good presentation ice breakers

50+ Fun Icebreakers For Your Next Presentation

If you’re looking for the perfect icebreaker to open your presentation and connect with your audience from the get-go, look no further! With the help of our presentation experts here at 24Slides, we have compiled the ultimate list of icebreakers you can use in your next presentation, meeting, or conference. 

We’ll also go through some quick icebreakers 101, solving questions like:

What is an icebreaker?

• Why should I start my presentation with an icebreaker?
• What makes a good icebreaker for presentations?

And, of course, you’ll get our compilation of over 50 icebreaker examples for your next presentation. Since there’s no one-size-fits-all, we’ve divided our presentation ice breakers into categories depending on the context of your presentation, so you can go straight to the ones that will work the best for you!

In this article, you’ll find:

Icebreakers for one-on-one presentations

Icebreakers for small group presentations (2-10 people), icebreakers for medium group presentations (11-30 people), icebreakers for large groups (31+ people), icebreakers for business and sales presentations, icebreaker ideas for training sessions and workshops.

• Virtual presentations icebreakers
• Fun icebreaker examples for playful presentations
• Great simple icebreaker questions  

So, are you ready to become an expert in using icebreakers in your presentations?

Imagine you’re in a room with a bunch of people where you know only a few of them or even none at all. You’d probably start feeling awkward and self-conscious, uncertain to interact with those around you. When you’re uncomfortable, your attention will probably be divided between wanting to listen to the speaker and making sure your elbows don’t touch your unknown neighbor. 

And, if you’re the speaker, you might feel pretty awkward too. Speaking in front of an audience is never easy, and you might wonder how to approach your presentation’s topic, especially if it’s dense or very important. 

An icebreaker is precisely what its name suggests: it breaks the ‘ice’ of uncomfortableness between you and everyone else around you. Icebreakers are usually short activities meant to help your audience to connect first as people before approaching your presentation’s topic - making your audience more relaxed and likely to hear out your ideas. 

Icebreakers can take many forms and shapes, from simple questions to engaging games. They can require people to talk with each other, answer a poll, or even move around the room. Anything that will make your attendees open up could be an icebreaker as long as it makes people feel more at ease! 

Benefits of icebreakers

The main objective of using an icebreaker in a presentation is to help people get more comfortable and avoid the common awkwardness when first speaking to a new audience. 

Icebreakers can accomplish many things - presenting yourself, getting people more at ease, and even as an introduction to your presentation’s topic. But they also offer a wide array of side benefits, like getting people more involved with your presentation and making it more memorable. 

If you’re thinking to yourself, ‘Why should I add an icebreaker to my presentation? I’m just fine without one!’ here are 6 of the top benefits of using an icebreaker in your next meeting. 

• It breaks down the awkwardness

For people who aren’t 100% an extrovert, presentations and meetings are likely to create a certain degree of awkwardness. And having a room full of people who feel uncomfortable around each other can be detrimental to your presentation. Icebreakers help lessen this feeling in your presentation – making people relax and be more at ease so they can put all their energy into listening.

• Icebreakers help people relax and have fun

When people relax, they’re more likely to entertain new ideas. An icebreaker may be the turning point to make them feel more receptive to what you’re going to say. It also opens up more possibilities for inviting your audience to participate and ask questions. Icebreakers are a great way to make them feel welcomed and more likely to volunteer or join whatever activity you’ve prepared for them onstage.

• Help you connect with your audience

A presentation where the speaker starts right away can feel a little jarring. Icebreakers are the perfect way to introduce yourself and your topic without throwing your audience headfirst into the presentation. A good icebreaker can help you connect better with your audience – making them, in turn, more likely to hear you out!

• Gives your audience an energy boost

Some presentations can feel like they take forever. When you’ve been sitting down for what seems like hours, you might feel yourself starting to nod off. An icebreaker doesn’t necessarily happen just at the start of the presentation. It can be a great way to wake up your audience after a quick break and bring them back to the topic at hand. 

