers, to break the ice and start fun conversations.

134. If you could have any fictional character as your best friend, who would it be and why?

135. What’s the most unusual food combination you’ve ever tried and enjoyed?

136. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor and why?

137. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be and why?

138. What's the most interesting piece of trivia you know?

139. What's your favorite holiday tradition?

140. If you could travel back in time, which era would you visit and why?

141. Share a funny or memorable encounter with a celebrity or famous person.

142. What's your favorite board game or card game and why?

143. If you could visit any landmark or tourist attraction in the world, where would you go?

144. What's the most interesting or unusual thing you've ever collected?

145. If you could go back in time and change one moment in your life, what would it be and why?

146. If you could instantly become an expert in any activity or hobby, what would it be?

147. If you were a professional athlete, what sport would you compete in and why?

148. What’s the weirdest or funniest thing that has ever happened to you on a vacation?

149. If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be and what would your superhero name be?

150. What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done or would like to do?

151. If you could live in any fictional universe, which one would you choose and why?

152. Share a memorable childhood toy or game that you loved playing.

153. If you were a character in a movie, who would play your role and why?

Team Building Ice Breaker Questions

These questions can be used during team-building sessions, team meetings, or retreats to promote bonding, encourage open communication, and help team members learn more about each other.

154. What’s your favorite team-building activity or exercise you’ve ever participated in?

155. Share one professional or personal goal you would like to achieve within the next year.

156. If you could swap jobs with someone on the team for a day, who would it be and why?

157. What’s one skill or expertise you bring to the team that others may not be aware of?

158. Share a team success or accomplishment that you’re particularly proud of.

159. What’s your favorite thing about working in a team environment?

160. If you had to describe our team dynamic in three words, what would they be and why?

161. Share one thing you appreciate about a fellow team member’s work or contribution.

162. If our team was a superhero squad, what superpowers would each team member possess?

163. What’s one thing you’ve learned from a fellow team member that has had a positive impact on you?

164. If our team had to solve a mystery, who would play what role in the investigation?

165. Share a time when a team member’s support or assistance made a significant difference in your work.

166. What’s one team-building activity or exercise you would like to try in the future?

167. If our team was a musical band, what instrument would each team member play?

168. Share a valuable lesson you’ve learned from a team project or collaboration.

169. What’s one way our team could improve communication and collaboration?

170. If our team was a famous sports team, which sport would we play and why?

171. Share one fun or interesting fact about yourself that most people on the team don’t know.

172. What’s one team-building activity or exercise you’ve heard about and would like to explore?

173. If our team was a movie, what genre would it be, and who would play each team member?

Icebreakers are more than just fun and games. It's true, they can improve connection and engagement. But it's also important to think about how specific icebreakers or games might affect your team.

Well-selected icebreakers will create or enhance an inclusive environment. Ideally, they'll help everyone on your team feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. Keep reading for tips on how to choose the best icebreakers for your team.

Find Icebreakers That Work for Different Personality Types

Most teams will have a mix of different personality types. For example, introverts may prefer activities that allow for reflection and sharing at their own pace. But extroverts might be hoping for interactive and energizing games. It's important to balance your approach so that everyone feels included and comfortable.

To do this, support the needs of both groups whenever you can by:

• Offering different participation options
• Setting aside time for individual reflection
• Creating small group discussions
• Encouraging active listening
• Offering appreciation for team members who may be reluctant to participate
• Checking in after icebreakers if you notice anything feels off

It's also a good idea to plan for each activity in advance. This can help other team members feel more comfortable and prepared.

For example, say you're planning to play an online game during a meeting. Test the game in advance to make sure the features are intuitive. If they take some getting used to, share this information with the team. Then, build in extra time for everyone to get used to the software before starting your activity.

Update or Invent Games to Align With Your Team Culture and Interests

Not every game is a fit for the variety of cultural backgrounds, values, and interests on your team. Games that resonate with everyone's cultures and hobbies will be more engaging and enjoyable. They can also create a sense of unity.

So, take the time to learn about your team members' backgrounds, values, and preferences. Get to know their cultural traditions, hobbies, and shared interests. This understanding will help you choose games that are both inclusive and relevant.

Then, customize games or create new icebreakers to fit your team.

Set Specific Goals for Your Icebreakers

While icebreakers can be easy and fun, it's also a good idea to choose games that align with specific team goals. For example, if your team is getting to know each other, you may want to play games that help build trust.

Here are a few more ways to connect team goals to the types of icebreakers and games you choose:

• Improve collaboration: Choose teamwork games, such as Emoji Storytelling, Human Knot, or the Marshmallow Challenge.
• Increase engagement: To boost engagement, ask questions that energize and engage team members, try a Hobby Webinar, or do some speed networking.
• Strengthen communication: Try icebreakers that involve active listening and effective communication such as One Word Pulse Check, Rose, Thorn, Bud, or Charades.
• Build psychological safety: Encourage activities that create a safe space for vulnerability, such as Bucket List or asking relevant icebreaker questions.
• Promote creativity: Start out brainstorming or problem-solving sessions with ice breakers such as Alphabet Brainstorm, Movie Pitch, or Tall Tales.
• Boost morale: Motivate and cheer up your team with icebreakers and games like Share the Love, No Smiling, or Human Bingo.

Depending on the culture of your team, you may want to share icebreaker-specific goals before or after these activities. This can help you offer context to the team, which can further build trust, and gather feedback for the future.

Encourage Active Participation

Get active engagement from your team by creating a safe and inclusive environment. You can create a safe space by:

• Setting clear expectations
• Choosing icebreakers that make sure every team member has a chance to share and feel heard
• Using a variety of icebreakers for different preferences and communication styles
• Managing time effectively, so it's easy for everyone to take part without rushing or falling behind
• Leading by example and participating enthusiastically
• Offering structure and support so it's easy for everyone to join in

Have Fun and Laugh

Icebreakers have the ability to change the energy, create a more relaxed environment, and encourage team members to express themselves in entertaining ways.

Icebreaker activities can seem cringeworthy but are actually a great way to build trust within your team. So incorporate these games into your future meetings and kick off the fun!

Don't forget to share this post!

Related articles.

60 Remote Work Stats to Know in 2024

5 Secrets to Achieving Work-Life Balance, According to HubSpot Employees

The Ultimate Guide to Working From Home (+ Remote Work Tips)

How To Manage Remote Employees in 2024

Remote Work Trends: How the Workplace Is Evolving in 2023

Benefits of Remote Work for Employees and Employers

How to Run a Successful Virtual Event in 2023, Plus Best Practices According to Eventbrite's CMO

Best 13 Virtual Event Platforms To Host Your Next Event

Remote Work Loneliness: How to Protect Your Mental Health When Working Remotely

Flexible Schedules: The Pros, Cons, & Surprising Outcomes

We've put together more than 50 tips, tricks, and templates to help you master team-building in the age of the remote workforce.

Marketing software that helps you drive revenue, save time and resources, and measure and optimize your investments — all on one easy-to-use platform

Presentation Icebreakers that Really Work

• Audience Response Tools , Event Planning , Leadership Techniques

Meetings and presentations in the workplace can be pretty rigid, right? Not only do you have the responsibility to make sure the meeting is engaging, but you also need to effectively convey the required information to everyone in the room with a certain degree of professionalism. Striking a balance between these two goals can seem tough.

The more conversations and interactions a presentation initiates, the more fun and informative it can be. In order to make that happen, icebreakers are key. They can work absolute wonders by helping everyone there feel more comfortable and connect with one another.

Icebreakers remove the awkwardness, allow people to relax, boost audience energy, develop a friendly atmosphere, and encourage networking. Let’s take a look at some fun icebreakers that can be utilized in different situations.

What’s An Icebreaker And What Can it Do?

An icebreaker means to breaks the “ice” or coldness around your attendees . In a room (physical or virtual) full of people who may or may not know one another, the atmosphere can be cold. If you plunge into your presentation in that environment, it won’t go over as well as it could. Attendees who feel out of place won’t interact or engage. Take the time to “warm-up” the room.

There are several advantages to beginning with an icebreaker:

• They help people to relax and have fun. Relaxation allows people to learn and entertain new ideas. An icebreaker is especially useful if you plan to get audience participation at some point in your presentation.
• Icebreakers are energizers . It’s great to start the meeting with one, but also throughout the session, if you notice your audience is looking tired, restless, or down at their phones more often than necessary – pull out a lively icebreaker.
• Icebreakers provide networking opportunities . Your audience can discover what they have in common.
• Finally, icebreakers create a positive atmosphere. If you want your presentation to be remembered for all the right reasons, begin with a happy, comfortable audience.

Here are a few tips that will make your icebreakers work

• Know your audience . Not every icebreaker suits every audience. Be careful not to offend or embarrass anyone.
• Try to include everyone , but again, don’t offend or embarrass your audience.
• Keep your objective in mind . The icebreakers you choose should help you reach your objectives, not just make your audience laugh.
• Make sure everyone is having fun . It’s not an icebreaker if it results in people feeling uncomfortable.
• Finally, avoid calling it an icebreaker. Unfortunately, the term has become associated with an unpleasant experience. So if you announce that you’re doing an icebreaker, you’re likely to be met with groans and resistance. Instead, say, “I have an idea; let’s try something new!”

Icebreakers for One-On-One Sessions

Try these for one-on-one presentations:

Introduce yourself

This is obvious, but introduce yourself unless you already know one another. If you know one another, maybe you can share a fact about yourself that the other person might not know.

Have a conversation

Have a quick chat about current affairs, the weather, or family. Whatever interests both of you and creates a warm environment.

Ask open-ended questions

While you chat, use open-ended questions . These will allow you to know your prospect better.

Ask what they expect from the presentation

As you talk with your prospect, figure out what they expect to gain from the presentation . If their expectations are incorrect, you can correct them. And you can adjust your presentation, if necessary.

Give them a present

Present them with a small token of appreciation , just for showing up to your presentation. No doubt you’ve been stood-up before, so a thank you gift is appropriate.

Compliment them

There’s a lot of power in a genuine compliment . Be kind to your prospect and notice something to compliment-worthy. Now let’s take a look at some fun icebreakers that can be utilized in different situations.

‍ Related : 35 Funny Poll Questions to Engage Your Audience and Brighten Someone’s Day

Icebreakers for Small Groups

If you’re looking for some fun icebreaking ideas among small groups, here’s a place to start: ‍

Two Truths and a Lie

‍ Two Truths and a Lie can be an extremely fun game. The idea is that each and every member makes three statements about themselves. Two are true and the other is a lie. Players will then guess which ones are the truths and which one is the lie. The statements could be as simple as “I’ve gone skydiving in Spain,” “I owned a turtle as a kid,” and “I have never had sushi.”

Most Unique

‍ Most Unique, too, helps everyone in a small group loosen up before a meeting or a presentation. It takes less time than the previous game, but similarly aims to help coworkers learn fun facts about each other.

The idea is simple: every person in the room gets to state something about themselves that’s unique and makes them different from the rest. For example, “I have ten siblings‚” “I can speak five languages‚” “I have lived in six different countries till date‚” and so on.

‍ Get-to-Know-You Questions

‍ This is one of the simplest ice breakers. Each group member can ask the other some questions that will help them get to know each other better. Examples of great questions to ask include:

• What do you enjoy doing on the weekend?
• Do you own any pets?
• What is your favorite holiday destination?
• What are your pet peeves?
• What are your future goals?

‍ Would You Rather

‍ Would You Rather is a game that initiates discussions on perspectives and individual personalities. It helps your team members learn a little more about each other. Every person is given a choice between two scenarios, and they have to pick one. After making a choice, they also have to explain why they picked that option.

The choices could be something like:

• Would you rather have summer or winter your whole life?
• Would you rather prepare your meal yourself and have different options each day or have your meal prepared for you without getting to choose the dish?
• Would you rather watch a new movie every day or re-watch your favorites without getting to watch anything new again?

And so on. The questions might seem silly, but you’d be surprised about what you can learn about your colleagues’ unique perspectives.

Going on a Picnic

‍ If you’re giving a presentation to people who don’t know each other that well, this is a great way to get group members to learn each other’s names in a fun way.

For example, if your name is Pauline, you will state your name, say you’re going on a picnic, and then say you’re bringing an item that starts with the first letter of your name. So, the sentence will be, “My name is Pauline, I am going on a picnic, and I’m bringing popcorn.”

The next person has to state not only what they’re bringing, but what the person before them is bringing as well. It’s basically a memory game and a name game combined.

‍ Related : 20 Interactive Presentation Games

Icebreakers for Large Groups

If your group is slightly bigger and has more members, there are even more options for icebreakers. Here are some interesting ones to opt for.

‍ Scavenger Hunt

‍ Remember the scavenger hunts your school made you participate in? Remember how it helped bring out your positively competitive side while you and your team members came together to win the game? The idea is the same here, with office members engaging in developing their problem-solving skills and working together towards a common goal.

You can divide the members in about 4-5 groups, and have the clues take them from one place to another. Try keeping fun prizes as well for the team or teams that perform the best.

Marshmallow Challenge

‍ Dividing everyone into groups of about four to five members, give every group a long piece of string, 20 sticks of dry spaghetti, some tape, and a marshmallow. The aim is to see which group can use the given elements to build the strongest structure with the marshmallow on top. This allows everyone to collaborate and pitch in ideas to execute the plan.

‍ Celebrity Heads

‍ For this game, there are about six members in every group. Two players are required for every round, where one member will have the picture of a celebrity stuck on their forehead. They will ask “yes or no” questions about the celebrity until they can guess who it is.

‍ M&M’s Exchange

‍ Give every member the same amount of M&Ms. Have everyone say one thing that they haven’t done that they think the others might have. Anyone who has done that thing needs to give the speaker an M&M, and if there’s someone who hasn’t done it, the person who made the statement gives that person an M&M. The game goes on till someone runs out of M&Ms.

‍ True or False Running

‍ Yet another fun icebreaker for large groups is the True or False Running game. Draw a line in the middle of the room, with the right side being the true side and the left side being the false side. Make statements related to general knowledge, and have members hop on either side depending on whether the statement is true or false. The one who gets the most correct answers wins.

‍ Related: How to Get People to Take a Survey

Ice Breakers for Training Seminars

Those attending training seminars are often nervous about the whole process. In order to make the attendees more comfortable, these are some great icebreaker sessions to choose from.

Blind Drawing

‍ This game requires two members to pair up. They need to be made to sit back-to-back, with one person having a picture, and the other person having a pen and a paper. The person holding the picture needs to describe it to the other individual, and the latter needs to draw it. The duo with the best picture can be given a small prize as a token of appreciation. Image source: https://www.flaticon.com/authors/freepik

‍ Five of Anything

‍ Divide the members of the training seminar into groups of four or five. Each group gets a topic, such as a book or a movie or so, and every member needs to list their five favorite things under that topic. After that, everyone gets to discuss their answers and learn a little more about the people around them.

‍ 10 Things in Common

‍ This game can help members find common traits with one another. Pair up two people and let them list 10 things that they have in common. It could be something as simple as them both having three siblings or owning a dog, and so on.

‍ For One Word, divide the members into groups and give each of them a discussion topic. Using this topic, they all have to come up with a word that they think will best describe the subject. For example, if it’s about company culture, ask them the one word they think best describes it. This facilitates interesting discussions among everyone.

‍ Related: How to Moderate Panel Discussion

Icebreakers for Team Building

The main aim of most icebreakers is to create a spirit of team effort and team bonding. If that’s what you’re looking to build before a meeting or in any other situation, the following icebreakers can help:

‍ Whodunit works well with both small and big groups. Have every member write something they have done on a piece of paper, be it scuba diving or going for a solo trip, and put all the notes in a basket. Every member picks a random note, and depending on which one they’ve picked up, they have to guess who it belongs to or which person had that particular experience.

The Egg Drop

‍ This team building icebreaker gets everyone engaged and is super-fun to both witness and perform. Divide the members into groups of about five people, and give each group an uncooked egg.

Have a few office supplies ready in a pile, and using those supplies, each team has to build a contraption around the egg that prevents it from breaking when it’s dropped. Image source: https://www.flaticon.com/authors/freepik

‍ The Barter Puzzle

‍ In this icebreaker game, groups are made and each team is given a puzzle to solve. However, some pieces of every puzzle are mixed with the other groups. Every group then has to decide how to acquire the piece from the other group in order to complete their puzzle.

‍ Human Rock-Paper-Scissors

‍ Who knew this classic game could be turned into an icebreaker method? Well, turns out it can. Break the members into different teams, and have each team come up with unique body signals for rock-paper-scissors. Each team can have a face-off in a best-of-five series, and the team that performs the best wins the game.

A Final Note

Keeping your audience engaged with icebreakers can help set the tone for the rest of the meeting. For more advice on how to make your presentations engaging, and for unique meeting tools visit Meeting Pulse !

You can use our live polling features to make question-and-answer games easier and visually pleasing, and gauge audience engagement with upvotes, downvotes, and emojis. With a slew of great icebreakers and simple, yet innovative tools, you can kick off your meetings right.

Get started with MeetingPulse today!

Share this article on your socials, latest posts.

The Benefits of Language-Inclusive Meetings and Events

Understanding the Pain Points of Language Barriers  at Your Meeting and 7 Tips for Breaking Them Down with Technology

There’s only one way to determine if customers are satisfied – ask them

Proactively Managing Employee Engagement, Development, and Satisfaction

Blog categories.

• Audience Response Tools
• Best Practices
• Employee Engagement
• Event Planning
• Hybrid Events
• Leadership Techniques
• Meeting Prep
• Organizational Development
• Uncategorized

To make MeetingPulse a seamless addition to your meetings, we offer custom themes. You can use your own logo and your colors in Attendee View as well as Broadcast View. Your company name can also be included in the webpage’s title. Your meeting can also have its own domain. This is great if you are going to promote your meeting offline. For example, you could use “acme2022.com” instead of “meet.ps/acme-all-hands”.

Live Product Tours

Weekly Product Tour Every Wednesday

• Success Stories
• Integrations
• Help center
• Cvent Marketplace
• Connect with Zapier
• Trust Center
• System Status

25 engaging ice breakers for virtual meetings (that won’t bore your team!)

Virtual ice breakers can be an effective method of kicking off a project, onboarding a new team member or enlivening your team meetings. Choose the right method and you can get your meeting off to an energizing start that encourages participation and builds connections . Get it wrong and risk being met with groaning team members or indifference.

In this post, we'll share some proven virtual icebreaker games used by real facilitators and help you find the right method for your virtual team. Whether you need a short activity to kick off a conference call or to help onboard new team members without making things awkward, we have you covered!

Design your next session with SessionLab

Join the 150,000+ facilitators 
using SessionLab.

Recommended Articles

A step-by-step guide to planning a workshop, how to create an unforgettable training session in 8 simple steps, 47 useful online tools for workshop planning and meeting facilitation.

When teams start their meetings and workshops effectively, the outcomes and overall enjoyment of a session follows suite. An effective virtual icebreaker not only helps a team warm-up and arrive in the session, but it also helps build alignment and set the tone for the team meeting ahead. But how can you choose the right one for your remote team? What do you need to look for when choosing a virtual icebreaker ?

Read on to discover what makes an effective icebreaker for virtual teams and how to run them effectively. We’ll also share instructions and tips for 25 ready-to-use activities you can employ in your next video call or online meeting!

What is a virtual icebreaker? 

Virtual icebreakers are activities or games that are designed to help break down barriers and kick-off virtual meetings or events in a productive, welcoming manner. They are great for building relationships, warming up groups and establishing connections among remote teams.

The purpose of a virtual icebreaker can vary depending on the session you’re running, but generally, the goal is to create a comfortable and engaging atmosphere which prepares your virtual team for the work of the session ahead.

Virtual icebreakers can range from simple, short activities that invite participants to check-in with the group or share their progress, to more complex games that require teamwork and collaboration.

Sometimes, the purpose of a virtual icebreaker can be as simple as getting people talking or to learn one another’s names before dropping into breakout rooms. Whatever the format, the goal is always to help your team be present in the meeting and begin making connections.

Why virtual icebreakers are important

All sessions benefit from an effective opening. When kicking off a virtual meeting, we have additional work to do in order to position the session for success. When working remotely, our attention is often split between windows, laundry and what meeting is coming after this. Connection is harder in a virtual environment where it’s more challenging to fully engage with others or easily read body language.

This is where virtual icebreakers come in. By using interactive activities to kick off meetings or team events, you can help your remote team fully arrive in the space and bridge gaps between your teammates . If you’re struggling with overall engagement and participation from your remote team during meetings, maybe you’re missing the right icebreaker!

Virtual games can also serve to encourage behaviours or introduce concepts that will be useful for later in the meeting. Creative team building activities can get your group primed for out of the box thinking. Ice breaker questions can help improve connections ahead of a collaborative workshop.

Virtual team ice breakers can also be effective ways to catch up and save time later in the meeting. A quick check-in round can help surface issues, wins and potential discussion points. They can also help set expectations and ensure alignment before the group moves forward.

In all cases, these activities encourage communication and contributions from your entire virtual team. For this reason alone, their inclusion at the start of a meeting can be transformative.

Ready to design an online session around your chosen icebreaker?  SessionLab makes it easy to  build an agenda in minutes . Start by dragging and dropping blocks, add timings and share your completed agenda with your participants for an engaging session.

What makes a good virtual icebreaker?

Not all virtual icebreakers are created equal. Some are great for helping established teams kick-off a video conference, others are best employed when helping remote team members get to know each other.

In addition to knowing your audience and purpose, there are a few things you want to look out for when selecting online icebreakers . Helpfully, all of our virtual icebreakers have been developed with these in mind!

Here are a few key qualities that make for a good virtual icebreaker:

• Simplicity : The best virtual icebreakers are simple to explain, easy to run and participate in. Generally, you want to spend only a short time breaking the ice with your group, and so simplicity is vital. This can be dependant on your audience and session, but a general rule of thumb I try to follow is that you shouldn’t take more than thirty seconds to explain your icebreaker and it should be simple enough that everyone in the group can grasp it easily. The net result is an ice breaker that is both engaging and time-effective too!
• Inclusivity : A good virtual icebreaker should be inclusive for all team members, regardless of their backgrounds or experiences. It should not rely on cultural references or inside jokes that may exclude some team members. Think too of your audience’s needs and differences. Not all participants will feel comfortable or able to participate in a dance party. Choose an icebreaker that is right for your group and design for inclusivity – add alternatives and choose activities suitable for all attendees.
• Relevance: Every activity in your agenda should be relevant to the group you are working with. An icebreaker that is designed to help learn people’s names can be great for newbies, but for teams that have worked together for a long time, it can feel like a waste of time. It can also help to think about the shared interests and experiences of your virtual team and choose an activity that will resonate. Lastly, try and choose an icebreaker that fits with the session you are running. If you’re running a problem solving session, pick a creative icebreaker. If you’re running a weekly stand-up, a quick energy check-in might be more appropriate. In any case, pairing the icebreaker with the theme of your session to keep it relevant will help it land with your audience.
• Interactivity: Try and choose an activity that encourages team members to participate and collaborate, rather than simply listening or watching. Remember that your virtual meeting is not the only time your team will be looking at a screen that day. Keeping things fresh and creating an opportunity for a novel interactive experience can help your group be present. Getting people talking and interacting early can also pave the way for deeper collaboration later on.

Tips for running virtual icebreakers

To ensure that your virtual icebreakers are effective and enjoyable, keep the following tips in mind:

• Be mindful of time : Virtual icebreakers should be brief and to-the-point, especially if you have a large team or a busy agenda. Use SessionLab’s Time Tracker or an online stopwatch to effectively timebox your icebreaker and keep on track. Ideally, you don’t want to cut someone off mid response, but it’s also important to remember that this is just the first part of a larger workshop or meeting.
• Ask participants to go on camera : Where possible, invite your team to go on camera while participating in any virtual games. The instant feedback of a smile or a laugh can really elevate the sense of connection and improve team bonding. In some cases, this step is optional, though note that some games require cameras, and so you should select your ice breaker accordingly.
• Go first and model an ideal response : Some virtual icebreaker games are easier to grasp when demonstrated. As a leader, it’s often helpful to go first and show your team how to break the virtual ice. Being vulnerable and demonstrating the kind of responses you’d like to see can also help remote teams build team rapport and be a little braver in their responses.
• Give positive feedback : Thanking participants for getting involved and noting contributions can help create a positive feedback loop and encourage further interactions. This almost should go without saying, but its worth noting how important this can be for setting the right tone for the meeting and making it feel good for everyone to contribute.
• Encourage participation : Make sure that everyone has a chance to contribute and that no one feels left out or excluded. In some groups, this might mean calling on people to jump in or simply leaving space and being comfortable with a little silence instead of prematurely bringing an activity to a close.
• But make it okay for people not to participate too! As with any activity, non-participation is okay if it’s agreed upon by the group. Forcing people to contribute if they’re not comfortable can be detrimental to team rapport so definitely consider this point depending on your group and design activities to be as comfortable as possible by default.
• Ask the group to select the next participant : in sequential activities, where people take it in turns to answer a question or take part in a game, try to encourage each person to call on someone else to go next. This not only keeps things moving but it also encourages people to talk to other team members, rather than simply to you as a facilitator.
• Use breakout groups : when groups get over a certain size, certain icebreakers end up taking too long and can stop being fun or dynamic. Consider using breakout groups and running your virtual icebreaker in parallel with groups of over 10-15 people, or when the icebreaker calls for more in-depth responses and discussion.
• Use music : just as a film score is a vital accompaniment to the images onscreen, music can elevate your choice of virtual game. Play relaxing music at the start of a session to set a calming tone, or put on something with a beat to build energy during an active game!

Short virtual icebreakers

Short virtual icebreakers are activities that are designed to take only a few minutes, but still provide an opportunity for groups to connect and engage with each other at the start of a meeting. Here are a few examples:

Remote: Change 3 things

Getting people to pay attention during a virtual team building session can be challenging. This icebreaker is designed to perk up remote teams, ask them to pay attention and also have some fun too!

Start by getting the whole team on camera and ask everyone to observe other team members closely. Next, ask everyone to turn off their camera and change three things in 30 seconds. They might change something about their appearance, perhaps with a hat or costume change, or move something in the background! When everyone is done, get them back on camera and ask other team members to spot the differences and guess what has changed.

Remote: Change 3 things   #energiser   #energizer   #warm up   #remote-friendly   Light, energising exercise that helps the group to observe the other people on the call.

Take a Picture of Your Shoes

What we wear and how we move through the world can say a lot about us as individuals. This activity is a quick and simple way to get meeting attendees quickly warmed up by simply asking them to take a picture of their shoes and share it with the group. Set a time limit and encourage creativity – wacky shoes or fun photographs are absolutely encouraged.

If you have time, ask for a few people to share a story behind their shoes or even get people in breakouts to discuss in small groups. You can even modify this activity to have your group vote on the best pair of shoes or story! We love the fact this icebreaker is incredibly simple but always invites fun and creativity into the meeting.

Take a Picture of Your Shoes   #energiser   #teambuilding   #icebreaker   #remote-friendly   Get to know the other members of your team and share something interesting about yourself in this quick energiser activity.

Rollercoaster Check-in

Checking in is one of the best ways you can quickly break the ice and start your session off on the right foot. When working in online meetings, it can be helpful to include interactive, visual elements to any activity.

For this virtual icebreaker, invite your team to an online whiteboard and draw a line resembling the ups and downs of a rollercoaster. Next invite each member of your group to place a picture or a post-it on the rollercoaster to represent where they are and how they’re feeling. Simply asking people to be aware of how they’re feeling is a great addition to any morning routine!

You might then ask people to share why they put themselves where they did, or simply use this as an opportunity to gauge overall energy in the room. I find it particularly effective to return to the rollercoaster at the end of a session and to ask people how their position might have changed.

Rollercoaster Check-In   #team   #opening   #hyperisland   #remote-friendly   This playful method creates a powerful shared picture of the feelings in the group. Checking-in is a simple way for a team to start a meeting, workshop, or activity. By using the metaphor of a rollercoaster this alternative version supports participants to think differently about how they are feeling. People place themselves at different points on the rollercoaster, explaining their dominant feeling right now.

Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament

Running a familiar game in a virtual setting is one of my favourite ways to start a meeting. Not only do you get to play with expectations, but it can prove to be a great conversation starter too!

In this online version of Rock, Paper, Scissors, randomly select a pair to face off in your video call and play a round. The winner stays in the game while the loser turns off their camera and becomes a cheerleader for another player. Keep playing until you have only one player remaining!

This fun virtual icebreaker is best played in gallery mode on Zoom so all participants can see each other and while it can sometimes descend into chaos, it is guaranteed to get people involved and generate laughter too.

Rock, Paper, Scissors (Tournament)   #energiser   #warm up   #remote-friendly   This is a fun and loud energiser based on the well-known “Rock, Paper, Scissor” game – with a twist: the losing players become the fan of the winners as the winner advances to the next round. This goes on until a final showdown with two large cheering crowds! It can be played with adults of all levels as well as kids and it always works! 

Chat Waterfall

In remote meetings with large amounts of participants or you are very short on time, asking people to speak up and share on camera can be tricky. Chat Waterfall is an effective way of getting contributions from large groups and avoiding cross-talk.

First, invite people to open up the chat in your video conferencing app. Next, ask an icebreaker question, but instruct people not to send their answer until you say so. Give a few moments and then have everyone press enter at the same time. The result is a wonderful cascade of answers you can then choose to highlight as a facilitator. Add a follow-up if you can or sum up the results as a segue for your next activity.

Chat Waterfall is an incredibly flexible icebreaker activity: whether you want to use it to start an in-depth discussion or just get people virtually communicating quickly.

Chat Waterfall   #zoom   #group mind   #virtual   #remote-friendly   Using the chat in zoom, participants share ideas / challenges and then additions / solutions.

One Word Method

This is one of my favourite activities for virtual team building. It’s quick, effective and can be modified for almost any scenario. The game works by having one person start a sentence with by saying a single word. The next person then jumps in to add the next word to the sentence and play continues with each person in the room contributing a single word until the sentence is complete.

Sentences can end up random, funny or nonsensical, but for an added challenge, set a theme for the group to follow and see if the group can collectively create a sentence that makes sense!

I particularly like setting a theme that matches the purpose of the workshop and using this to segue in a discussion, but it can also be fun to just see what strange places virtual teams go with this!

One Word Method   #product development   #idea generation   #creativity   #icebreaker   #online   #warm up   Creating a sentence relating to a specific topic or problem with each person contributing one word at a time.

Virtual icebreaker questions

Sometimes, all you need for a good icebreaker is an effective conversation starter that lets people get to know each other and start communicating. Whether it’s about what’s on their bucket list, whether they’re a dog person or cat person, or simply what fictional character they most identify with, these kinds of questions are tried and tested.

For best results, pair these questions with Chat Waterfall, call on people to speak or break people into smaller groups to talk among themselves. Dropping a question into a group without structure or clear rules of engagement can be met with an awkward silence. I prefer to use these kinds of ice breaker questions in breakout rooms or in smaller groups and to tailor the specific questions to fit the team I’m working with.

Conversation Questions   #connection   #icebreaker   #trust   #meeting facilitation   #opening  

Virtual ice breakers for new team members

Virtual icebreakers can be particularly helpful for new team members who may feel isolated or disconnected in a virtual setting. Here are a few virtual icebreaker ideas that are ideal for welcoming new team members into the fold and to supplement your onboarding efforts.

The Desert Island

Creative games that allow your team to demonstrate their problem solving skills while collaborating can be an engaging way to kickoff a session. This icebreaker poses that age-old question of what we would do if stuck on a desert island while asking your team to think about what they would need to survive.

Start by sharing a list of items, some obvious and some less so. Ask each participant to choose 1-3 items they would take with them in order to survive on a desert island. In smaller groups, ask each person to select items, though with teams of over 10 people, it can be great to separate into breakouts and deliberate which items to bring as a team. The Desert Island is great for offering a framework for conversation with no single correct answer and which allows creative, individual responses.

The Desert Island   #relationships   #icebreaker   #teamwork   #remote-friendly   Many of us have played a game similar to this before – if you were stranded on a desert island, what essential items would you choose to survive? Participants are given a list of items to choose from and must work together to decide which items will help them stay alive. A great, remote-friendly exercise for a team to work together and share opinions.

Break the Ice with The Four Quadrants Activity

Icebreaker activities that go a little deeper and encourage individuality are great for helping teams get to know each other. In this fun game, each team member is given space for drawing the answers to four questions you’ll ask. You can run this using a virtual whiteboard or by asking participants to draw on paper and share their completed image with the whole team.

Start by sharing four questions with the team: for example, What do I bring to the group? What do I need from the group? What is your hobby? What is your vision for this group? Give each person 5-10 minutes to draw their answers and then bring the group back together to share what they’ve drawn. This activity encourages connection and is a great way to introduce something tangible and visual into a remote working environment.

Break the Ice with The Four Quadrants Activity   #team   #icebreaker   #get-to-know   #teambuilding   The Four Quadrants is a tried and true team building activity to break the ice with a group or team. It is EASY to prep for and set up. It can be MODIFIED to work with any group and/or topic (just change the questions). It is FUN, COLORFUL and works every time!

Who are you? The pirate ship exercise

Every member of a team is also an individual, and in this game, participants are invited to imagine themselves as the member of a pirate crew! Start by sharing the image of the crew of a pirate ship and ask each person to choose who they most identify with. Then ask everyone to share, either in the chat, verbally on in breakout groups.

This exercise can be as quick or as deep as you need and I love that it is easy for everyone to participate while also encouraging some critical thinking. Why do I feel more like the lookout than the Captain? Such games can prime team members work in the rest of the session and give rise to more ideas too!

Who are you? The pirate ship exercise (dinámica del barco pirata)   #team alignment   #team   #remote-friendly   #teamwork   #warm up   #icebreaker   This an easy but powerful exercise to open a meeting or session and get participants to reflect on their attitudes or feelings about a topic, in the organization, team, or in the project.

9 Dimensions Team Building Activity

For teams looking for a more in-depth icebreaker, this activity is a great way to share strengths, weaknesses and preferred ways of working with the group. It’s especially effective at the start of a team building session where you want to build relationships, though it works equally well when inviting people to get to know each other.

Start by posting the 9 dimensions (Adventure, Career / Profession, Community Service, Creative Outlets, My Environment, Family & Friends, Health & Fitness, Personal Growth, Spirituality) in your virtual whiteboard or Google Doc for the team to copy. Next, ask everyone to add a coloured dot to each dimension based on whether they’re crushing it or have room to improve.

Finally, invite everyone to share one dimension for each coloured dot if they’re comfortable and have a short debrief on what everyone learned. By sharing and being vulnerable in this way, teams can learn a bit more about their colleagues and start to strengthen their relationships as a result.

9 Dimensions Team Building Activity   #icebreaker   #teambuilding   #team   #remote-friendly   9 Dimensions is a powerful activity designed to build relationships and trust among team members. There are 2 variations of this icebreaker. The first version is for teams who want to get to know each other better. The second version is for teams who want to explore how they are working together as a team.

Snapshot of my Life

Photographs can do a lot of heavy lifting for remote teams, effectively bridging communication barriers and building connections. In this game, invite your team to break the virtual ice by sharing a photograph from their life with the group. For new team members, this method can be a memorable way of getting to know their virtual colleagues!

You can modify this exercise by encouraging anonymous posting and having the group guess who each photo belongs to, or ask the group to share around a particular theme. With groups where trust is high, ask each team member to share one of the most recent photographs on their phone and tell a story about it.

A snapshot of my life   #remote-friendly   #energiser   #teambuilding   This exercise is great for building empathy amongst team members, and giving each participant a deeper understanding of their colleagues’ backgrounds (particularly great for international or remote teams). It’ll also set a casual atmosphere for the workshop ahead.

Guess the Desk

A companion method to the above, Guess the Desk asks that participants take a photograph of their workspace and anonymously post it to the group. Next, have the group guess which desk belongs to whom and then invite the desk owner to talk a little bit about their workspace.

This activity can be great during an onboarding call or first meeting, as it naturally flows into conversations about how to work effectively and tech set-up, which can help position new members of the team for success. It can also serve to truly humanize everyone in the virtual team and kickstart team bonding you can follow up with later in the session. Who doesn’t like seeing the cute knickknacks, mementos or cool tools their colleagues are using!