• Gives a chance to network with others

The right icebreaker can get your audience talking and help them find things in common. After all, your audience is all in the same meeting for a reason! By giving them the opportunity to interact with one another, you are also giving them the extra value of finding people who can work with them in the future. 

And, of course, icebreakers are great ways to get the ball rolling, so by giving your audience a chance to talk with one another, you might also get more interesting and unique takes on questions and ideas later on. 

• Creates a positive atmosphere

A positive atmosphere is created when people lower their barriers and defense mechanisms, making it more conducive to learning. A negative atmosphere, on the other hand, is felt when people don’t feel at ease and give their neighbors the cold shoulder. ‘Breaking the ice’ needs to get done as soon as possible!

5 Practical Tips for a Good Icebreaker 

What makes a good icebreaker? This is a tricky question to ask. Many icebreakers that work in certain situations will not work in others, as their use depends on context. 

Here are key factors to consider when planning your next presentation’s icebreaker: 

• Know your audience

Take the time to research your audience. The most important thing when planning your presentation’s icebreaker is to remind that you want your audience to feel less awkward  — not more.

Taking your time to learn about the people in front of you is the easiest way to avoid doing or saying something that could potentially offend your audience. Even if you do it unintentionally, the damage will still be done. 

• Identify your presentation objective

The right icebreaker will help you achieve your presentation objective, so take some extra time to think about it. For example, if you’re giving a presentation on cooperation and teamwork, you can do a game where your audience needs to rely on one another. Or conduct a poll to ask your audience how confident they are in their teamwork skills. 

Making your icebreaker closely relate to your presentation’s topic will not only open up your audience but also allow you to transition smoothly to the rest of your presentation. 

• Involve everyone

The icebreaker should be inclusive, meaning it shouldn’t exclude anyone from joining. For instance, if you have a disabled person in the crowd, then you wouldn’t want him or her to feel awkward for not being able to join. 

Have a backup icebreaker just in case the first one excludes someone. The point is that fun icebreakers should make everyone feel more at ease  — and not at the expense of the outliers of the crowd.

• Make sure you understand the context

To pick the right icebreaker for your presentation, you must know the overall setting in which it will take place. A presentation to the board of directors where you need to explain where the sales have been going down is probably not the best place to use a joke as an icebreaker. Or, if you’re giving a quick 15-minute presentation, you might not want to begin with a game that will take at least 10 of them. 

Taking into consideration general setting cues like time frame, space and resources availability, and presentation tone, will help you pick the perfect icebreaker. 

The Ultimate Presentation Icebreakers List

Here you’ll find the perfect icebreaker for your presentation. Since not every icebreaker will work on every situation, here you’ll find them divided into several categories: 

• Icebreakers depending on your audience size
• Icebreakers depending on your presentation’s tone and context
• Quick and easy questions to break the ice

Do feel free to browse through the entire list: most icebreakers will be easy to adapt to fit your specific needs and your presentation!  

Presentation Icebreakers for Every Audience Size

While in a small crowd, you might be able to ask person by person their input, this will most likely not be the case in large groups. On the flip side, a game that needs the audience to divide into teams might be a good pick for a medium-sized crowd, but not a one-on-one presentation. 

Among the many options of icebreaker options all over the web, we’ve compiled and edited a list of which ones will work the best for each audience size: 

• Introduce yourself. Unless you already know each other, introducing yourself is the easiest way to look proactive and get your presentation going. After all, it’s in your best interest for your prospect to warm up to you before your pitch or presentation!
• Have a conversation . Don’t go straight to your topic. Always warm up your prospects and engage them in conversation first. Try to ask open-ended (instead of just ‘yes’ or ‘no’) questions. You can tackle topics like current events, or even just the weather! Just talking in a more casual way will make the person feel more at ease and more likely to give you their undivided attention. 
• Ask them about their personal life. If it’s someone you already know, build rapport by showing you care about them. You can ask about their kids, vacations, or even their favorite sports team. Remembering what they care about can be a huge plus when building a better atmosphere! 
• Let them tell you what they expect from your presentation. It’s the easiest way to make sure you live up to your expectations! It also allows you to introduce the topics of your presentation seamlessly. Even better, you’ll feel and look more confident and under control by taking charge of the presentation’s rhythm and agenda. 
• Ask something related to your presentation topic. Ask them if they know anything about your company, product, competitors, or something to that effect. It’s not only a great way to start your presentation without spending too much time on what they already know, but it’ll also help you gauge their knowledge so you can decide how in-depth you need to get in your presentation.
• Give them a small present just for showing up. Especially if the meeting is not an obligation for them, being appreciative if they show up can go a long way. After all, they’re investing their time and energy into you!
• Compliment them. It’s always nice to get compliments. But don’t overdo it, and always, always be genuine. If your prospect feels like you’re using flattery to get the sale, then it can seriously backfire on you later on. You’ll lose face and credibility.
• Introductions but with a twist. Ask everyone to introduce themselves and state something unusual or a fun fact about them. Towards the end of the presentation, ask them if they remember anything other people said during the introduction. If they get something right, reward them.
• Ask people to line up alphabetically . You can do this with their first names or last names. Or even their nicknames. This gets people talking and getting to know each other’s names.
• Charades . This is one of the best fun icebreakers on this list. It’s a party favorite but can also be used in presentations, meetings, and conferences. You probably already know how this works, but if not, here’s a funny charades video on Jimmy Fallon’s show.

• String a story together . Storytelling is a powerful element in presentations. But for this icebreaker, you’ll need everyone’s help to create a story. Start the first sentence yourself and then ask the first person in front of you to continue the story. Each person gets to decide the direction the story takes, one sentence at a time.
• Play word games . There are many different kinds of word games. But this is something you may find useful. Identify the subject or category the words should belong to, like animals or food. If the first person chooses ‘DOG,’ the next person must identify an animal that starts with the last letter of the previous word. In this case, it would be something that starts with the letter G, like GOAT.
• One word to describe him or herself . Give your audience one minute to think about the perfect word that describes them. And let the others assess if they agree with that word or not.
• Social media icebreaker . Let people open up their favorite social media accounts and then share a photo they’re most proud of. Ask them to share a line or two about why they love that photo.
• Switcheroo. Ask everyone to stand up and switch seats with the people in front of them. Do this when you notice people are starting to get drowsy and need some stimulation.
• Human bingo. This is a fun way to get to know people. Prepare the cards and the pen/pencil. The cards should already be filled out with various traits, characteristics, hobbies, etc. Then, your participants will need to go around and interview each person and check off a box that applies to them. The person who completes their card first gets a prize.
• Friendly debate. Group your participants into two. One should be the ‘pro’ group and the other is the ‘anti’ group. For instance, you can choose pizza lovers and pizza haters. Give them a few minutes to present their arguments and let the great debate begin!
• Two truths, one lie. Just like the title says, make your participants come up with 3 things about themselves, in which one of them is false. Then, in groups or pairs, the others would have to try and guess which one is the lie. It’s a great icebreaker to make your audience interact more with one another.
• Guess game. Just like the last one, it’s easier to make participants interact with one another through a game. Make everyone write on a piece of paper something fun, like an unlikely hobby or the oddest job they ever had. Your audience must try to guess who wrote which one. It’s not only a fun icebreaker, but it also helps people find out the things they have in common.
• Going to the beach. It’s an easy game, but a fun one! Each person will start by saying ‘I went to the beach and I took…’ plus an object, like a beachball, a towel, or a surfboard. Then, the next person must repeat the same sentence and add a new object to the list. The more people, the more the list will grow, and the first person who forgets an item loses! It’s also a good icebreaker for making attendees learn each other’s names by adding who brought what to part of the list they need to repeat. 
• Paper planes.  Make your audience write something about themselves on a piece of paper, and then instruct them to make a paper plane out of it and throw it! When they pick up a new paper plane, their goal will be to find the correct person. It’s the perfect icebreaker to get people moving and getting to know each other!
• Stretch. This one’s easy and straight to the point, but it does help break the boredom. Ask people to stand up and stretch for a few minutes. You can lead the exercise or play a short video on stage. After this short exercise, you can expect to see a bunch of awake and attentive faces.
• Treasure hunting. Hide a few prized items throughout the venue and send your participants on a treasure hunt. It’s always exciting to look out for a prize! Even better, by making them solve clues, you’d encourage your audience to work on their teamwork skills. 
• Stress buster. Hand small slips of paper to everyone and ask them to write down the things that are causing them stress lately. Then, during or after the presentation, ask them to rip it to shreds.
• Snowball fight. Divide your group into two sides, and give each person 3 pieces of paper to crumple. Give them 1 or 2 minutes to try to get as many ‘snowballs’ into the other team’s side. A healthy amount of competitiveness will help you break the ice in no time!
• This or that.  Another great icebreaker to highlight the things in common! Ask your audience to stand in the middle of the room, and ask them questions that will make them pick a side of the room. Things like ‘Dogs or cats?’ or ‘Night Owl or Early Bird?’ will have them jumping from one side to the other. 