Guess the desk   #remote-friendly   #energiser   #teambuilding   An energiser game for remote teams where participants share images of their work set-up and attempt to guess opponents’ desks while bluffing their own!

Virtual icebreakers to get people moving 

Virtual meetings often involve sitting in front of a computer screen for extended periods of time, which can be physically and mentally draining. Virtual icebreakers that involve movement can help to energize team members and improve their focus, productivity and general mental wellbeing. Even a quick stretch can do wonders for engagement!

Here are a few examples of virtual icebreakers to get people moving:

Stand up if

Combining movement and questions can be an effective way to warm-up both the body and the mind. In this virtual icebreaker activity, start by making a statement to the group such as, Have you ever climbed a mountain? If this statement is true, you must stand from your chair. Nominate the next person to make a statement and continue until everyone has had a chance to make a statement.

After a few statements, I like to invite the group to include a stretch or other optional movement when speaking, which other team members must then try to follow. Be sure to invite groups to be creative with their statements and perhaps take over towards the end to use statements which then apply to the session at hand.

Stand up if   #icebreaker   #sharing   #opening   #energiser   #online   #remote-friendly   short, fun, energizing team activity

One of the quickest icebreakers I’ve ever run, Shake down is as simple and effective as they come and it has the bonus of encouraging physical activity among your virtual team! Begin by asking the group to stand if they’re able and then shake each of their limbs eight times in turn. After shaking both arms and legs, then repeat the cycle for four shakes, two shakes, then a final shake with a ninja kick or big cheer.

This game is proof that icebreakers do not need to be complicated in order to be fun, and I love that it can often shake a group awake and get them involved off the bat. It’s especially good for meetings in the after-lunch slump!

Shake Down   #hyperisland   #energiser   #remote-friendly   In this short and very physical energizer, the group shakes out their bodies one limb at a time. Starting with eight shakes of the right arm, then eight shakes of the left, eight shakes of the right leg, then eight shakes of the left. It continues with a round of four shakes of each limb, then two, then one, ending in a big cheer. A good energizer when time is limited and the main aim is to get people moving.

Follow the Follower

Encouraging movement and a little silliness can be one of the best ways to kick off a session where you need everyone to be present and willing to engage. Follow the Follower is a game that can be played virtually just as well as it can by people in the same location.

Start by designating one person as the leader and ask them to lead the group in a movement – yoga poses, terrible dance moves, whatever they like! After 10-15 seconds, the leader designates someone to take over, who chooses a new movement that everyone has to follow. Include music if you like but for best results, include a quick debrief at the end to give everyone a chance to reflect on what it was like to follow and indulge in a little bit of chaos!

Follow the Follower   #zoom   #virtual   #physical   #teambuilding   #connection   #energiser   #opening   #remote-friendly   #ericamarxcoaching   One person is designated as the leader.  Others copy exactly how the leader moves.  The leader calls on a new person to be the leader, and so on. Follow the follower variation is when the leading gets passed to the entire group and no single person is leading.

Modelling the characteristic simplicity and fun we want to see in our virtual icebreakers games, Touch Blue invites the group to find an object in their physical space matching a prompt and then bring it quickly back to the video call and show the camera. The last person to bring back an object gets to select the next one.

By using prompts like “touch something blue” or “touch something hot or noisy,” you can invite participants to be creative while sharing something from their lives. In some groups, you might ask groups to use their whole house and retrieve things from their kitchens or bathrooms. In any case, try to have space for folks to share stories about their favourite items and connect during the game!

Touch Blue   #energiser   #fun   #remote-friendly   Touch Blue is a classic energiser that is quick and easy fun for remote teams too! Challenge participants to find objects on their desk that match the attributes you select and have fun doing so!

Looking Around

This quick virtual game does double duty by encouraging participants to both do a little stretching while also learning a valuable lesson about the danger of previous associations.

Begin by asking your group to stand-up and let them know you’ll be giving them instructions for where to look. Lead them through a round of randomly saying directions while they follow your instructions. Next, make a change and let them know that down now means up and up means down while left and right remain the same. Lead another around and bask in the laughter and mistakes the group makes while warming up! If you’re feeling brave, add further wrinkles by inserting other instructions such as reverse, repeating the reverse of the previous action, or double, repeating the next action twice.

Looking Around   #thiagi   #concepts   #remote-friendly   #energiser   Here’s another jolt that explores one of our favorite themes: You have to unlearn something old in order to learn something new. A nice thing about this brief activity is that you don’t need any supplies or equipment.

Icebreakers for Zoom breakouts

Some virtual games are most effective when used in small, self contained groups where it might be easier to be vulnerable or simply quicker to share and discuss. Other times, breakouts might be necessary just because of the sheer size of your group!

While most of the games in this article can be used effectively in breakout groups, the virtual activities below are those that especially benefit from the format, whether you’re using Zoom or other video conferencing tools. Let’s take a look!

Unique Thing in Common

Finding we have things in common with our colleagues is a gift. In this virtual ice breaker for Zoom, get people into pairs and invite them to find the most interesting or unexpected thing they have in common. This can work effectively with people who know each other well or people meeting for the first time, but be sure to highlight the need for a unique or unexpected thing in common.

If you have time, encourage returning groups to share their facts, though let them know in advance of going into breakouts. Some of the facts that can come up may want to stay between those people in the breakout!

Unique Thing in Common   #virtual   #zoom   #connection   #trust   #active listening   #opening   #get-to-know   #teambuilding   #remote-friendly   #ericamarxcoaching   With a partner, find the 3 most unlikely / unusual / unique things you have in common with each other.  Each pair chooses one to share with the group. 

Virtual Scavenger Hunt

For groups who enjoy friendly competition or when wanting to encourage collaboration, a virtual scavenger hunt can be a great way to kickoff a session. Begin by preparing a list of things each team will need to gather online, such as a favorite movie from the year of each team member’s birth or a Google Maps image of everyone’s childhood home. (You’ll find a full list in the method below.)

Next, give your group a time limit (you may want a shorter timeframe and list when using this method as an icebreaker) and put everyone in breakouts. For bonus points, invite each group in your virtual scavenger hunt to give themselves a unique name and crown a winner based on how well each team has performed!

Virtual scavenger hunt   #energiser   #teambuilding   #remote-friendly   A fun team-building energiser that encourages groups to recreate the scavenger hunt experience in a fully remote environment! 

Discussions in virtual meetings are often more productive when moving into breakouts. For this virtual icebreaker game, start by collecting a heap of inspirational, relevant quotes in an online whiteboard or Google Doc. Next, put people in breakouts and invite them to choose a quote to discuss with the group. They might cover that the quote means to them, whether they think the same, or simply wonder what it has to do with the session ahead.

This icebreaker is great to use at the start of a session where the group may need to use critical thinking and get into some deep discussions. It provides a safe space to practice and get warmed up!

Quotes   #icebreaker   #energiser   #online   #warm up   #remote-friendly   For participants to get acquainted with each other in a meaningful way

Happiness Exercise

Looking for a virtual meeting activity that is guaranteed to raise some smiles? The Happiness Exercise is an incredibly simple invitation for people to share happy experiences in a breakout and discuss them in small teams. You might include a theme or framing question to help guide what people share, but in my experience, it’s best to trust the groups to share whatever comes to mind and let conversations flow naturally.

By using groups of just a few people, you can ensure each person gets space to share and the relationships that are built on this foundation can be meaningful indeed.

Happiness exercise   #teambuilding   #icebreaker   #warm up   #remote-friendly   This exercise is a simple application of the principles of Appreciative Inquiry.

Everyone is a Liar (Two truths and one lie)

This classic icebreaker works just as well online as in real life, though I’ve found it most effective in breakout rooms. The most interesting conversations that arise from this game are often about discussing the two truths that came up, rather than simply finding out if we’re right or wrong.

Start by asking the group to come up with two truths and a lie about themselves and then invite the other people in their breakout room to guess which is which by asking some lie detector questions. This activity is a tried and tested way to help create connections and can be a great icebreaker for virtual meetings too! Where possible, invite participants to share their truths and lies in an online whiteboard or shared document to make it easy to play and to debrief with later.

Everyone is a Liar (Two truths and one lie)   #warm up   #icebreaker   #remote-friendly   #online   Starting a meeting or after a break in a group where participants don’t know each other or don’t know much about each other

Three Wishes

Oh, what we might do if we all had our wishes come true! In this virtual game, you’ll use the idea of a genie that can grant three wishes as the basis for a small group discussion. In breakouts, invite your team to share the three wishes they’d make and why.

This is an incredibly simple game, but it can also create space for great conversations that help teams of any size or maturity get more familiar with one another and have some laughs too! For a more directed experience, invite groups to make a personal wish, a professional wish for the company and a wish for someone else on their team. These wishes can make for interesting discussions that can feed into the rest of your workshop.

Three wishes   #get-to-know   #icebreaker   #remote-friendly   The activity serves as a brief energiser during a workshop, and helps to get creativity flowing. At the end of this method, each team member will be a little more familiar with each other.

Breakout Room Tag

Tired of just chatting in your Zoom breakouts? This fun game is a virtual spin on a playground classic that encourages your team to jump between breakouts and attempt to not get caught! Start by choosing one person to be “it” and let them know they need to count to ten and say someone’s name in order to tag them and make them “it.” Put people into random breakouts and then let the chaos begin!

For even more fun, try the freeze tag version in the method below. Not only does this game create a sense of excitement but it can be a great way to teach people how to move between breakouts and get familiar with your video software!

Break-out Room Tag   #large group   #virtual   #zoom   #remote-friendly   #energizer   #high energy   #ericamarxcoaching   Everyone plays tag, using breakout rooms in Zoom

In Conclusion

A good virtual icebreaker can set up your virtual meeting for success. Set the right tone during kick-off and your team can be more prepared to participate. Break the virtual ice effectively and you’ll help people start talking and engaging without further prompts.

Looking for more effective icebreakers? This collection of icebreaker games is a great source of more ideas that will work in both remote and live settings.

Did you have a favourite virtual icebreaker that isn’t featured? Let us know in the comments below! We’d love to hear about what works for you and your team. Want to discuss facilitation approaches in more detail? Join our community to connect with other facilitators and talk all things facilitation!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Going from a mere idea to a workshop that delivers results for your clients can feel like a daunting task. In this piece, we will shine a light on all the work behind the scenes and help you learn how to plan a workshop from start to finish. On a good day, facilitation can feel like effortless magic, but that is mostly the result of backstage work, foresight, and a lot of careful planning. Read on to learn a step-by-step approach to breaking the process of planning a workshop into small, manageable chunks.  The flow starts with the first meeting with a client to define the purposes of a workshop.…

How does learning work? A clever 9-year-old once told me: “I know I am learning something new when I am surprised.” The science of adult learning tells us that, in order to learn new skills (which, unsurprisingly, is harder for adults to do than kids) grown-ups need to first get into a specific headspace.  In a business, this approach is often employed in a training session where employees learn new skills or work on professional development. But how do you ensure your training is effective? In this guide, we'll explore how to create an effective training session plan and run engaging training sessions. As team leader, project manager, or consultant,…

Effective online tools are a necessity for smooth and engaging virtual workshops and meetings. But how do you choose the right ones? Do you sometimes feel that the good old pen and paper or MS Office toolkit and email leaves you struggling to stay on top of managing and delivering your workshop? Fortunately, there are plenty of online tools to make your life easier when you need to facilitate a meeting and lead workshops. In this post, we’ll share our favorite online tools you can use to make your job as a facilitator easier. In fact, there are plenty of free online workshop tools and meeting facilitation software you can…

Design your next workshop with SessionLab

Join the 150,000 facilitators using SessionLab

Sign up for free

Ready to get started?

• Human Resources

20 icebreaker games and activities for every team

• 31 Aug 2021

As your team’s de facto spirit guide, icebreaker games are definitely your friend. But please, promise us one thing: don’t bring down the mood with boring icebreakers. Don’t go around the circle asking people to awkwardly introduce themselves. That’s stressful for everyone and doesn’t do much to actually bond your team.

Push the envelope and try bolder activities instead.

We’re talking meaningful get-to-know-you games that actually help create a sense of belonging and positive team culture. Or out-of-the-box ideas that work well in a remote setting, like  making videos  that take your icebreakers up a notch. (Don’t worry. We’ll give you plenty of tips for that!)

These 19 icebreaker games are tailor-made to help your people think deeper, connect, and maybe even look forward to team meetings. Win, win, win.

Fun online icebreakers

These icebreaker activities are a perfect fit for remote teams and teams working from home.

1. Scavenger hunt

Break the ice with a game that doesn’t require too much brainpower. List off a few items and send your team on a quest around their house or office to find something that matches.

Ask your team to hunt for something specific like “a broken phone charger” or leave a little room for creativity with items such as “something that represents your favorite hobby”.

A scavenger hunt is a great way to get a little insight into what your people like to do outside of work. Your team just might find shared hobbies and interests to bond over.

Who it works for:  Remote teams or people working from a home office.

Level up with video:  Turn your scavenger list into a video or build the hype for your upcoming scavenger hunt with a video that covers all the must-know details.

2. Two truths and a lie

Two truths and a lie is a great way to get to know new people. The premise is simple: everyone gets a chance to share three things about themselves — two that are true and one that’s a lie.

It’s the perfect balance of getting-to-know-you material and ice-breaking creativity. After each person states their facts, have the group try to discern the truths from the lie.

Who it works for:  Teams (either remote or in-person) who don’t know each other well.

3. Kahoot quizzes

University lecturers know what’s up when it comes to hyping up a room full of people — it’s all about  Kahoot . Kahoot quizzes are easy-to-access live quizzes that anyone can take part in from their own internet-connected device.

As the host, you’ll create the quiz content yourself, so the sky is the limit. If your team just finished an important training, use this as an opportunity to reinforce the material in a fun way.

Create a sense of camaraderie with your staff by grouping people together, or pit them against each other and see who can rise up the leaderboard.

Who it works for:  Particularly effective for teams who need specialist know-how to work well. Shore up their industry knowledge in a fun way.

Level up with video:  Take team quizzes to a whole new level with a personalized quiz video.

4. Jackbox.tv games

Jackbox.tv  games are similar to Kahoot quizzes but a lot less serious. You can buy a suite of games on your laptop or gaming console. To play, your team just needs access to a device and the password to get into the team game. All games can be played remotely or in person.

The most popular Jackbox.tv game has to be  Drawful  (with a player limit of 8), where each person draws a different obscure phrase and racks up points if their competitors guess it right. No prep is needed to play Jackbox.tv games.

Who it works for:  Teams who need to improve their communication.

Level up with video:  Create a  video montage  of everyone’s Drawful sketches and guesses (they’re usually quite funny) and play it at your next meeting.

Create videos that drive action

Activate your audience with impactful, on-brand videos. Create them simply and collaboratively with Biteable.

Really makes you think…

These getting-to-know-you games are a great way to level up your team’s critical thinking. Hype up your team in advance with a video invite full of the need-to-know details.

5. Team trivia

Trivia ignites the competitor in everyone, and it’s the perfect way to pull people out of their shells. If your people are a little shy about creative activities, trivia is the perfect team-building game that doesn’t require them to put themselves out there too much.

There are plenty of sets of trivia questions you can borrow from the internet. Or, you can custom-make trivia questions that help your team get to know each other (like “When did Ellen join the team?” or “What type of coffee does Dan drink?”).

Who it works for:  New teams who need to get acquainted; remote teams looking to build camaraderie from afar.

Level up with video:  Do your trivia sesh right by turning your questions into a video quiz. You can even include snippets of video or images for multimedia questions.

6. Problem/solution

For a problem/solution game, break people into small teams and assign each team a different problem. Be ambitious with the problems you assign. Make it big enough to be complicated, with many possible solutions.

Try questions like “How would you prevent animals from ending up at the pound?” or “If the government implemented a healthy eating initiative, what would be most effective?”.

Teams have 15 minutes to come up with a plan that’s as comprehensive as possible and present their ideas to the larger group. The aim isn’t to solve the problem entirely, it’s to think around different approaches and the possible outcomes that arise from each.

Who it works for:  Remote or in-office teams that need to practice working and problem-solving together closely.

Level up with video:  Introduce the problem with a video perfect for online teams. Press play to explain the rules and what the solution should look like, then send teams off into their breakout rooms to come up with an answer.

Debating the different sides of an argument is a skill that doesn’t have to end after high school.

Teaching your team how to form an argument and debate each other respectfully is an investment that’ll pay off ten-fold. Creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable and able to raise (and resolve) a disagreement is a bonus.

Set up two teams of three and assign a moderator. To ease any possible friction, don’t declare a winner. Instead, make your debates simply about having a well-formed argument. It can work well to create debate topics relevant to your industry so everyone already has the expertise to argue either side.

Who it works for:  Both in-person and remote teams.

Better in person

These activities are best saved for when you can gather in the same room. Use the office or turn these ideas into a team outing — either way, use a video to share the who, what, when, wheres.

8. Structure

This is a seemingly easy challenge that might test your team once they get started.

Break everyone into small groups (three per group work well here). The aim is simple: use whatever materials you can find to build the tallest structure. The way people interpret the rules and treat their competitors without a strict etiquette guideline is always revealing.

This icebreaker is also a great way to flex a different part of the brain. For employees who work on laptops all day, using your hands is a refreshing change of pace.

Who it works for:  Big teams with space to stretch out.

Level up with video:  While everyone is running around trying to build their structure, play an infographic video in the background that gives out valuable hints and tricks.

9. Electric fence

Warning: neither a fence nor electricity is needed for this one. Just grab a piece of string or yarn and suspend it across a walkway. The string represents an electric fence, and the goal is to get everyone in the team over without touching it.

To succeed requires a bit of team organization and a lot of practical sense. It’s interesting to see the roles people naturally fall into when faced with a new challenge.

Who it works for:  In-person teams who need a little more cohesion.

10. Silent line up

No, not that kind of lineup (we hope). This one is exactly as advertised. No one is allowed to talk but the group needs to find a way to wordlessly communicate and get into a line in the right order.

The easiest version of this challenge is to have everyone line up according to height. But you can kick it up a notch by asking them to line up according to date of birth or when they started working at your company.