Icebreakers depending on your presentation’s tone

When planning your next icebreaker, you must always take into account the context of your presentation. After all, giving a sales report to your boss is not the same as giving a fun workshop on teamwork.  

If you’re looking for the perfect icebreaker for a specific situation, here you might find the one you’re looking for!

If you’re looking for a more professional way to warm up your audience for your work presentations, these icebreakers are the one for you. Most business presentations are more serious and straight to the point, just like these icebreaker ideas!

• Storytelling. This one is the king of icebreakers for business presentations and for a good reason! Storytelling is an incredibly powerful tool to add to your presentations, as it helps to both exemplify your point and connect emotionally with your audience. And of course, this makes it the perfect option to break the ice and get their entire attention from the get-go. 
• The highlight of the week. This icebreaker is great for getting your audience into a positive mood. When planning your next business presentation, take some extra time to find something good that happened that week or that month. Maybe you record sales for that month, or you got an exceptionally good review from a customer.  
• Would you rather?  When planning your sales presentation icebreaker, this one will help to get your potential customer right where you want it. Highlight the value they’ll get from your product, and how they are missing out on it. From our experience, asking, ‘What do you prefer, struggling 5 hours per week on PowerPoint, or getting your presentations done by a professional team of designers in 24 hours or less ?’ really puts things into perspective!  
• Give kudos. The best way to put people in a good mood is to spread out some positivity!  Giving the spotlight to someone who has done outstanding work recently can be a great way to break the ice. 
• Brainstorming session. Group brainstorming is another great way to get people to exchange ideas. You hit two birds with one stone – an icebreaker and an idea generator rolled into one!

The best icebreakers for training presentations and workshops are those that incentivize teamwork and learning skills. These icebreakers will help your team get to know each other better and work together in tandem. 

• Live polls. There are many apps that allow your audience to make live polls and display the results immediately. This is a great icebreaker, as it can be as serious or lighthearted as you want. You can use it to ask the audience’s mood, their favorite food, and how much they know about the topic at hand.  
• Word cloud.  Just like a poll, a word cloud can be a great option to explore what your audience thinks about a prompt or concept you give them and to get the ball rolling. You can make them write down in groups, have them add their ideas to a board, or even make one through an app ! 
• Problem-solution icebreaker. Present a real or hypothetical problem, and ask people to pitch in their solutions. You can ask them for their input individually, or you can divide them into pairs. As the saying goes, two heads are better than one.
• Finish a puzzle together. This is great for group work as everyone can contribute. For example, you can give them a few pieces each, and they’ll then work as a team to complete the puzzle.
• Pop quiz. This icebreaker is the best to keep your audience on their toes and on a learning mood. You can add it at the end of your presentation, before or after a coffee break, or even at the beginning to see how much previous knowledge your audience has. 

Virtual presentation icebreakers

Not sharing a physical space can make breaking the ice even more of a challenge, especially since many icebreaker ideas would not fit an online presentation. So here you’ll find some icebreaker options that are specifically designed for virtual meetings!

• Drawing battle. You don’t have to be a professional artist to enjoy this one! There are many apps and websites that allow you to add this game to your virtual meetings. Just propose a topic and let people try to guess what one of them is drawing! You can even divide them into teams to make it more interesting. 
• Try a virtual escape room. If you have time, try giving your audience this challenge to build cooperation and teamwork. It’s not only great for learning to work together but also to have fun and loosen up. 
• Count till 20. Your team must try to count to 20 by shouting one number each… but without agreeing in which order they’ll go. This icebreaker will definitely make people wake up, and probably also laugh as they try to avoid talking at the same time. 
• Emoji movies. Just like charades, your audience must try to guess the movie or book. But instead of someone acting, they must guess it from the emojis. It’s a great adaptation of a classic game for virtual meetings!   

Fun icebreaker ideas for playful presentations

Icebreakers can also help your presentation be more playful and fun! If you like your icebreakers a little silly to make sure people loosen up their inhibitions, then take a look at these ideas. 

• The no smiles challenge. If you’re making a fun, playful presentation, a great way to make it even funnier is to tell people smiling and laughing aren’t allowed in your presentation. This will most likely have the opposite effect, making people even more ready to laugh at your jokes! 
• Human rock paper scissors. This is a fun, high-energy game, but may not be feasible for older participants. Check this video to see if this is something you can use in your presentation.

• GIFs mood barometer. If you want your audience to be a little bit playful, having them share their mood as a GIF is the perfect way. If you want to keep some control of what they share, you can also use a live poll to give them options to choose from. It’s the perfect lightweight activity that still gives you valuable insights into your audience and their energy levels. 
• Bad jokes contest.  The only thing funnier than a good joke is an extremely bad one. Have your audience try to use their best dad jokes on each other while avoiding laughing at the jokes of the rest.  

10 Great Icebreaker Questions for Any Presentation 

Sometimes simpler is better, and the easiest way to get people talking is to ask them to do so! These icebreaker questions will help your audience open up without taking much time or extra preparation. 

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be, and what would be your superhero name?
• What's the most random piece of trivia you know and why?
• What is the oddest job you ever had, and how did you end up working there?
• If you could make a reality show, what would it be about?
• What cartoon character would you like to hang out with?
• Where is the most embarrassing place you ever fell asleep?
• If they made a sitcom about your life, what would the theme song be?
• What were the best and worst workshops/meetings/conferences you ever attended?
• If the zombie apocalypse began, what three people in this meeting would you want on your team?
•  If you had to teach a class right now, what would the subject be?

As a speaker or presenter, it’s important that you prepare fun icebreakers for your audience. You want people to be comfortable not just with you, but with their neighbors and groupmates as well. The icebreakers in this list are just the tip of the iceberg concerning the wide array of possibilities you can choose from. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and get creative with your icebreakers!

Need more time to prepare for your presentation? 24Slides has you covered!

Now that you’ve begun thinking about your presentation, and the best way to break the ice with your audience, you might wish to have more time to prepare for it. Luckily, 24Slides can help with that !

You can focus on your presentation’s content and how to make your audience as comfortable as possible, and 24Slides professional designers will tackle the visual aspects of it all. In less than 24 hours , you can get a custom-made, fully editable presentation that will wow your audience and make it even more memorable. 

You might also find these articles interesting:

• 7 Essential Storytelling Techniques for Your Business Presentation
• How to Deliver the Perfect Online Presentation
• Improve Your Presentations' Body Language!

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Top 10 Icebreakers For Your Next Presentation

Hrideep barot.

• Presentation , Public Speaking

If you are here, this is your sign to elevate your presentations from mundane to memorable with our guide on icebreakers for your next presentation. Are you tired of the same old routine when it comes to presentations? Are you looking for ways to captivate your audience, foster connections, and ensure your message doesn’t fall flat? Well, look no further because we’ve got the secret ingredient to transform your next presentation from mundane to memorable: Icebreakers!

In this blog, we’ll explore a treasure trove of icebreaking techniques to transform even the iciest of atmospheres into a vibrant and engaged audience. So, whether you’re a seasoned presenter or stepping onto the stage for the first time, get ready to discover the magic of icebreakers and watch your presentations come to life!