Who it works for:  In-person teams.

Icebreakers for team bonding

These icebreakers are perfect for teams who’ve known each other for a while but need to connect on a deeper level.

11. Unique and shared

Unique and shared is an easy way of building links between your team members. For the first round, divide everyone into randomly assigned groups of two or three. During each subsequent round, increase the group sizes.

The goal for each round is to find a commonality between all people in that group. It can be something as easy as “We all work on the same floor of the office” or as obscure as “We all saw Shrek 2 in the cinema on opening weekend”.

The trick is, no one can use the same shared trait twice. As the groups grow in size, they’ll need to share more and more information to find a common link. Assign points on a sliding scale based on how quickly groups find their shared trait.

Who it works for:  In-person teams. This icebreaker game also works for remote teams if you can put them in smaller breakout rooms.

12. Critical conversations

Facilitating deep and critical conversation is a great way to help your team align on a deeper level. But it ain’t easy!

For this getting-to-know-you activity to succeed, spend time researching critical (and work-appropriate) questions beforehand. During the activity, pitch a few of the best questions to your team.

Questions like “What’s more important in the long run, kindness or ambition?” or “What advice would you give your younger self?” can pull thoughts out of the team and help them get to know one another’s values.

As the moderator, your job is to ensure everyone has a chance to speak equally. Otherwise, this icebreaker can easily become a contest for the spotlight.

Who it works for:  Established teams who work together in-person. It’s always better to have these types of conversations face-to-face.

Level up with video:  Create a quick  animated text video  displaying the rules of engagement (asking people to be respectful and open-minded, for example), followed by a 10-minute countdown timer to keep the meeting on track. (Discussions like this can go all day if you don’t put boundaries around them.)

13. Describing blind

In the lead up to this getting-to-know-you game, collect a few weird items that would be difficult to identify just from touch (mind puzzles, strange toys, or obscure tools are always a winner).

Divide everyone into teams of two. Give one person on each team a piece of paper and a pen, and sit them where they can hear — but not see — their partner. Ask the second teammate to close her eyes, then place an object in her hands. She must describe the object while their partner attempts to draw it.

This is such a hard challenge, but a great way to highlight potential communication problems between people. Once your team gets the hang of it, they’ll want to do it over and over until they improve, so make sure you have enough items on hand.

Who it works for:  In-person teams who need to improve their communication.

Getting-to-know-you games

Brand new teams usually need a bit of help getting comfortable with each other. Use these getting-to-know you games to loosen things up and begin building a sense of camaraderie.

14. Teammate introduction

As a new hire, it can be stressful getting up in front of the whole team to introduce yourself. Take the pressure off your new team member and make a video about them instead.

Film an interview where you ask them a bit about themselves, their new role, and their work history. And don’t forget to clearly display their name for everyone to absorb — most of us are bad at remembering new names.

Who it works for:  Any team with a new addition

15. Name game

No one remembers names the first time they hear them, especially in a high-pressure situation. If you have a new team or a workshop with new people, do them all a favor and start with a name game.

The game starts with one person saying their name. The person to the right of them in the circle (or the Zoom grid) says the first person’s name and adds their own. The next person continues the chain, saying the first two names and adding their own. And so on.

If someone forgets a name in the chain, start again (but start with another person so everyone gets a turn). The game finishes when you make it around to everyone and end with a full list of names.

Who it works for: New teams or groups, remote or in-person.

16. Speed dating

Speed dating is the quickest and easiest way to help big groups of people get to know each other.

Set up a long table with pairs of chairs facing each other all the way down. The group on one side of the table should be stationary, the group on the other side should move one chair to the right at the sound of the buzzer.

Give each round a minute and start them off with a few easy questions. Cat or dog person? Favorite dessert? Best travel experience? It’s amazing how much these quick interactions help build connection and create a more relaxed atmosphere.

Who it works for:  New in-person teams who’ve never met before.

17. Getting-to-know-you bingo

This icebreaker is so much fun but does require a fair bit of prep work from the moderator. To prepare, find an online template for bingo and populate it with facts you know about individual team members.

Include things like “Someone who orders chai lattes” or “Someone with a birthday in October”. It’s best if you make a few variations of the bingo sheet and distribute them randomly to slow the game down.

If people start racing to get through, you can add extra rules to make it trickier. Try things like not allowing them to ask the question directly. For example, you can’t say “When’s your birthday?” but you can say “What would the weather normally be like at your birthday party?” to hone in on a bingo square.

Who it works for:  In-person teams who are new to each other but not to you.

Creative play icebreakers

Sometimes it pays to have fun, especially at work. Use these icebreaker ideas to shake things up and let your team enjoy themselves.

18. Murder mystery

There are two versions of murder mystery — one that’s more low-key and one that’s more elaborate. Both versions take some time, so it’s best to save this game for a longer workshop or a company retreat.

In the easy version, you can play with no props and no required reading. Set up a  game of Werewolf  and see how your team interacts to uncertain alliances.

If you really want to put on a show, find a more elaborate murder mystery structure. (There are plenty of free versions online.) As the host, you’ll have to do a lot of legwork to progress the story and resolve the mystery, but it’s a lot of fun.

Who it works for:  In-person teams who need to loosen up.

Level up with video:  Create a video that guides your team through the mystery or sets the mood with atmospheric music and backgrounds. (Try searching “creepy” in Biteable’s  stock video footage library …if you’re brave enough.)

19. Draw your coat of arms

This icebreaker activity is perfect for helping staff get to know each other’s values. It also helps managers understand how staff perceive themselves and their role in the office.

It’s pretty simple. Provide drawing tools and print off a  coat of arms template  for people to fill in. Coats of arms were created for important families in medieval England and worn by knights so they, and their heroic deeds, could be distinguished on the battlefield. As such, they contain a lot of symbolism.

You can ask your staff to think about the animal that represents them, the colors they like, even the saying that resonates with them the most as a motto. After they’ve finished drawing, have them explain their choices to the group.

Who it works for:  Remote or in-person teams who need to get to know each other.

20. Movie pitch

Movie pitch is pretty much what it sounds like. In movie pitch, each person has to pitch a movie based on prompts. It’s a creative exercise to make your group laugh, loosen up, and get to know each other.

Here’s how it works: choose a motif — A block of cheese? A plot twist involving a pair of twins? — that must be included in the story. Give everyone a few minutes to prepare their pitch. (Keep it short.) If you want, the moderator can award an Oscar for best pitch after everyone’s had their say.

Who it works for:  Teams who already know each other a little; teams working in a creative field.

Level up with video:  Task your team with making their pitch into a movie trailer. (You can give them the video template below as a starting point.) Then, crack open the popcorn machine and set up a viewing of all the movie trailers (they are, after all, the best part of the movie).

Take people ops to the next level with video

Video is an effective way to engage staff, align teams, and activate your entire workforce. Do it in minutes with  Biteable , the world’s simplest video maker. With professional templates, an intuitive workflow, and trackable video analytics, your can rest easy knowing your message will stick.

Looking for more ways to shake up your people ops game? Check out the Biteable blog for loads of other  HR video ideas .

Make stunning videos with ease.

Take the struggle out of team communication.

Try Biteable now.

• No credit card required
• No complicated design decisions
• No experience necessary

Virtual Icebreakers Your Team Will Love

Rated 4.9 Stars

USED BY TOP REMOTE AND HYBRID TEAMS

"I am always searching for fun, engaging, and unique experiences to facilitate with a group. I discovered Slides With Friends and was blown away! What a great way to get all session attendees laughing, sharing, and connecting."

Elaine Schwartz, Digital Enablement Leader

"My team absolutely loves Slides With Friends. The interactions are so fun and it's easy to create custom polls & quizzes just for our group. This has quickly become one of my favorite tools for online team experiences."

Matthijs Keij, CEO

"As someone who’s been professionally gathering folks for years, I can 100% say that Slides With Friends is a huge breakthrough for any group looking to connect more deeply."

Najva Sol, Head of Product & Marketing

"Slides With Friends has been such an amazing addition to our team's remote stack. This tool brings people together in a way that is rare across the internet."

Steph Smith, Head of Paid Products

How to play these icebreakers, pick or build an icebreaker deck.

Grab a great, ready-to-play game, and start a presentation like you would for any typical slide deck. Your team can join in on their phones with a simple QR code or link (no downloads or logins required).

Play and interact seamlessly

It's easy for your group to join in from their phones or laptops and actively participate with these interactive icebreaker questions, trivia games, live photo show & tell, word clouds, and more.

See real engagement & enjoyment

Elevate your icebreaker into something engaging and fun, without any extra work. Your remote team, hybrid workers, audience, students, (or any group) will love interacting and having their voice heard.

Ready-to-play Icebreaker Decks

Try out our pre-made icebreaker games — just launch and play! Or you can customize with personal touches to make any deck your own.

Make icebreaking easy and interactive

A great, engaging icebreaker is one where you're hearing from everyone, and enabling everyone to actively participate. SlidesWith lets your team join in without needing to download or learn any new systems, and interact easily and enjoyably as a group.

Know how it went

It's just as important to know the results! Get automatic ratings & feedback, so you have real insight into your team's experience. You can even review your event stats and export post-event data. It's not "just playing games" — SlidesWith gives you tangible results you can show your boss or board.

Remote & hybrid friendly

From a conference hall to a Zoom call, you can use these interactive slides to give everyone a voice. Hear from everyone in your group, not just the loudest, fastest ones in the room. You can use SlidesWith anywhere you can share your screen, from Microsoft Teams to Webex to Google Meet.

Bring everyone together

It can be easy to feel disconnected if your team is hybrid or remote. This just means that we need to put more energy into bringing our group together. Fortunately there are great, easy ways to do this! Here are some tested and loved interactive slide deck icebreaker games that you can use to create team alignment, engagement, and enjoyment.

Customer Stories

Brings people together.

Slides With has been such an amazing addition to our team's remote work. This tool brings people together in a way that is rare across the internet. We use it for trivia at The Hustle, but could easily see how it could be expanded to other use cases!

Favorite of my team

My team absolutely loved SlidesWith. The interactions were so fun and it was easy to create a custom “around the world quiz” just for our group. SlidesWith has quickly become one of my favorite tools for online team experiences.

Great for education and young adults

Slides with Friends is a great tool for anyone wanting to connect with and engage a live audience, whether online or in person. The user interface is easy and intuitive, and the outcome is fun, interactive, and involving. (Oh and the soundboard, my teenagers loved it... a little too much!)

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions? We've got some answers.

Go to your account, select a deck, and open it! You'll see a big pink "Launch an event" button on the top right corner. When you click this, it will start a live, full-screen event (just like a powerpoint or google slides presentation). Display this live event page to your group (eg. "share your screen" on Zoom), and have them join in! Then advance through the slides by clicking the next arrow or pressing the arrow keys.

On the first slide of your launched event, you'll see an auto-generated QR code and a URL link. Tell your players to get their smartphone and open their camera. They just need to hold their camera up to the QR code, and they'll be taken to a join page. If they don't have a phone or are having trouble with the QR code, they can use the link displayed on that page, which goes to the same page. On this page, they'll be able to select an avatar, enter their name, and click "Join Event"! You'll see each person appear on your main screen, as they join. From there they can send in responses, photos, and fun sound reactions.

With a Pro account you can have up to 200 players join, and with a Starter account you can have up to 50 players. Our forever-free account lets small groups of up to 10 people play your event, no charge :)

Yes! Our forever free account is fully-featured. We believe in building strong connections and community, and for that reason SlidesWith will always be no-cost for smaller groups — you can create a deck and play with up to 10 people for free. The only time payment is required is if you want to run events with larger groups.

No, this is a slide deck presentation tool that you can use in any video call or in person. We recommend using SlidesWith wherever you can show your screen to your audience. So whether that's on a video call platform like Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex, (or any other video conferencing software), or live at an in-person or hybrid conference or meeting, as long as you can share your screen, you can use SlidesWith. Think of it like using a powerpoint presentation, but with superpowers ;)

"We received tons of positive feedback after using Slides With Friends. The beauty of this app is that it's so simple to design a unique branded game with questions and tasks on any topic. We loved this as an ice breaker!"

Try Slides With Friends for free

The easiest way to host meetings your team will love

• Virtual Experiences
• In-Person Experiences
• Hybrid Experiences
• Social Calendar [New]
• Experience FAQ
• Features & Benefits
• How Pricing Works
• Client Testimonials
• Happiness Guarantee
• Blog Articles
• Video Library
• View Experiences

38 Icebreaker Games, Activities & Ideas for Small Groups

By: Jessica Chen | Updated: April 30, 2024

You found our list of fun  icebreaker games for small groups .

Icebreaker games are activities and exercises that prompt conversations from participants. Example games include Six Word Memoirs and Desert Island Intelligences. The purpose of these games is for small groups to get to know each other in a fun, informal setting, and to promote team building.

These icebreakers are a subset of team building games and indoor team building activities , and are similar to connection games and 5 minute team building activities for small groups .

This list includes:

• icebreaker activities
• ice breaker games for work
• ice breaking activities
• team building ice breakers
• small group icebreakers
• team ice breaker games
• ice breaker games for adults

So, here is the list!

Icebreaker activities

1. icebreaker bingo.

Icebreaker Bingo is one of the best games you can play for new introductions. The game is a familiar format, easy to learn and a lot of fun. Plus, the game format lends itself to prizes and other forms of recognition.

Here is a game board you can use:

And here is a free icebreaker Bingo card template you can play with.

2. Wolf/Chicken/Grain Riddle

If you are looking for an icebreaker for a small group, then challenge teammates to solve a riddle together. Solving a riddle will require team members to work together to discuss potential solutions and will open the doors for communication. One classic riddle to share is the Wolf, Chicken, Grain riddle.

Tell the group:

“A farmer is traveling with a wolf, chicken and bag of grain and comes to a river they need to cross. The boat only has room for the farmer and 1 other. The farmer can’t leave the wolf alone with the chicken and he can’t leave the chicken alone with the grain. How can he get them all across the river safely?”

Team members must work together to agree on an answer and explain their reasoning. For larger groups, it may be better to split the group into teams so that all teammates have a chance to participate.

By the way, here is the answer:

• The farmer takes the chicken over first.
• He brings the wolf second and comes back with the chicken.
• He drops off the chicken and takes the grain to the other side with the wolf.
• The farmer makes one last trip to retrieve the chicken.

Check out more riddles to do with teams .

Get our free team building toolbox

• icebreaker games
• bingo cards

3. Storytelling Icebreaker

Storytelling Icebreaker promotes creativity and pushes employees to use their imaginations. In this game, employees will create a story using a set of four pictures as prompts.

To play Storytelling Icebreaker:

• Print out several copies of four images.
• Split the colleagues into teams of three to four.
• Hand each group a copy of each picture.
• Teams get ten minutes to study the photos and create a story connecting them.
• When the time is up, each team will take turns sharing their story.
• Other teams may suggest how the group can develop their story.
• If employees fail to create a story connecting the images, then they must repeat that session.
• The team with the best story wins the game.

To make this game more engaging, you can reward the winners. This brainstorming activity is one of the best icebreaker games for adults at work because it improves employees’ focus and helps them develop social skills.

4. Quotes Game

Quotes Game is one of the best icebreaker games for adults at work because it tests colleagues’ memories and challenges their cognitive skills. In this activity, colleagues will pick quotes from their favorite movies, books, songs, and TV shows for teammates to guess.

To play Quotes Game:

• Split the players into pairs.
• Teams will share quotes from popular movies, songs, books, and TV shows.
• Opposing groups must guess what the quote is from.
• The pairs get a point for every correct answer.
• The team with the most points wins the game.

You may even offer bonus points to colleagues who can name the character or figure out who said the quote. You can also offer hints for colleagues who need help answering the questions.

5. Say Your Name Backward

Say your Name Backward is one of the best icebreaker name games for adults because it challenges employees intellectually.

To play Say Your Name Backward:

• Each employee will spell their name backward on a slip of paper and put it in a bowl.
• Shake the bowl to mix up the names.
• The teammates will draw a piece of paper from the bowl and attempt to guess the correct name within ten seconds.

This game is a great icebreaker activity for new team members. Colleagues get to know each other’s names without formal introductions. This activity is also a great way to introduce new team members. To further the introductions, you may have all new members share fun facts about themselves when colleagues draw their names.

6. Trading Cards

Trading Cards is a fun way to encourage team communication.

To play Trading Cards:

• Give employees index cards and markers.
• Set a timer for four to five minutes.
• Employees will create personal trading cards with their names, photos, and fun facts about them.
• Employees will combine their cards in a deck and shuffle.
• Employees will then pick random cards from the deck and find the teammate who owns the card.
• Teammates will then ask the owner of the card questions to get to know each other better.

To make this game even more fun, teammates can ask hilarious questions to get funny responses. For example, employees could ask, “Is cereal soup?” This exercise makes colleagues more comfortable around each other and helps develop office friendships.

Ice breaker games for work

7. i’m a brand manager.

I’m a Brand Manager is an icebreaker for work that tests your team’s creativity.

Here’s how to play:

• Ask your team members to invest in an imaginary new business.
• Each group must decide how to market the new brand.
• Encourage your coworkers to come up with logos, slogans, and a basic color palette.
• Share and vote on the best marketing strategy!

This icebreaker game is a great choice for creative or design teams, but even if your team is not full of designers, I’m a Brand Manager is a great icebreaker because the competition inadvertently reveals what your team members are passionate about, and may unearth previously unknown design skills.

8. Desert Island Intelligences

One of the most intriguing theories in psychology is Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences , which proposes that people possess a variety of abilities and talents, known as intelligences. This icebreaker game for college students draws on Gardner’s Theory, and asks your team to vote people off a desert island based on how useful these intelligences would be for survival.

Gardner’s eight intelligences are:

• Visual-spatial
• Linguistic-verbal
• Interpersonal
• Intrapersonal
• Logical-mathematical
• Body-kinesthetic
• Naturalistic

In this game, eight individuals, each representing a different intelligence, are stranded on a desert island. Because the island has a finite amount of resources, your team must decide what order to eliminate the individuals in, in order to ensure survival. The debates stemming from Desert Island Intelligences are wonderful for learning about your coworkers’ priorities and thought processes.