Why Icebreakers are Important?

Did You Know “ Icebreakers have an ancient history dating back to ancient Greece, where they employed “paradoxography,” a storytelling form, to engage and entertain participants during gatherings?”

Breaking the ice is like warming up a room full of strangers, it’s the catalyst for transforming uncomfortable moments into meaningful connections!” 

Picture this scenario: you are in a professional setting, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, and it feels as if you are in uncharted territory. That is when someone proposes an icebreaker activity. Suddenly, you are engaged in a thought-provoking exercise, sharing insights, and gradually forming strong professional bonds.

Icebreakers are an essential tool in any social or professional setting, as they help to break down barriers, encourage interaction, and create a positive and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you are hosting a meeting, a workshop, a team-building event, or a conference, incorporating icebreakers can greatly enhance the overall experience for participants. In this blog post, we will explore the key points highlighting the importance of icebreakers and their numerous benefits.

Breaking the Ice

The primary purpose of an icebreaker is to break the ice between participants who may not know each other or who may feel hesitant to engage in conversation. By facilitating an initial interaction, icebreakers help to create a sense of familiarity, ease, and connection among attendees. They provide an opportunity for individuals to share a bit about themselves, their interests, and their backgrounds, which can lead to finding common ground and sparking conversation.

Building Trust and Relationships

Icebreakers play a crucial role in building trust and relationships within a group. When participants engage in icebreaker activities, they become more comfortable with each other, which encourages open communication and collaboration. Icebreakers foster a sense of trust and create a safe space for individuals to express themselves and share their thoughts and ideas. This improved trust and rapport can greatly enhance teamwork and collaboration throughout an event or project.

Energizing Participants

Icebreakers are an excellent tool for energizing participants and increasing their engagement. They help to shift the atmosphere from one of formality or initial awkwardness to one of energy and excitement. Icebreakers inject fun and enthusiasm into the event or meeting, making it more enjoyable and memorable for all involved. They also help to boost participants’ energy levels and attention span, ensuring that they are fully engaged and present throughout the entire duration of the activity.

Encouraging Creativity and Innovation

Icebreakers often involve out-of-the-box thinking, creative problem-solving, and innovative approaches. By engaging in activities that challenge participants to think differently or explore new perspectives, icebreakers stimulate creativity and innovation. They inspire individuals to break free from rigid thinking patterns and embrace fresh ideas. This creative environment can lead to more innovative solutions, insights, and outcomes further into the event or project.

Promoting Inclusivity and Diversity

Icebreakers are inclusive by nature, allowing individuals from various backgrounds and with different perspectives to come together and participate equally. They create a space where everyone’s voice can be heard, regardless of their role, hierarchy, or experience. Icebreakers can also be adapted to accommodate cultural differences and ensure that all participants feel comfortable and respected. By promoting inclusivity and diversity, icebreakers help to create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment for all.

Enhancing Learning and Retention

Here’s an interesting tidbit: People tend to remember information better when it’s associated with a positive or enjoyable experience. Icebreakers create a positive atmosphere, making your key points more likely to stick in your audience’s minds.

When participants are actively engaged and emotionally connected, they are more likely to absorb and retain information. Icebreakers help to create an optimal learning environment by providing an opportunity for participants to become actively involved in the experience. By warming up the mind and priming it for learning, icebreakers can significantly enhance knowledge retention and application.

How to Choose the Right Icebreaker?

Icebreakers are a crucial aspect of any event or gathering, as they help break down barriers, encourage interaction, and create a positive atmosphere among participants. However, choosing the right icebreaker can be a challenging task, as there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Here are some practical tips and examples to help you make the best choice for your audience.

1. Consider the Audience

The first step in choosing the right icebreaker is to consider the size and diversity of your audience. Different icebreakers work better for different group sizes and compositions. For example, an icebreaker suitable for a small team might not be as effective for a large conference. Take into account factors such as age, occupation, and cultural background to ensure that your icebreaker resonates with everyone present.