For similar ideas, check out this list of problem solving games .

9. Speed Networking

While Speed Networking may seem better suited for large group icebreakers, this activity can also be reworked as an intimate icebreaker activity. This exercise provides a fast and easy way for teams to get to know each other.

To play Speed Networking, using a random team generator , pair your team into groups of two. Then, give each pair icebreaker questions and five minutes to make their way through as many questions as possible. After five minutes are up, switch up the pairs.

Since you are playing with a smaller group, you can cycle through the pairs more than once, so your colleagues can ask even more questions or simply chat about some information that came up in a previous question.

Need help thinking of ways to break the ice? Check out our list of icebreaker questions for some pointers.

10. Theme Music

In this simple icebreaker, teammates choose theme music to suit different situations.

For example:

• To celebrate a work win
• When I want to motivate myself
• When I am angry
• Imagining I am a superhero

You can have participants name the song, play a short clip, or add the song to a collaborative playlist.

11. Myers-Briggs Session

One of the most prominent personality tests is the Myers-Briggs Test, which matches people with a personality type denoted by four letters that reveals what you are like in relationships, the workplace, and as a parent. Myers-Briggs Session uses this test to initiate discussions that reveal more about your coworkers’ characters.

To begin a Myers-Briggs Session, send the Myers-Briggs test to your team to complete. Then, set a time where everyone gets together to discuss results. A Myers-Briggs Session is a fun activity to get people talking about themselves and how they work best with others.

Ice breaking activities

12. icebreaker questions activity.

A quick and fun icebreaker activity you can do anywhere is asking icebreaker questions. For example, you might ask “your favorite movie growing up” or “the last book you read.” Theses questions help participants bond over shared experiences, and get more comfortable talking with each other.

Check out this list of icebreaker questions for more inspiration.

13. Achievements Under 18

If you are looking for a free-and-easy way to know more about your team’s past exploits, then try a few rounds of Achievements Under 18. To participate in this icebreaker game for employees, ask all your coworkers to name an accomplishment achieved by age 18. These accomplishments can range from academic to personal, and you can play as many rounds as you like.

Achievements Under 18 is a terrific icebreaker game because each round paints a picture of the childhood your team had, and undoubtedly leads to questions about everyone’s personal triumphs. This exercise is a fun way to get to know each other, and breaks up the monotony of a slow workday.

14. Guess the Sound Safari

Each participant records a unique sound such as  tapping on a surface or whistling prior to the event. During the icebreaker, participants play the recorded sounds, and others try to guess the source. This exercise is a sensory and engaging way to learn about each other, and can be great fun. The stranger the sound, the better the bonding experience!

15. Parallel Universe Pictionary

Participants draw a scene from a parallel universe on a whiteboard. This exercise puts a twist on standard Pictionary because it centers on made-up objects and situations rather than real-world examples. Thus, players will need even better communication, teamwork, and problem solving skills to conquer the game. This icebreaker can be a great window into teammates’ imaginations!

Firsts is an icebreaker game that helps teammates share their first experiences. To prepare this activity, create a list of firsts and share it with players, giving the group three or four minutes to answer.

• First concert
• First vacation
• First apartment
• First friend
• First item bought with first paycheck
• First celebrity crush
• First time I ever heard my favorite song

Then, the group will share, compare, and contrast answers. When playing this game, be sure to avoid getting too personal and keep all topics work appropriate.

17. My Dream Emoji

In this activity, participants share the emojis that they wish existed. For examples, players might create a gingerbread cookie emoji or the words “JUST NO!” Participants can describe the emojis in words or submit a picture. Then, a leader shares the emojis one by one and players must guess which group member suggested which emoji.

18. Fridge Art Throwbacks

This activity helps team members break the ice by sharing childhood masterpieces. Before the meeting, each participants find a piece of art they created when they were a kid. Players then take turns sharing and explaining those drawings or paintings to a group. This activity can inspire lots of laughs and invoke a sense of nostalgia, thus helping teammates bond.

If participants do not have any authentic kiddie art on hand, then they can share their children’s artwork or create a kid-style drawing.

19. Doodle Duel Derby

Participants engage in a fast-paced doodle competition. Each person starts a doodle on a shared canvas, and every few minutes, they rotate to continue the doodle started by someone else. The result is a collaborative masterpiece. As a bonus, participants can guess which players added which parts to the doodles.

Team building ice breakers

20. personality shapes.

If you are looking for quick icebreaker exercises, then look no further than Personality Shapes! This one-question personality test is a simple way to gain insight into your team’s mindsets. On a white board, draw a square, a triangle, a circle, and a squiggly line. Then ask participants which shape best matches their personality. Each shape corresponds to certain personality traits. Here are a few examples.

• Detail-oriented
• Hate clutter
• Hesitant to change
• Love to multi-task
• Self-Motivated
• Work best on teams
• Want to “fix” everyone else
• Reluctant to say no
• Empathetic and compassionate
• Adapt easily to change
• Idea generators
• Easily bored
• Love to try new things

Understanding how a coworker approaches a problem or new situation can be instrumental when working on a project together. For example, squares and squiggles may struggle to work together because one is hesitant to change, but the other gets bored quickly. Teammates can set expectations and be more prepared for conflict to arise when aware of these attributes.

Visit Connie Podesta’s site to learn more about the personality traits associated with each shape, and check out more personality tests .

21. Geographical Guess

To play this game, each participant picks a place they have visited. Participants must then mingle and ask yes/no questions to figure out each other’s locations. This game is a geography-themed icebreaker that sparks conversations about travel and exploration, and is one of the best icebreaker games for small groups of adventure lovers.

22. Roll the Dice Confessions

In this exercise, each participant rolls a die, and based on the number rolled, shares a personal fact about themselves. The game adds an element of randomness and surprise to the usual sharing, creating a dynamic and open atmosphere. Feel free to play multiple rounds and reassign the numbers as needed.

Here is a list of get to know you questions you can use as game questions.

23. Invisible Object Show and Tell

This icebreaker is a quirky and imaginative twist on the traditional show and tell. Participants take turns presenting an “invisible” object, describing it in detail. Other players then guess the object based on the description. This activity is in some ways a more telling icebreaker than traditional show and tell because players can use items beyond what they have on hand and the choice of “invisible” objects can reveal insights into the sharer’s psychology.

24. That Reminds Me

That Reminds Me is an icebreaker game that is similar to Word Association. In this exercise, a leader gives a prompt, and players share the things that remind them of that prompt.

For example, if the prompt is “home,” then one player might name the scent of freshly baked conchas while another describes the smell of salt air that reminds them of their childhood home on the beach.

Here are some good prompts:

• Autumn (or any season)

This exercise is one of the most impactful icebreaker games for small groups because it gives insight into players’ backgrounds and mindsets and encourages anecdotes that create intimacy.

Small group icebreakers

25. jenga questions.

Jenga Questions is an icebreaker game for students and other groups, where your team plays Jenga, while also answering questions. Depending on whether you have a standard or giant Jenga set, either write numbers that correspond with questions or the actual questions on each brick. As each team member withdraws a brick, answer the question associated with it.

Since an element of unpredictability exists with Jenga Questions, this exercise creates a spontaneous, easygoing way for employees to share information about themselves. This impromptu element elevates your team’s Jenga experience to beyond simply balancing blocks.

Here is a list of fun this or that questions you can use for the game.

26. Time Heist

Have you ever considered what you would do if you could travel back in time? Inspired by the events of Avengers: Endgame, Time Heist is a game where your team proposes outlandish schemes they would pull off if they could time travel.

To play, ask your team to write down time travel plans on scraps of paper, and place the scraps in an opaque container. Then, pass the container around and have each member of the team draw a paper and discuss what is written on it. Time Heist not only reveals your team’s creativity, but also provides an amusing way to learn more about each other.

27. Six Word Memoirs for Small Groups

Six Word Memoirs is a stellar icebreaker game for team building guaranteed to spark discussions. To play this game, each member of your team brainstorms six words that summarize their life, and then shares their Six Word Memoir with the group.

Because the activity limits each participant to six words, your colleagues’ choices in words invariably lead to questions about why these particular words stood out. Your team will come together to play this icebreaker game, while also discovering interesting insights about each other.

28. Would You Rather for Small Groups

Would You Rather is one of the best icebreakers for small groups because the game can cover various topics. To play the challenge, come up with a list of questions that begin with “Would you rather…” and end with two options. For instance, “Would you rather have the ability to read minds or move things with your mind?” Then, have participants take turns answering and make sure respondents share the reasons for their choices.

This exercise is a fun game to play in a group as your team will learn more about each other’s preferences. Some players may even decide to change their answers as they hear from the group.

Here are some of my favorite questions:

• Would you rather be able to fly or breathe underwater?
• Would you rather be able to see into the future or relive a moment from your past?
• Would you rather lose all the memories you made this year or all the money you made this year?
• Would you rather spend a year with the same song stuck in your head or with an itch you can’t scratch?
• Would you rather live alone in the woods or in a studio apartment with 10 people?

Check out our list of the best Would You Rather questions for work .

Team ice breaker games

29. the marshmallow challenge.

The Marshmallow Challenge is one of the most fun team building and icebreaker games for work. To start the exercise, split your team into pairs and give each group 20 sticks of dry spaghetti, three feet of tape, three feet of string, and one marshmallow.

The instructions are easy, even if the task is not. Each pair has 20 minutes to build the tallest structure with the marshmallow on top. This activity requires teamwork, communication, and innovation. Once the challenge is complete, have the group discuss what part of the exercise was the most difficult, who failed at first, how they recovered, and what they thought of the other designs.

This Ted Talk shares insights into the lessons.

30. Hometown Map

Hometown Map is an icebreaker game for work that is easy to set up. To start, pin a large world map to a bare stretch of wall and place a marker, small Post-It notes, and box of push pins nearby. Then, notify your team to use the push pins and Post-Its to mark birth places or hometowns on the map over the next few days.

Hometown Map is a great icebreaker because after everyone is done, you will have a lovely new piece of wall decor that shows important pieces of your employees’ pasts. When your team members walk past the map, the pins may prompt your colleagues to ask each other about experiences growing up in different places.

31. Common Ground

I love common ground because teammates learn so much about each other and there are so many ways to play! You will have your team play this game in groups. You can choose your groups based on how many people are on your team and how challenging you want the game to be. Once your groups are set, instruct participants to find a set number of things they have in common in a set amount of time.

If you want the game to be laidback, then have teammates work in pairs and find three commonalities in 10 minutes. If you want to make the exercise more challenging, then have the whole group work together and find ten things everyone in the group has in common. At the end of the activity, reunite the groups back together to share what they have learned about each other.

Pro-tip: Encourage participants to find unique areas of commonality. “We all ate the same variety of spaghetti growing up” is more interesting than “we all breathe.”

32. Psychology Masks

Psychology Masks is another icebreaker activity pulled from Psychology 101 that is especially suited for artistically inclined teams. To get started, order blank white masks and paints. Then, ask your team to fill the outside of the masks with images signifying what others think of them, and illustrate the inside with drawings that symbolize their inner selves.

When the masks are complete, display the finished products in the office. Because of the dual nature of the masks, the display is sure to stimulate discussion among your team members and provide a low pressure icebreaker game for employees to share more about themselves.

33. Special Snowflakes

Participants receive a paper snowflake upon entering the room. Throughout the event, players write compliments on each other’s snowflakes. At the end of the activity, participants gets to take home a unique snowflake covered in positive affirmations from their peers.

Pro Tip: You can play this game virtually by giving players a digital snowflake in Canva.

34. Snapshot Throwback

Prior to the activity, participants submit a childhood photo. Participants then receive a photo at random, and must find the person in the photo and learn about their childhood experiences. This activity is a nostalgic and heartwarming way to connect.

35. Mingle & Masterpiece

To do this activity, give participants art supplies and ask them to create a collaborative masterpiece on a large canvas. However, the artists can only contribute while engaging in conversation with others. This icebreaker fosters creativity and also prompts meaningful interactions as the artwork unfolds.

Pro Tip: To do this activity virtually, use a digital whiteboard.

Ice breaker games for adults

36. tic tac toe.

The best icebreakers give teammates the chance to interact and learn information about each other. Icebreaker tic tac toe encourages both!

First, pick a theme for your game, such as hobbies. Next, ask each player to fill in the nine squares with specific personal hobbies. Then, set a five to ten-minute time limit. Next, participants walk around the room and share the grids. When two teammates list the same hobby, they initial each other’s grids. The first player to get three boxes in a row wins the exercise. You can have multiple winners by awarding one prize for a diagonal row, one horizontal, one vertical, and one full board.

One of the best parts of this icebreaker is that you can change the theme to cover any topic you would like to learn. For instance, ask employees to fill in the boxes with passions, personality traits, or favorite TV shows. The possibilities are endless!

37. Who Am I?

Who am I is a fun group game that requires some preparation. You can create a list of well-known, real people and fictional characters. Write the individual names on note cards and tape a card to each person’s back. The card on someone’s back is who they become for the game, and their goal is to figure out who they are. They must ask each other questions to find the answers.

Some examples of questions are:

• Am I male or female?
• Am I real or fictional?
• Am I an athlete?
• Am I alive or dead?

The game ends when all participants guess the name on the card. You can choose a broad range of names or try to incorporate a theme. For example, during Women’s History Month you can choose important women throughout history. Here is a list with more ideas for Women’s History Month .

38. Guess Who

To set up Guess Who, give each team member three slips of paper and ask players to write a piece of personal trivia on each slip. Encourage participants to share unique, interesting, and surprising facts. Fold up the pieces, put them in a bowl, and read them out loud one at a time. Have the other team members guess the fact’s author. After all players make a guess, have the team member who shared that fact identify themselves and share some more information. This exercise can lead to entertaining discussions as employees learn little-known tidbits about each other.

Check out more get to know you games .

39. No Smiling

Being told you cannot do something usually leads to an obsession with that topic. If someone tells me not to think about pink elephants, then I can guarantee that I will picture pink elephants for the rest of the day. No Smiling is an icebreaker that plays on this instinct. The first step is to have your team stand in a circle with one person in the middle. Tell the person in the center they are not allowed to smile or laugh. Then, participants within the circle take turns telling jokes and trying to make the middle person laugh. This activity can lighten the mood and help team members loosen up.

40. Word Association

Word Association is a quick and easy way to learn more about how your teammates’ minds work. You will need a list of ten words, although you can change the number based on your needs. Next, have everyone write one through ten on a piece of paper and then read each word. Instruct employees that players must write down the first thing that comes to mind as soon as you read a word. Once the lists are complete, teammates share the response to each word. Employees can also explain the reasoning behind the associations. It is always interesting to see how folks make connections and understand their logic.

You can create your own list or use a random word generator like the one in this post .

41. Freeze Frame Storytime

Each participant takes turns sharing a snippet of an absurd or fictional story. The catch is that players must freeze in a dramatic pose at the end of their turn. The next participant then continues the tale from that frozen moment, resulting in a collaborative and comical story.

42. Magnetic Poetry Mixer

For this easy activity, give participants magnetic poetry sets and a communal magnetic board. Team members create short poems together, rearranging words as they mingle. This activity is a tactile and collaborative way to express creativity through language.

Here is an online magnetic poetry game .

Final Thoughts

Icebreaker games are a fun way to get to know other people in a group quickly. These small group games can take just a few minutes at the beginning of a meeting, and provide immense value in improving communication and engagement. You can start with any of the fun icebreaker activities on this list as a way to bring your people together and build community at work.

Next, check out our list of improv games , and these ones with question games , getting to know you games and small group team building ideas . Plus, this list of energizers for meetings .

We also have a list of icebreaker activities for large groups , virtual icebreaker apps , conversation starters for work meetings , and Christmas icebreaker games .

Book wildly fun team building events with expert hosts

FAQ: Icebreaker Games

Here are some examples of commonly asked questions about icebreaker games.

What are icebreaker games?

Icebreaker games are activities you play with your team to help facilitate discussion among colleagues. These games are crucial for new teams that do not know each other very well, especially if team members are unaware of potential shared interests. These games are also known as “icebreaker activities”, “icebreaker challenges”, and “icebreaker exercises.”

What are the benefits of playing icebreaker games?

The benefits of playing icebreaker games include:

• Letting employees get to know each other
• Unearthing previously unknown skills
• Providing low pressure situations for colleagues to hang out
• Promoting communication among team members
• Learning about your coworkers’ interests and passions
• Revealing aspects of your team’s pasts or growing up experiences

By participating in icebreaker games, your team experiences a variety of benefits that create stronger bonds, and thus lets coworkers work better together.

What is an easy icebreaker activity to start with?

An easy icebreaker activity to start with is Hometown Maps because it is a low pressure activity that only requires you to prepare a blank map, Post-Its, and a box of push pins. Choosing Hometown Maps not only gives your office some new wall decor, but it is also an effortless way for coworkers to learn about each others’ pasts.

What makes icebreaker games for small groups work?

Icebreakers for small groups work if you:

• Set aside adequate time for everyone to participate
• Confirm participants
• Prepare materials before the game begins
• Run rounds more than once

Because you have a smaller number of players, you can take advantage of this fact by granting each participant more time. Giving more time creates a more intimate atmosphere, and lets team members get to know each other even more.

Author: Jessica Chen

Content Expert at teambuilding.com. Jessica has a double major in English and Asian Studies, and experience working with teams across cultures; including 3+ years in Taiwan.

Leave a Reply Cancel

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• 45,000+ clients including Apple, Amazon, Google and NASA
• 50,225+ five star reviews on Google
• #15 on Inc 5000's List of Fastest Growing Private Companies in America for 2022
• 80+ happy remote employees

We lead wildly fun experiences for teams with 1,000,000+ players to date.

4.96 / 5.0 rating on

50,225 Google Reviews

Get our free team building tool box

$49 value at no cost..

• May as well check it out?
• 100+ tested icebreaker questions
• 24+ themed Bingo generators
• 5+ PDFs (including the 8% Rule)
• 2024 team building calendar and more...

Enter your email for instant access

42 Ridiculously Fun Icebreaker Ideas, Games, & Activities In 2024 For Your Next Meeting

How much does a polar bear weigh? Enough to break the ice.

Don’t you feel better now that we’ve gotten that out of the way?

Productivity Pictionary Icebreaker ✏️

Instructions: Divide your team into pairs or small groups and give each group a list of work-related terms or challenges. Each team member takes turns drawing a term or challenge on a whiteboard or paper, while their partner or team tries to guess what it is.

This creative and collaborative game not only breaks the ice but also encourages team members to think on their feet and engage in a fun, productivity-focused activity.

⭐️ For more team icebreakers and conversation starters, subscribe to The Assist for free.

Icebreaker games make meetings better by loosening everybody up and getting them into “meeting mode.” Consider the icebreaker meeting warm-up, an exercise you need to avoid awkward cramps throughout a meeting.

Despite persistent cliches, icebreakers for adults do not have to follow any particular format, and they definitely do not have to be lame. You can use pretty much any game or activity you want to break the ice before your meeting, as long as it gets people talking and smiling. A well-planned virtual icebreaker activity can also be a great way to ease the tension before a conference call with coworkers.

And if you’re really trying to go for some bonus points, consider pairing your icebreaker activity with snacks for the entire team to get the energy in the room pumping.

Without further ado…

1. The Movie Pitch Icebreaker

A favorite at Bonusly , split people into groups and have each group come up with a movie they want to make. Everyone should have a short pitch prepared within 10 minutes. (This film is The Avengers meets My Little Pony .) Let everyone make their pitch, and then have all virtual meeting attendees vote on which idea deserves “funding.”

The winners won’t immediately move to pre-production, but they might get a company-wide shoutout on the Bonusly platform for their creativity – next step… Hollywood!

👉 Sign up for a free trial  to test out Bonusly, share with your team members, and start your next movie pitch.

2. The Virtual Icebreaker Template

A Virtual Icebreaker Template is a pre-designed set of prompts, questions, or activities that are meant to help team members get to know each other and feel more comfortable communicating and collaborating virtually.

These virtual templates can be used in a variety of situations, ranging from online classes and online meetings to virtual team building activities and remote social events. Typically, virtual icebreaker templates will include introductions, personal preferences, games, photo sharing, and group discussions.

The real benefit of using icebreaker templates is that it provides the right structure for participants to share info about themselves and their interests, bond with other team members, and participate in fun, interactive games and activities. These templates also ensure total group inclusion!

Looking to try one? Here is a list of a few templates to break the ice:

Kick off your online meetings and any other virtual activities with a Virtual Icebreaker Template!

3. Snack Time (5 Minutes for Everyone to Enjoy a Snack and Chat)

A snack time break in the workplace can boost productivity. Dedicate five minutes for everyone to enjoy a snack and engage in light conversation. In turn, employees can take a rejuvenating break and return to their tasks with renewed energy and focus. This brief pause in the workday creates a relaxed atmosphere, sharpening creativity and reducing the risk of burnout.

On top of that, snack time provides an opportunity for team members to connect on a personal level, strengthening team bonds and improving overall communication. The casual conversations during these breaks can even spark innovative ideas and collaborative solutions to work challenges.

Implement a daily snack time in your office and witness the significant impact it can have on productivity and workplace morale. Grab a snack , connect with your colleagues, and supercharge their productivity!

4. GeoGuessr

Integrating GeoGuessr into your workplace can revolutionize a typical break into an exhilarating and captivating experience. This online game immerses players into random locations on Google Street View, challenging them to guess their whereabouts. It’s entertaining and highly educational.

By playing GeoGuessr in the office, you encourage critical thinking and collaboration among team members as they combine their geographical knowledge and problem-solving skills to pinpoint locations.

It’s an incredible way to break the monotony of the workday, exercise team building skills, and stimulate the brain in fun and unexpected ways. The competitive element of the game adds excitement, fueling healthy competition among colleagues.

Schedule a weekly GeoGuessr challenge in your office to uncover who can become the ultimate geographical detective. Explore the world together, right from your workplace, and infuse an extra dimension of enjoyment and learning into our work routine!

5. Create a Themed Slack Channel

The SnackNation team set up a Gratitude channel!

Promote team camaraderie and enhance workplace dynamics through crowdsourcing team interests. Gather insights into everyone’s hobbies, favorite activities, and passions to create dedicated Slack channels that serve as hubs for both professional and personal engagement.

From bookworms and fitness enthusiasts to tech geeks and gourmet foodies, these specialized groups provide a platform for team members to connect, share, and discover common interests beyond work-related tasks. This approach breaks the ice and cultivates a more inclusive and engaging office culture.

By implementing interest surveys, you can form Slack channels that perfectly align with the interests of your team members.

6. The Solve a Murder Icebreaker

Cue The Office theme song… Michael Scott enters… “There’s been a murder…”

In all honesty, Michael was actually on to something! Solving a murder mystery can be a great way to break the ice with your team. Check out Outback’s Virtual Clue Murder Mystery for all types of mystery games that are designed for both the physical and virtual workplaces that help to develop teamwork, communication, and culture building.

Remember… If all else fails… Finger guns galore…

7. The One-Word Icebreaker

I feel alpaca.

Assembly Icebreaker Template

The company culture leaders at Assembly (a free employee recognition software ) keep things simple by having everyone describe their current mood in one word. You can have people explain their one-word mood descriptor if you want to add more depth to your icebreaker activities, but you can also just go with the flow and enjoy how cryptic some of the answers can be.

The free Assembly Icebreaker Template allows you to :

• Design a quiz about any topic and personalize it for the specific occasion
• Engage employees in a fun and creative way while growing participation
• Gather interesting feedback or perspectives from the workforce
• Set different types of questions to keep things fun and interesting

8. The Friendly Competition Icebreaker

A Friendly Competition Icebreaker is an icebreaker activity that pits participants against each other in the throes of serious — yet super fun competition. This category of icebreakers is designed to stimulate team members and engage them, while allowing them to get to know each other on a deeper level.

The key benefit of these types of games and activities is that they gamify that early getting-to-know-each-other stage, so your team can bust right through it without even realizing it. You could try scavenger hunts, trivia games, two truths and a lie, pictionary, and charades.

Try out a few challenge-based activities to let employees bond together:

Break the ice with a little friendly competition!

9. The All-Inclusive Icebreaker

Virtual icebreakers are needed now more than ever. As the workplace is being reimagined, it’s looking like one or more days a week working from home or remotely is going to be the standard.

Having said that, the Fun Bundle For Adults is the perfect icebreaker idea for keeping friends, families, coworkers, and employees entertained. These 6 thoughtfully designed PDFs can help you spice up Zoom meetings or be used in just about any situation where you want people to get to know each other better!

10. The Virtual Game Icebreaker

What happens when you combine fun online games with built-in video conferencing technology? The ultimate Zoom icebreaker !

These Fun and Affordable Virtual Game Icebreakers were designed specifically with remote teams in mind. The games (trivia, charades, impersonations) will show you new, hilarious sides to your coworkers. For an extra layer of get-to-know-you goodness, each icebreaker activity integrates personalized player trivia into the game – how well do you know your teammates? You’re about to find out!

👉 Check Out The Library of Virtual Game Icebreakers 👈

11. The OMG Icebreaker 😮

Brought to you by The Assist , a free weekly email that delivers workplace culture and productivity inspo, this icebreaker activity will have your teammates dropping jaws and sharing laughs. Ask your colleagues this question:

“What is the craziest request you’ve ever gotten in your career?”

Be prepared for some major team bonding and left field answers like the one below:

Early in my career I was a Legislative Assistant to a local politician. I have a laundry list of inappropriate requests, but one that’ll always stand out to me is when she handed me and another staffer the keys to her State-issued vehicle and requested that we pick her granddaughter up from the holding cell at her high school! She was fighting and the school police arrested her. Needless to say, I didn’t spend much more time employed by her. Oh, she’s still in office. – Kendall H., The Assist Subscriber

12. The Budget Friendly Icebreaker

A Budget Friendly Icebreaker is an activity or a game that can be enjoyed with little or no equipment. Whether your team is looking to play two truths and a lie, a name game, scavenger hunt, group juggling, or human knot, you’ve got plenty of ways to execute this idea.

The best part about Budget Friendly Icebreakers is that they are inclusive, cost-effective, and can be adapted to different settings. On top of that, a smartly-designed icebreaker facilitates relationships and picks up the pace to develop deep work connections.

Start your next icebreaker on a budget with minimal setup and minimal materials!

13. The Online Quiz Icebreaker

Pop quiz! The folks at The Go Game created a really fun and easy-to-use icebreaker tool that will help your team get to know each other a little more each week through ice breaker quizzes and games.

Two Truths and a Lie

With a huge catalog of ice breaker options to choose from, you will be cracking up with your coworkers in minutes! Choose from activities as short as 5 minutes to longer activities where you and your colleagues can play multiple games via an online icebreaker showdown. Split into teams and participate in rapid-fire activities that are sure to break some ice!

Here are just a few of the icebreaker quiz games you can try out…

• 🙊 Two Truths and a Lie
• 🗣 Low Stakes Debate
• 🎤 Name That Tune
• 🙅‍♀️ Wrong Answers Only

To start quizzing your coworkers, get more information at The Go Game .

14. “Treat Yourself” Icebreaker 

What’s an even better way to break the ice than any ol’ icebreaker activity? A little online shopping! The folks over at Caroo provide an ever-expanding catalog of premium gifts, delicious treats, gift cards, and more that let you and your guests pick out a perfect gift to cap off your team event.

Simply send over the link, give everyone a few minutes to window shop, and their next treat will arrive at their doorstep. With Recipient Choice rewards starting at $25, this is the kind of icebreaker that your team members will remember!

15. The Marshmallow Challenge

This challenge from Tom Wujec , a business visualization expert, makes the perfect icebreaker and team-building hybrid. Break your meeting attendees into groups of four. Give each group 20 sticks of spaghetti, 1 yard of tape, 1 yard of string, and one marshmallow. Ask them to build the tallest freestanding structure they can. Sit back and see what happens. Here’s Tom Wujec talking about the team-building virtues of the Marshmallow Challenge:

16. Scream for Ice Cream

This Ice(cream) breaker will place your meeting guests in a fun and lively how-to icebreaker where your coworkers will learn how to make ice cream in a bag! Listen to some tunes, get to know each other a bit better, and shake your ice cream ingredients until everything is perfectly frozen. Yum! The folks at Unboxed Experiences can even provide pre-made kits to be sent directly to remote employees tuning in from home.

Cap off your icebreaker activity by cracking open a soda and pouring rootbeer, orange soda, or cherry cola over your fresh ice cream for a delicious float to sip on as you get down to business.

Pro-Tip: If you are scheduling a meeting for the afternoon, why not segue into a Virtual Beer & Cheese Tasting where you and your coworkers will learn how to identify matching flavors and aromas to create a perfect pairing of craft beers and gourmet cheeses.

Sample your next beer flight from home!

17. The Foodie Icebreaker

Who doesn’t love talking about food? Chopped, Master Chef, Cutthroat Kitchen, Top Chef, Cake Boss, Restaurant: Impossible… There is even a Master Chef Junior folks… Point is: food is a common ground that we all share and an excellent way to break the ice. 

Food can also be the perfect topic for a short icebreaker. Everyone eats, and most people love eating, so it’s a perfect opportunity to get out of the office in a group setting to learn more about each other.

“There’s many benefits about living and working in Los Angeles: the weather, the scenery, the fours days a year when there’s no traffic. One of our favorite things, however, is the food. World-renowned for the available cuisine, our team loves to take advantage by grabbing a bite to eat with a new hire or after a full day of work to unwind.” -Emily Hill on the Bambee team.

Break the ice by asking everyone what dish they would want to prepare for the team. Ask them how they learned to make it, why it’s significant to them, and what powerful memory they associate with it.

18. The Speed “Dating” Icebreaker

Have everyone sit near people they don’t work with. Tell everyone to look to their right and announce that they’ll be spending the next 5 minutes speed networking with the person next to them. The goal: 5 conversations in 5 minutes. Set a timer; every time the buzzer goes off, it’s time for people to find a new conversational partner.

Pro-Tip: Take this team bonding idea online and skip the awkward weather talk with this speed dating inspired corporate activity . Groups will be presented with an icebreaker, and randomly paired one-on-one with a coworker to answer the question in breakout rooms. Participants will then be brought back to the main room for a different question and re-randomized for another round. At the end, everyone will come together to share their most fun, interesting, or weird fact. Only rule is, you can only share someone else’s fun fact, not your own! Check it out here 👈

19. The Escape Room Icebreaker

Escape from prison, uncover ancient treasure, or even steal priceless art with this engaging icebreaker activity!

If you’re going to escape, you HAVE to work together. Escape rooms give your team a fun way to connect and learn about each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The experts at Team Building Hub have mastered the art of the remote adventure that will ensure your team bonds while also having a blast!

20. The Trivia Results Icebreaker

QuizBreaker gives you and your team weekly trivia quizzes based on the opinions and preferences of your coworkers that spark conversation and competition.

It’s like all the fun of pub trivia but without the logistics of coming up with questions or getting everyone together in the same room at the same time.

The best way to use QuizBreaker as a meeting icebreaker? Set up the quizzes so that the results are sent right when your weekly meeting starts. Then your team can celebrate the winner and laugh at the funniest responses as a light-hearted way to break the ice. Thousands of companies use QuizBreaker to make their work week more fun and you can try it for FREE here .

21. The Holiday Icebreaker

Ho-Ho-Ho… The holidays are (practically) here!

Kick off your next virtual meeting this holiday season with an icebreaker activity that all Rudolph and Frosty enthusiasts will love. Break out the egg-nog, fire up the Zoom app, and get ready to experience one of these holiday-themed icebreaker games:

• 🎄  Holiday Jeoparty
• ⛄️  Frosty’s Original Game Show
• ❄️  Holiday Phrase Craze
• 🎁  Christmas Coworker Feud
• 🎅  Santa’s Holiday Hijinks

22. The ‘Start Happy Hour Early’ Icebreaker 

Mix things up with a fun virtual happy hour icebreaker to start the last meeting of the week off right. This online mixology icebreaker event includes a delicious beverage team members can sip on as they crush the big meeting and get down to business.

Star your Zoom call with an expert mixologist in the break room teaching you and your teammates how to prepare a delicious drink! Cocktails & mocktails will be crafted, your team will settle into the meeting, and you will get to enjoy your tasty drink as you hop into your agenda.

Sip, Sip, hooray!

Tip: Send everyone joining your virtual mixology get-to-know-you activity a box of snacks that pairs with their drinks.

23. The Office Charades Icebreaker

Kick off your meetings by playing a few rounds of charades where the presenters can pick only office-related things. If you’re rusty on your charades skills, here’s a quick refresher:

• Pick a “presenter” to start things off.
• Ask the presenter to think of an office item or activity. They can announce the category, but that’s the last time they can talk.
• Then have the presenter explain the item using only gestures. Any spoken words lead to an immediate disqualification.
• Laugh a lot. All charades manuals agree the game cannot be played without lots of laughter and yelling.

Pro-Tip: There is also an virtual version of office charades that can be found here .

24. Let’s Build a Story Together Icebreaker

We all love a good story, right? Building a storyline is one of the oldest and most fun ways to have a good laugh!

In this icebreaker activity, the meeting host begins the story with an opening sentence on Empuls (an employee engagement platform). They then tag one of the attendees and leave them with an incomplete sentence. The tagged attendee completes the sentence and tags another person to continue the story.

By the time all attendees have completed their turn building out the storyline on the Empuls discussion thread , you will have one crazy hilarious story that you can all read together. Quick, simple, and easy to set-up — this meeting icebreaker is a good mix of engagement and creativity for your group.

25. The Boss Q&A Icebreaker

26. Tea & Mindfulness

For teams looking for a slightly longer icebreaker, this 30 minute virtual session will refocus and destress your team members via a guided meditation and goal setting activity with Unboxed Experiences’ Guided Tea & Mindfulness Experience . Participants will also learn how to brew and taste 3-6 globally sourced loose leaf and flowering teas as they experience a guided mindful exercise and goal-setting meditation.

Guided mindfulness tastings are fun and can enhance collaboration amongst teams by creating shared experiences. This icebreaker might just be the perfect thing you schedule for your team on a busy day!

27. The Logo Love Icebreaker

• Hand out name tags and pens.
• Have participants write their names and draw logos they love.
• Have everyone share why they chose their logos. Share in a group, or have everyone share thoughts with their neighbors.

28. The Yankee Swag Swap Icebreaker

Did someone say swag ???

Here is a creative idea to try out during your next company meeting that will quickly help to break the ice and get everyone smiling:

• For every person that will attend, order one piece of swag  ranging in monetary value
• Throw all of the pieces of swag into a box or bag that you can hold up above their head
• When the event begins, assign everyone a number 1 through… X
• Start with person 1
• That individual proceeds to blindly  pick ( 3 seconds ) from the assortment of swag items
• The piece of swag that they pick becomes theirs… for now… Proceed to person 2
• This new individual now picks another item at random and… (this is when the REAL fun happens) … they can then choose to swap swag items with one of the revealed pieces or keep what they’ve selected
• Rinse and repeat until the final person picks the last item and they can keep or swap it
• You go home with what you have in your hand

Side-Note: this is also a great feedback mechanism to help you determine which pieces of swag people really want based on how many times they are traded. 

29. The Trading Card Icebreaker

• Hand out index cards and markers.
• Tell everyone to draw a self-portrait and write their names, their nicknames (real or imaginary), and a fun fact.
• Everyone jumps up and trades cards. People can trade as many times as they want, but they have to read each card they get before they trade.
• After a few minutes, have everyone announce the name on the card they ended up with. People can even ask questions of the card’s owner if they want.
• Let the conversations flow!

30. The Problem-Solution Icebreaker

31. The Shoe Icebreaker

32. Laugh Out Loud Icebreaker 

Break a smile to break the ice! Nothing warms up a group quite like shared laughter. What most folks don’t know is that laughing together also relieves stress, connects teammates and boosts productivity.

Laughter On Call has a variety of distinct and effective services that use a unique mix of Improv games and Stand-up prompts, led by a team of professional comedians. Starting off a big meeting, conference, or culture building activity with a laughter icebreaker can help settle everyone in and open up the lines of communication.

Also, because Laughter On Call started in the healthcare space all their programs put mental health first creating a space that is compassionate, inclusive and downright fun!