2. Align with the Event Theme and Objective

Next, consider the theme and objective of your event. An icebreaker that complements the purpose of the gathering or relates to its theme can set the right tone and create a sense of relevance among participants. For instance, if you are hosting a professional networking event, a suitable icebreaker could be asking attendees to share something about themselves that is not typically found on their professional profiles, as commonly done on LinkedIn.

3. Time and Space Constraints

The available time and space for your icebreaker activity will also impact your choice. Consider the duration of the event, whether it is a short meeting, a full-day workshop, or a multi-day conference. Tailor your icebreaker accordingly, ensuring that it is engaging but not time-consuming. Additionally, consider the physical space and ensure that the icebreaker can be executed comfortably within the given environment.

4. Familiarity and Comfort Levels

The level of familiarity and comfort among your attendees is an essential factor to consider. Icebreakers work best when they encourage participants to step slightly out of their comfort zones. However, it’s crucial to strike the right balance to avoid any discomfort or resistance. If your audience is particularly introverted or unfamiliar with each other, opt for icebreakers that are low-pressure, quick, and personal. Asking attendees to share a community or cause that holds personal meaning, as often done in Facebook Groups, can create a sense of connection without being overwhelming.

5. Be Prepared to Adapt

Lastly, be prepared to adapt and adjust the icebreaker if necessary. Sometimes, despite careful planning, an icebreaker may not work as expected or may require modifications while in progress. Stay flexible and open to making changes on the spot if needed. Being attentive to the participants’ engagement and reactions will help you gauge the effectiveness of the icebreaker and make any necessary tweaks.

6. Asking the Right Questions

• To choose the most suitable icebreaker for your event, ask yourself and your team relevant questions:
• What do my audience members like and dislike?
• What icebreakers have worked well in the past for similar groups?
• What icebreakers have they already experienced or seen before?
• What specific goal do I want to achieve through the icebreaker?

By asking these questions and conducting proper research, you can gather ideas and options that align with your audience’s preferences and the goals of your event. Combine your findings with your own experiences and observations to choose the icebreaker that is most likely to create a positive and engaging experience for everyone involved.

What is a Good Icebreaker for a presentation?

A good Icebreaker sets the pace for an effective and memorable presentation. It isn’t boring nor is it routine. It excites and energizes as you start with a bang. Here are 10 examples of the best Icebreakers in the field:

• The 5 great icebreaker questions?
• One-Word Icebreaker Game
• What’s in the Bag Icebreaker
• Two Truths and a Lie:
• Speed Networking:
• Would You Rather
• Human Bingo
• Scavenger Hunts
• Non-cringeworthy icebreaker- “Two Truths and a Dream”

1. The 5 great icebreaker questions

  What is one thing you hope to accomplish in today’s meeting?

This question sets the stage for a productive discussion by encouraging participants to clarify their goals. It also helps the meeting facilitator tailor the agenda to address these expectations. For example, someone might say, “I hope to gain clarity on the project timeline,” which signals to the group that timeline discussions are a priority.

What is one word that describes how you feel about the upcoming project?

This question allows participants to express their emotional stance regarding the project, fostering transparency and empathy within the team. Responses can vary widely, from “excited” and “optimistic” to “apprehensive” or “curious.” Understanding each other’s emotions can aid in gauging the team’s overall morale.

Share one personal or professional success you’ve had since our last meeting.

This question promotes a culture of celebration and acknowledgment within the team. Participants can share accomplishments, whether big or small, that have occurred since the previous meeting. It encourages positivity and recognition of individual and collective achievements.

What is one challenge you anticipate facing in the upcoming weeks?

Anticipating challenges is crucial for proactive problem-solving. By discussing potential obstacles beforehand, teams can strategize and support each other more effectively. For instance, someone might mention, “I foresee difficulties in aligning our schedules for the project kickoff.”

What’s a book, podcast, or article you’ve found inspiring lately?