Whether your goal is team-building, improving communication skills, encouraging innovation or simply sending the message, “We care about your well-being,” LOC will customize a icebreaking workshop exactly right for you. Available virtual, hybrid and in-person.

Bonus: The Props Icebreaker

33. The Company History Icebreaker

SignUpGenius’s icebreaker helps employees learn some valuable company history. Make a list of icebreaker questions , pop them on the projector, and ask employees if they know the answers. (Individual buzzers could be totally cool if you have any on hand!) Here are some question ideas:

• Mission statement
• Founding year
• Biggest goal
• Founder’s name
• Number of employees
• Biggest competitor

34. Paint & Sip Icebreaker

This virtual icebreaker brings colleagues together to flex their creative minds and sip some bubbly in a relaxed atmosphere! Drawing and painting can keep employees engaged while taking them to a place free of competition and workplace pressures. Coworkers can bond through their shared creative journey, and walk away with a fun experience and a beautiful keepsake to remember after!

Pro-Tip: Try adding a theme to this icebreaker activity. Some of our favorites: Hawaiian luau Emo artists Pirates Silly accents Shakespeare Famous royals Food Network star

Paint Nite offers fun icebreaker activities and food/drink packages for in-person, remote, or hybrid teams looking to add even more flair and energy to the party.

35. The No Smiling Icebreaker

Govloop has a counter-intuitive icebreaker that actually leads to lots of laughter. Tell everyone they can’t smile during the first five minutes of the meeting. You’ll be amazed at how humorous some people become when they’re told not to smile. Get the camera ready to take some silly pictures.

36. The Instagram Icebreaker

Bonus: The Friendly Debate Icebreaker

• Which food is better: pizza or tacos?
• Would you rather go on a hike or to a movie?
• What skill is more valuable: creativity or logic?
• Which is worse: being bored or being too busy?

Have everyone physically divide into sides—pro pizza to the right; pro taco to the left. Let all the like-minded people discuss the virtues of their position for a while, and then have a representative try to sell the other side of the room. This will give everyone a chance to see things from different perspectives. It will open everyone’s minds for a productive meeting.

37. The Employee-Driven Icebreaker

This icebreaker takes the cake on ease. Have each meeting attendee bring their favorite icebreaker. This “icebreaker” can be a funny joke , a quote, a phrase, an activity—anything at all. This icebreaker works because it removes the “Why are you making me do this?”  factor. Everything employees do will be self-inflicted.

38. The Electric Fence Icebreaker

This icebreaker from Toggl gets employees up and moving as they build an imaginary electric fence and try to cross it without getting “electrocuted.” Make the fence by tying some string between two chairs. They can cross the fence however they like as long as they don’t go under it.

39. The Things-in-Common Icebreaker

This FairyGodBoss icebreaker helps teammates get to know each other on a deeper level by discovering what they have in common. Split people into groups and tell them to find out how many things they have in common.

The group who discovers the most things in common wins, so it pays to be persistent and thoughtful. (Physical features and clothing colors do not count!) Each group will announce what they have in common to the rest of the group. Have everyone else raise their hand if they also have the thing in common.

40. Conflict Resolution Role Play

Most people, especially in work environments, avoid conflict like the plague. That’s amazing right? Why shouldn’t we all just get along? Because just “getting along” isn’t that simple all the time. And if most people eschew conflict, then most people probably don’t know how to deal with it, or more importantly, resolve it, when it does come up.

This role-playing ice breaker deals out some conflict-resolution takeaways, and it also captures everyone’s attention and get them invigorated for your meeting. Why? Because this exercise involves drama, and there are few things people find more compelling than that. Start by selecting your conflict premise. You can make up your own based on your personal office experiences or use/borrow some of these for inspiration. Keep things simple by sticking to just two “characters.”

• Adam confronts Mimi, angry that she got the promotion he wanted.
• Agatha asks Martin why he shot down an idea they’d discussed many times before during an all-hands meeting.
• Andre asks Tim why he didn’t get a raise this year.
• Lena tells Mary she finds her recent work inadequate.

Create your discussion questions. These are the questions you’ll discuss as a group after the role-play skit is complete. Design questions that make people examine the success of the characters’ conflict resolution efforts and explore how things could have been handled differently. For example:

• How do you think each person felt after this exchange?
• What would you have said if you were Mimi?
• How do you imagine these two will behave around each other when they meet again?

When it’s meeting time, ask for 2 volunteers to play the characters. Tell them your premise and set a timer for 5 minutes. Make sure they know they can behave however they want and say anything they want. People will get the most from this 5-minute team building activity if it’s truly organic and open-ended. After the skit, set a timer for 10 minutes and pose your discussion questions with the group.

41. Play a Round of Spyfall

Spyfall is a role-playing and guessing game rolled into one. You can play it on phones or computers, and you don’t need any materials to get started. Game summary: The interface assigns each player an identity. One person is the “spy.” All the non-spies are in the same location (their identity assignments tell them what this location is). The spy’s identity assignment includes no location.

• The objective for the non-spies is to guess who is the spy.
• The objective for the spy is to guess everyone else’s location.

To play, everyone asks each other thoughtful questions until someone has enough clues to wager a guess. Spyfall makes a perfect icebreaker because it is the kind of group game that gets people thinking critically, talking to each other, and also getting unprecedented insight into how their coworkers’ minds work. It’s also incredibly fun. (Most games last less than 15 minutes.)

42. Thought Experiment Icebreaker

Warm up everyone’s active thinking muscles before your big meeting with a thought experiment icebreaker. Thought experiments prep people to challenge assumptions and status quos and to think outside the box. This icebreaker will be especially helpful before a brainstorming session. The Thiagi Group has a toolkit that will help you get started with some meeting-appropriate, quick thought experiments that get participants considering the work competencies and skills they value most in themselves.

Bonus #1 Peek Into Each Other’s Home Office/Workspace Icebreaker

An icebreaker for distributed teams, the good folks at Time Doctor recommend an exercise that encourages team members to open their home offices/workspaces to one another virtually. Each team member will make a short video showing off their home office/workspace and some of their favorite things.

This activity allows team members to get to know one another on a more personal level and can lead to feelings of welcomeness and friendship. This activity may be better suited for small teams, but it’s undoubtedly a great way to get the personal feel going. Another way to do this is by allowing one team member to show off their home office/workspace at the beginning of each week’s work meeting, on a team member’s birthday , or during a virtual happy hour cocktail kit experience.

Bonus #2  The Inspirational Speaker Icebreaker

Put meeting attendees out of the spotlight and invite an inspirational speaker to break the ice before your meeting. Pick someone with expertise in what your company does or what you’re meeting is about. Ask the presenter to make the talk super quick so there’s plenty of time for Q&A.

Bonus #3  The Personality Quiz Icebreaker

Make sure everyone has their smartphones. (We doubt this will be a problem.) Send everyone a link to a personality quiz you think they would like. Since there are probably over a million quizzes circulating, we know there will be one to pique your interest. Everyone can take the quiz and then reveal their results to the group. Have everyone explain why they agree or disagree with the results.

Bonus #4 The Toilet Paper Icebreaker

This idea from Lifehack requires minimal effort and minimal funds. To play, pass a roll of toilet paper around and have everyone rip off how much they would usually use. Everyone will probably think you’re crazy. When the toilet paper makes it all the way around the circle, have everyone count their squares. The number of squares each person took is the number of fun facts they have to reveal about themselves.

Bonus #5 The “5 Minute Vacation” Icebreaker

What better way to get to know your team than to travel together?

Grab your passport and join your fellow meeting attendees on a tour of the world. A quick virtual tour is a fun and informative way to learn about the world from the comfort of your desk. Plus, you can learn more about which countries and places your coworkers have been to before! This icebreaker encourages active collaborative participation from team members and gets them ready to engage before the next meeting.

Choose one person to be your “tour guide” and watch as you take a few minutes to uncover some of Earth’s wonders.

Tip: You can use a platform like Google Earth to make your virtual trip a success!

Bonus #6 The “Building Connections” Icebreaker

Hop into a gameroom and choose from a list of lighthearted or deep questions to get to know your teammates better. Or if you prefer, you can hang out over a game of cards, Werewolf or Draw It to let the fun times happen organically!

Brightful works with all video conferencing software. There is nothing to download or install.

Bonus #7 The Mindfulness Icebreaker

Meetings can sometimes fail because of what we bring to them, and we’re not talking about notebooks and cell phones. If meeting attendees feel stress, especially about the meeting itself, then tension will dominate the agenda.

Reduce stress by opening the meeting with a mindfulness icebreaker. Start with three minutes of silent contemplation, and then have everyone write down what is stressing them out. When everyone finishes writing, tell them to rip up their stress. Put all the scraps together in a bowl on the table.

Bonus #8 The Artsy Icebreaker

Prep your meeting table with art supplies. At the very least, provide 2 sheets of paper and 1 pencil for everyone. But if you think your team will be into it, then go ahead and go crazy with colored pencils, paint, glue, dry noodles, and anything else you can stick on paper.

Give everyone a prompt to avoid creative block. We love Artwork Achieve’s prompt, “Illustrate a cause or current event that you are passionate about.” Allow 10 minutes for creating and 10 minutes for sharing and discussing.

Bonus #9  The Minefield: The Obstacle Icebreaker

This classic classroom activity from TeachThought makes the perfect meeting icebreaker. Set up “obstacles” around the conference room table. (We recommend something harmless and funny, like squeaky toys.) Now everyone takes turns navigating the obstacles while blindfolded, guided only by the shouts and direction of their teammates.

(PS – Get more sh*t done with  The Assist — the #1 free weekly newsletter made for assistants by assistants. )

People Also Ask These Questions About Icebreaker Games

Q: how can icebreakers boost work productivity.

• A: Icebreaker games make meetings better by loosening everybody up and getting them into “meeting mode. With a quick 5 minute activity, employees will be energized to tackle the meeting with enthusiasm. The only tough part is finding the right activity for your team. To get you started, we have compiled our unique list of icebreaker games to try at your next meeting.

Q: What are some fun icebreaker games for work in 2024?

• A: The “Movie Pitch,” The “Logo Love,” and The “Foodie” are a few examples of the icebreaker activities you can learn about in our 39 Ridiculously Fun Icebreaker Games in 2024 For Your Next Meeting! Battle-tested by top performing companies, we are proud to share with you the best of the best.

Q: Where can I find good icebreaker games for my next meeting?

• A: The team at SnackNation spoke to hundreds of companies across our network to find the top 39 undeniably fun icebreakers for your next meeting. These icebreakers were handpicked to encourage team engagement and support your company culture.

Do you have any favorite fun icebreakers you want to share? Let us know in the comments below.

Motivating & Managing Employees Resources:

Thoughtful employee recognition & appreciation ideas for 2024 [updated], team building kits for boosting engagement, 141 inspirational and motivational quotes for work, 21 freakishly effective ways to motivate employees, 11 insanely powerful and motivational videos for your team, managing millennials in the workplace: stop making it complicated, 17 lessons most first time managers make the hard way, how to run a productive one-on-one meeting, 14 essential team management skills for first-time managers, 79 insanely fun team building activities for work, 31 things successful people do to increase their productivity at work.

Interested in a content partnership? Let’s chat!

Get Started

About SnackNation

SnackNation is a healthy office snack delivery service that makes healthy snacking fun, life more productive, and workplaces awesome. We provide a monthly, curated selection of healthy snacks from the hottest, most innovative natural food brands in the industry, giving our members a hassle-free experience and delivering joy to their offices.

Popular Posts

Want to become a better professional in just 5 minutes?

You May Also Like

🧩 19 Best Online Team Building Games for Remote Employees in 2024

🧘🏻‍♀️15 Employee Wellbeing Programs for the Ideal Workplace Environment in 2024

52 Comments

I have used a “Don’t Judge Me” Icebreaker before.

I had each team member anonymously write something they’ve done and felt guilty about during the week that they haven’t told anyone.

We had some funny ones like: I ate my kid’s last fruit snack and some others like: I accidentally banged my car door on someone else’s car (no damage though!).

Sometimes it’s best to free ourselves of something we’ve done that may be frowned upon. 🙂

Wow, it’s really nice!

Tremendous article. Thank you. I also found Alexis’ comment helpful. Much appreciated.

Any ideas for a conflict management training session? I found mindfulness icebreaker and problem solution icebreakers closer to my subject. I am looking at an icebreaker which will set the tone for the 2 day training program

Re idea for a conflict management ice breaker….

Get a two litre bottle of fizzy drink and pass it to someone. Ask them to say something that makes them feel really angry, they can say it in an angry voice and as they say it; they should give the bottle an angry shake.

Then ask them to pass the bottle onto the person next to them; and repeat with each person in the room.

When the bottle comes back to you, get a cloth and gently open the bottle releasing all the gas. You have choices in how you respond to anger, you can add more, or you can find ways to reduce tensions.

I LOVE This, Eric! There is a magic trick I perform called “Fizz Master” where people shake up a can of soda, and you transfer the combustion to another can. The secret is that the fizz calms down quickly in the shaken can and you squeeze the other can while you open it to act like it’s fizzy. I hope this contributes to you! (While this is a ‘magic secret’ these ice breaker secrets are just as valuable~

do you have any idea about icebreaker for a class that can be related to the topic we discussed?

Love the idea of – ‘ Movie Pitch Icebreaker’. Going to try it in my meeting. 🙂 Thank you for the idea.

I hope it’s a crowd favorite! Thanks, Annie!

Tremendous article! Thanks you!

These are some great ideas! I run a youth club, and I’m definitely using the trading card icebreaker tonight to kick off the year.

Glad to hear it, Rachel! I hope your icebreaker is a hit!

There is always the tried and true, 2 truths and a lie. Fun way to keep all involved and laughing. Sit in a circle and go around, each person introduces themselves the shares 2 truths and a lie. The rest has to guess.

A classic! Great add, Donna!

I’m actually new to being a supervisor and planning 2truths and one lie for our first meeting

This one is fun. Give everyone a coin. Ask each of the participants to tell the rest something about them that made that year memorable (if the coin is older than the person, swap it out for a new one!)

Love it! Great idea, Louise!

Great ideas. Enough to satisfy a range of meeting types. Some of these could be thrown in part way through the day too especially the One-Word ice breaker.

Am new to my supervisory role ,planning a learning & reflection session for my team , No smile Icebreaker ,man that’s going to be difficult ahahah

Can anyone suggest me an ice breaker session.. For the new joiners in the company so that they know get to know each other…. Apart from introducing themselves I am searching for something new… Please suggest if anyone has some ideas

How about getting to know you pictionary. Give them 2 minutes each with whiteboard and marker to draw as many things about themselves as they can for the others to guess…incentivise with biscuits!

I dont understand this. Can you please elaborate?

I need a health/wellness ice breaker about 5 minutes long before a meeting on Tuesday. Help please.

Hi Carole! A simple icebreaker you could do is to have everyone say what their favorite fruit or veggie is and how they like to prepare it. This could spark some great ideas and encourage team members to eat healthier in a new way!

I love this!

We use 2 ice breaks. First like you must say for what things you love the company. And second addition for first part. What feat is my company can do for me? Thanks you very mauch for article! Sorry my English.

A great ice breaker is a human bingo. create a bingo with things like: have a tattoo, hates chocolate, speaks two languages, has a broken bone etc. participants will mingle and write names of person in meeting who matches each slot. rule varies and can be that they cannot repeat names or can repeat only once.

I like this one!

Hi Ellis Wonderful idea. Can you please share some more questions to ask for this Human Bingo. I am having hard time coming up with questions. Thanks,

I do believe you get your arse kicked at any place I’ve ever worked for all of these except maybe the marshmallow one. Thank you for that one at least

Help me for an Ice breaker where we each of our team members can say thank you to our team. ☺️

Hi Krizel! As a part of our weekly team meeting, we start off with ‘Team Wins’ in which every person has the chance to call out another team member that did a great job that week. Hope this helps – we love it!

I have a presentation on how social media influences consumer behavior . Any tips ?

I am an Orientation leader at my community college and i have to get the Freshman coming in involved during our orientation session! One Ice breaker I use is cheap and simple! Go to your local Walmart or Dollar General and get a soccer ball, look up questions on the internet and fill in each section of the ball with a question, then throw the ball (gently, unless the person ate your lunch) at someone and call out a finger, where ever the finger is located on the ball is the question they answer! Its fun and a really good way to get to know someone!

Hey Cailee. Thanks so much for sharing! That sounds really fun!

What type of questions do you put?

We have used an inflatable beach ball for this one as well. You can get them at the dollar tree as well and they may be a little safer, lol. We typically tell them to answer the question at their right thumb (or choose a finger). This one is really fun. Questions can be anything, What was your favorite vacation?, What was your first car?, Where were you born?, What was your first or favorite job?, What is your dream job?, What is your favorite hobby?, What is your favorite restaurant?, etc……

Very good way to make the office atmosphere more harmonious，thank you for your sharing.

Ice Breaker Activity Title: Dum Dum Fun Time: 10-15 Minutes Type of Group it would be appropriate for: Educational/Discussion/Support Groups Population: Any Age: Any Materials Needed: Bag of Dum Dum Lollipops Explanation: Each member will be encouraged to choose their favorite flavor lollipop out of the bag/basket upon entry to the meeting. Once everyone has chosen, then the facilitator/leader will provide instruction. ‘Look at the wrapper of the lollipop you chose, take note of the flavor. Count the number of letters in the flavor name. Please be prepared to share that amount of facts about yourself. For example, if the flavor is -Cherry- please share 6 things about yourself with the group. They can be things like your favorite color, food, favorite place, restaurant, favorite time of year, or even how many pets you have’ Then after instruction the facilitator will provided 1-2 minutes for the members to come up with their ideas, then they will demonstrate, and then choose someone to begin. Benefits: The success of any group is based on the level of comfort each member has for the group. When entering a group of people you don’t know sometimes you can be shut off from building a relationship with them to establish any sort of comfort. This activity encourages you to get to know the members of your group. You, can discover that maybe you share the same likes or interests as another member which can lead you to feel more comfortable; and encourage you to open up more in the future. Attachments: None Considerations: May want to get sugar free lollipops for those who may be diabetic Precautions: limit each members share to about 30 seconds to a minute, discourage other members making comments on shares.

Good One. Will try this out

Thank you!!!

Did this at a meeting and it was a big hit.

Ahead of time, write several sentences on easel paper, replacing key words with blank lines, e.g. “Members of my team are _____.” “I like my______ because they are ______.”

Create a card for each removed word. Write the type of word on one side, e.g. group of people, noun, adjective, etc. Leave the other side blank.

Each participant should have a card placed face down on their chair. (This will determine how many sentences you need.)

Once you reveal the game, they can look at their card. They write a word that matches the category, e.g. elephant, blue.

You may want to ask if everyone knows what an adjective is. Don’t assume everyone does.

When time is up, ask “Who has a (noun? adjective?)” and fill in the blanks.

Reveal the sentences with the new words in them.

magnificent submit, very informative. I ponder why the opposite experts of this sector do not notice this. You must continue your writing. I’m sure, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!

All of the gaming blog concept material is covered here. The article addresses the moving cause and functions as such. You wrote it in a layman way, so that everyone might appreciate it. Depending on its content, it’s an article worth applauding.

I savor, cause I discovered exactly what I was having a look for. You’ve ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye

I adore looking at and I think this website got some truly useful stuff on it!

Great job you did as I saw your new blog which gives positive feelings and encourages me in my future steps. Thanks for uploading this detailed post. This blog is easy to capture subscribers and attract the reader. I am feeling proud to be your subscriber; your post is so amazing. Keep it up.

Really Amazing work by you.

Absolutely amazing list, thanks a lot for sharing. I would go for #4 – The Online Quiz Icebreaker. I love quiz games and I think it’s a great way to get to know each other. Thanks a lot for sharing these icebreakers and team-building methods with us!

I visited your. article! I really like it. Lots of good information. Keep it up.

My share is here,

simple icebreaker you could do is to have everyone say what their favorite food is and how they like to prepare it, it would encourage team members to collaborate, have friendly time & healthy eat together ! + spark at work place

These are some amazing fun activities! The No Smiling Icebreaker is my personal favorite. Really glad that I came across this blog.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

SnackNation About Careers Blog Tech Blog Contact Us Privacy Policy Online Accessibility Statement

Pricing How It Works Member Reviews Take the Quiz Guides and Resources FAQ Terms and Conditions Website Accessibility Policy

Exciting Employee Engagement Ideas Employee Wellness Program Ideas Thoughtful Employee Appreciation Ideas Best ATS Software Fun Office Games & Activities for Employees Best Employee Engagement Software Platforms For High Performing Teams [HR Approved] Insanely Fun Team Building Activities for Work

Fun Virtual Team Building Activities The Best Employee Recognition Software Platforms Seriously Awesome Gifts For Coworkers Company Swag Ideas Employees Really Want Unique Gifts For Employees Corporate Gift Ideas Your Clients and Customers Will Love

© 2024 SnackNation. Handcrafted in Los Angeles

• Recipient Choice Gifts
• Free Work Personality Assessment
• Happy Hour & Lunches
• Group eCards
• Office Snacks
• Employee Recognition Software
• Join Our Newsletter
• Partner With Us
• SnackNation Blog
• Employee Template Directory
• Gifts For Remote Employees
• ATS Software Guide
• Best Swag Vendors
• Top HR Tools
• Ways To Reward Employees
• Employee Appreciation Gift Guide
• More Networks

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies
• 3rd Party Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

Presentation Skills Training - Online Public Speaking Courses | Rule the Room Today!

Rule the Room is here to help improve your presentation skills. Jason Teteak's custom training courses are perfect to improve your public speaking skills today!

Get The Ball Rolling: 5 Public Speaking Ice Breakers

October 9, 2018 Jason Teteak

You haven’t kept your focus. You’ve forgotten that the presentation isn’t about you; it’s about your audience .

Icebreakers are for when you meet the audience members for the first time, when you’re making that first impression.  When you do that, when you share icebreakers, there’s one very important rule:

How you’re  feeling and what you’re  doing doesn’t matter as much as how they’re  doing and how they’re  feeling. You should be concentrating on their  feelings and their needs.

Everyone wants to know how to get up in front of an audience and connect with it —right away using “Icebreakers”. I will tell you how. Using the Rule the Room principles, you will get an immediate response that will be unlike any you have experienced. The rustling will stop. People will come to attention. Eyes will be fixed on you. That’s because you will be using techniques most presenters have no idea about, but will win over even the toughest audience. You may even be surprised to find you’re enjoying yourself.

In the first five minutes, there are five “Icebreakers” I have found that not only break the ice, but they do the primary thing that icebreakers SHOULD be intended to do:

Get Them to Trust You

The primary need of your audience is to feel safe with you and among their peers, so that’s what you must deal with first. Once they trust you, they will feel safe. The best way to start is with a thoroughly rehearsed strong opening.

I am amazed so many people take such care with the content of their presentation and don’t spend much time thinking about the first impression they make when they come onstage. They start their presentation with a phrase that they THINK is an ICEBREAKER, but actually isn’t.

Some presenters even start by fiddling with the mic. The audience doesn’t know if the person on stage is the presenter or the AV tech until the person says, “I guess I’d better turn the mic up. I have a very soft voice.”

But these openers (some incorrectly refer to them as “Icebreakers”, all of which I have actually heard, aren’t any better):

• “Can everybody hear me?”
• “I’ll talk for about forty-five minutes or so.”
• “I know you’re all very busy.”
• “I’m very glad to be here.”
• “I’m a graphic designer.”
• “All right, I just want to start with a little story . . .”
• “Hey. So, first and foremost, I really want to, um, thank everybody.”
• “Probably the first thing I should tell you is . . .”
• “You guys are awesome.”
• “Uh, all right, before I get started . . .”
• “So, I have been up here a few times today, although I have not properly introduced myself.”
• “All right, let’s get started.”

Such awkward comments are not compelling and don’t make a presenter seem credible. The audience feels disappointed and their expectations are deflated.

To connect with your audience, even before you say a word, you have to make an impressive physical impression.   Here are the top five “Icebreakers” that will help you do exactly that.

Ice Breaker #1: Introduce Yourself

Once you have positioned yourself and begun to make eye contact, speak. The audience members want to know who you are, so tell them. Say your full name, because that sounds more professional, and eliminate all the fillers: “Hello, I’m Jason Teteak,” “Good afternoon, I’m Jason Teteak,” or simply, “I’m Jason Teteak,” rather than “Hi, and, um, I’m Jason Teteak,” or “All right, I’m Jason.”

Speak in a confident voice —that is, keeping your pitch even on every syllable and then dropping it on the last.

If you’re speaking to a small group of people who already know you, substitute something simple, direct, and brief as your introduction, such as, “Good morning. Welcome to the August staff meeting.”

I call this an icebreaker because it starts to build that trust by letting your audience know who you are in a confident way.  While it’s not technically a full-fledged icebreaker, it starts to break the ice and gets you to icebreaker #2 below.

Icebreaker #2: Give Your Credentials

Giving your credentials can be a very powerful icebreaker in winning trust if you do it in the proper way. Most presenters think the audience wants to know what the presenter does. But telling your audience what your specialty is and how long you’ve been doing it isn’t going to help you win the trust of your audience members. Again: it’s about them, not about you. What will make them feel safe and trusting is hearing how what you do will help them .

I asked a new client how he normally introduces himself. “I am a software developer,” he began. “I have worked at my company for ten years, and I write code.” Then he started to list his achievements.

“Stop,” I interrupted. “Just tell me how what you do helps people. What kind of problems do you solve?”

“Interfaces are often difficult. I create interfaces that are easier to use,” he said.

“ That’s what you tell your audience,” I explained. “What they want to hear—what every audience wants to hear—is ‘What can you do for me?’”

They need to know who you are and why you’re the best person to deliver this presentation , but your goal in presenting your credentials is not to promote yourself but to indicate what you have to offer them.

The best way to do that is with an elevator pitch, a summary—short enough to deliver in the course of an elevator ride—that tells people what problems you can solve and what benefits you provide .

For example, I could tell my audiences I’m a communication coach for top-level executives and a presentation expert. I could add how many years of experience I have and in how many areas, or I could mention how many thousands of people I’ve trained or list the names of clients who’ve consulted with me.

But rather than saying, “I’ve been teaching people how to do presentations for fifteen years and I’ve been successful working with thousands of presenters,” I explain how I have value to the listener. This would vary depending on the specific topic of the presentation. So I might say, “I help people overcome their fears and actually enjoy delivering their presentations,” “I make successful communication simple,” or “I help professionals deliver a compelling message.”

When I asked my client Richard, the banker, what he considered his clients’ biggest problems, he said it was thinking of ways to expand their businesses. Now his credential statement is “I help community bankers find new income sources.”

Now his credential statement is an Icebreaker!

Similarly, rather than saying, “I’m a computer software engineer with twenty years of experience,” my engineer client learned to say, “I create software that’s easy to use.” This works for any profession. “I’m a tour guide who’s been living in Paris for a decade” is less appealing than “I help guide others to the trip of a lifetime when they visit Paris.”

Now this software engineer or this tour guide have an icebreaker that builds trust.

Think about how your experience will relieve a pain point or enhance a pleasure point to describe your own credentials. Once you do that, your audience will start to feel safe and trust you enough to keep listening, and you can move to the next step.

Icebreaker #3: Get Them to Believe You

When you have their trust, your audience is ready to believe you. Actually, the audience wants  to believe a presenter. Audience members want to know they’ve come to this presentation for a good purpose. The way you inspire belief is with the hook.   The hook is icebreaker number three.

I’m going to tell you exactly what the hook is in a moment, but first…

…when you deliver the hook, stay still. Don’t move your feet, and keep your hands at your sides or loosely clasped in front of you. Your pace should be slower than normal, because slowness implies what you’re going to say is extremely important—so important that they need time for it to sink in.

Start with a confident phrase

Instead of a tentative “I hope to tell you” or “Today we’re going to cover,” use something like this:

• I’m going to show you . . .
• I’m going to tell you . . .
• You’re about to learn . . .

You want your listeners to associate the desirable hook with you and realize that they must to be attentive to you in order to get the information they need.

Tell them why they want to listen

I promised I’d tell you more about the hook…

…here you go:

While items on your agenda are what your audience wants to know, the hook tells them why they want to know it —the underlying emotional issues that you determine through your research.

After they’ve revealed their pain points and pleasure points, you figure out how to relieve the first and enhance the second by offering agenda items that will give them some combination of happiness, success, and freedom.

Did you catch that?

Those are the three keys to Icebreaker #3.

For example:

• If you’re presenting to sales professionals: “I’m going to show you how to get your prospect’s attention, put your message across, and close the deal.”
• If you’re presenting to a group of academic administrators: “I’m going to show you how you can get everyone to feel heard in a limited amount of time with a plan of action before the meeting is over.”
• If you’re presenting to software developers: “I’m going to show you how to test faster and find bugs sooner without a complicated change in your operations.”
• If you’re presenting to venture capitalists to get funding for your startup: “I’m going to show you how investing in my company will provide you greater financial rewards in a better market with less risk.”

The right hook tells your audience members why  they should listen to you . It suggests the ways in which they’ll be happier, more successful, and/or free. Once you’ve tapped these emotions in a truthful, compelling way, your audience will begin to believe you and they’ll be captivated.

Engaged by the hook, the audience members begin to think, What are you going to give me? I want to see it!  They crave the takeaways.

Now, heighten the anticipation by asking the audience members themselves to come up with the topics that most concern them and demonstrate your credibility by letting them know that’s exactly what you will be talking about.

That’s Icebreaker #3.

Make all that happen with Icebreaker #4 I developed: the  circle of knowledge.

Icebreaker #4: Get Them to Listen to You

The circle of knowledge   is an icebreaker to get the audience members to reveal what they actually want to know from you and to look good while they do it—and ultimately, it will be a tool to get them to listen.

The simple, three-step process is an unparalleled tool to help you connect with your audience and get them to want to listen to you.

Step 1: Ask a question

Begin by saying, “Before we get started, I want to know what you  think.” Ask them what they think are the top three things that represent a success in the topic you’re presenting about. Then, give them thirty seconds to write down their individual answers. Asking the right question is key.

• If you’re presenting to sales professionals: “What are the top three qualities you think successful salespeople all have?”
• If you’re presenting to a group of academic administrators: “What are the top three things that make an effective staff meeting?”
• If you’re presenting to software developers: “What are the top three features that make a new software program appealing to any market?”
• If you’re presenting to venture capitalists to get funding for your startup: “What are the top three criteria a great investment should meet?”

What the question achieves:  When I described the circle of knowledge , Richard White, who wanted to sell his services to community bankers, wanted to ask, “What are the top three concerns community bankers have?” For a presentation I would make, I would like to ask, “What are the top three areas you need to improve as a presenter?” so I could address those concerns.

But it is pointless to ask a question designed to uncover pain points. Why? Because you won’t get many responses. People don’t want to reveal their weaknesses publicly.

However, if you ask what are the top qualities or skills or results they’d like to achieve in their area, you will get lots of answers. Though they may be unwilling to express their deficiencies, people always know how to state positive goals.

Richard reworded his question to ask, “What do you think are the top three qualities of a great loan?” As a presenter myself, I would ask, “What are the top three qualities that make an amazing presenter?” By making our audience members feel like experts and keeping the topic positive, we gain insights and build our credibility to our audiences.

Spend time on coming up with questions for the circle of knowledge that will prompt useful responses.

Ask a question that:

• Directly relates to the overall topic of the presentation.
• Is expressed in a positive way.
• Is open-ended, with multiple right answers.
• Is designed to tell you what your listeners want to know about the topic.
• Allows the audience to demonstrate some expertise about the topic.

Step 2: Request agreement

Ask audience members to take another thirty seconds to discuss and then agree with the person sitting next to them on the best answer.

What this process achieves: Your audience is always a bit apprehensive at the beginning, both about you and about interacting with others. But your question will allow audience members to express their opinions about a topic they care about and to come to an agreement—people love to agree—with a colleague or peer. This makes them loosen up, which makes them feel safer, which makes them more comfortable and ready to enjoy your presentation.

Step 3: Call on a relayer

Ask each pair to assign one of them to be the relayer who states what they came up with.

What this achieves: Using a relayer system will be far more productive than asking for individual responses. People are less hesitant to speak in front of an audience if they are speaking on behalf of someone else, because they don’t have to take individual responsibility if their answer is not well received.

In this case, since the question is based on their expertise, people often are eager to answer , hoping to look good in front of and be validated by you and by their peers.

After a minute has elapsed (thirty seconds to write things down, thirty seconds to consult with the relayer), ask, “Relayers, what did you come up with?” They may not be sure whether to raise their hand or not, so I encourage them to be a bit informal by saying, “Shout it out. What are the top three things that make an effective [your topic]?”

As they shout out answers, write them down on a board or a large sticky note if you can. (You’ll want to refer back to these later in your presentation to show you’ve met their needs) . When you use the circle of knowledge , the answers come so quickly you may have trouble writing fast enough to get them all down. In the hundreds of times I’ve used the circle of knowledge , it has never failed to get an enthusiastic and helpful response.

The circle of knowledge is effective and powerful.

• It enlivens the presentation.
• It gives your audience a chance to show its expertise and feel comfortable with you.
• It shows your empathy: You care what they have to say and you’re listening to them.
• It tells you exactly what they want to know. To the question of what makes a great loan, Richard’s audience mentioned such topics as minimizing risk, using existing customer relationships, and satisfying their customers. Among the qualities my audiences have said will make you amazing as a presenter are showing confidence, looking knowledgeable, using humor, appearing calm and flexible, building rapport, and so on.
• These answers reconfirmed the topics research told us were of interest, but with the circle of knowledge , the audience was hearing the answers aloud.
• If people add a topic you hadn’t prepared for, but you’re knowledgeable in that area, you may be able to weave the topic into your presentation in real time. (I’ll make some suggestions for doing that later in chapter 12.)
• At the very least, you’ve got some market research for the future.
• Best of all, you’ll have the perfect segue from what they want to the takeaways that you have. Once you bridge that gap, you will have them exactly where you want them, hanging on every word you are about to say.

Icebreaker #5: The Takeaways and Summary

Reveal your takeaways

The final icebreaker is really the “icing on the cake”.

It works like this:

First, you introduce your main agenda slide, you say, “Here’s what I’m going to show you today.”

Click on the main agenda slide and let them read your takeaways.

The takeaways are what they get for listing to your presentatio n, and it’s an icebreaker because it’s solidifying their trust and belief in you as a presenter, and it’s giving them something else to look at besides just you.

Your audience members will discover that what they want and what you’re going to show them are nearly one and the same.

Don’t read to them. They’re adults.

Make your summary

In this fifth icebreaker, the final step is to make your summary.  It’s the last step of the last icebreaker…

…after a couple of seconds, give the actual number of new strategies and techniques they will get and restate the title of the presentation.

For example, when a financial client of mine shows his takeaways, and he says, “I’m going to show you five specific strategies to increase loans with less risk.” When I show my takeaways, I say, “I’m going to show you eighteen new techniques that will help you deliver an amazing presentation.”

Now, that’s an icebreaker.

Because at this point, they trust you, they believe you, and now they want to listen to you because you’ve introduced the topics which your research revealed what they cared about.

The Five Icebreakers: What They Accomplish for You?

The five icebreakers above take only 5 minutes tops.  Within five minutes you’ve accomplished all of the following:

• Established your credibility (with your introduction and credential statement)
• Reminded them why they have come (with the topic hook)
• Engaged them in the process and acknowledged their expertise (with the circle of knowledge )
• Reassured them you’ll give them something amazing (by revealing your agenda)
• Piqued their interest with a mystery (because they’re wondering how you’ll give them the answers)

They’re hooked.

About Jason Teteak

International Public Speaking Coach, TEDx Speaker and Best Selling author Jason Teteak has taught more than one million people how to flawlessly command attention and connect with audiences in their unique style. He’s won praise and a wide following for his original methods, his engaging style, and his knack for transferring communications skills via practical, simple, universal and immediately actionable techniques.

Or as he puts it “No theoretical fluff”. Teteak has flipped the model and changed the approach to great Public Speaking for even the most seasoned veterans. Connect with Jason on Twitter

View all posts by Jason Teteak