This is a powerful icebreaker that not only promotes knowledge sharing but also opens the door to meaningful discussions and interesting recommendations. This question sets a positive and engaging tone for meetings, promoting empathy, and providing valuable resources beyond the session. It’s a simple yet effective way to tap into the collective wisdom of the group while nurturing a culture of curiosity and inspiration.

2. One-Word Icebreaker Game:

Choose one word to describe your weekend.

• This prompt encourages participants to reflect briefly on their personal experiences. Responses could range from “relaxing” and “productive” to “adventurous” or “restful.” It provides insight into individual weekend experiences and sets a friendly, informal tone for the meeting.

Pick one word that captures your goals for the coming year.

• Participants can express their aspirations succinctly, like “growth,” “innovation,” “balance,” or “learning.” This exercise promotes goal sharing and may uncover common objectives or themes among team members.

Select one word that best represents your work style.

• This prompt encourages participants to self-reflect on their work approach. Words like “collaborative,” “methodical,” “adaptive,” or “focused” can offer insights into team dynamics and help in understanding each other’s strengths.

Fun One-Word to Describe Yourself Icebreaker:

• Choose one word to describe your personality.
• Share one word that sums up your morning so far.
• Pick one word that represents your favorite hobby or activity.
• This icebreaker is versatile and can be adapted to various contexts, allowing participants to share something about themselves in a concise, engaging manner. It’s a fun way to get to know each other better.

3. What’s in the Bag Icebreaker:

In this icebreaker, a bag contains various objects that participants can draw from. Each object represents a different aspect of the meeting or project. For example:

• A stress ball to represent managing project pressures.
• A puzzle piece to symbolize problem-solving.
• A pen to represent communication and collaboration.

When someone draws an object, they must relate it to their perspective on the meeting or project. This activity encourages creative thinking and adds an element of surprise and engagement.

These icebreakers help create an inclusive and interactive atmosphere, enabling participants to connect on both a personal and professional level. Feel free to customize these questions and activities to fit your specific meeting or event goals.

4. Two Truths and a Lie:

“Two Truths and a Lie” is a classic icebreaker that encourages participants to share interesting facts about themselves while adding a bit of mystery. Here’s how it works:

• Each participant takes turns sharing two true statements about themselves and one false statement.
• The other participants then try to guess which statement is the lie.
• The reveal follows, where the person reveals the false statement and shares the actual truth behind it.

Example: Participant A says:

• “I once climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.”
• “I’m fluent in three languages.”
• “I have a pet elephant.”

Participants B and C might guess that statement 3 (“I have a pet elephant”) is a lie. After the reveal, Participant A explains that they’ve never had a pet elephant, but they did climb Mount Kilimanjaro and are indeed fluent in three languages.

5. Speed Networking:

Speed networking is a structured, fast-paced activity designed to help participants make meaningful professional connections within a short time frame. Here’s how it typically works:

• Participants are paired up for a set amount of time (e.g., 3-5 minutes).
• During this time, they introduce themselves, discuss their professions, and exchange contact information.
• After the allotted time, participants switch partners until everyone has interacted with multiple people.

Example: In a speed networking event for entrepreneurs, participants A and B have a 3-minute conversation. They discuss their business ideas, challenges they’ve faced, and potential areas of collaboration. Once the timer goes off, they exchange business cards and move on to meet new people.

6. Would You Rather:

“Would You Rather” is a fun icebreaker that encourages participants to make choices and share their reasoning. Here’s how it works:

• Each participant receives a card with two options (e.g., “Would you rather have the ability to fly or be invisible?”).
• They must choose one option and explain why they made that choice.
• This icebreaker can lead to interesting discussions and insights into participants’ preferences.

Example: Participant A receives a card with the question, “Would you rather travel back in time or visit the future?” They choose to travel to the future because they’re excited to see technological advancements. Participant A then shares their reasoning with the group.

7. Human Bingo:

Human Bingo is a great icebreaker for large groups. Each participant receives a bingo card with different characteristics or experiences, such as “Has traveled to five countries” or “Speaks more than two languages.” Participants mingle and try to find people who match the descriptions on their cards. When they find a match, they write that person’s name in the corresponding bingo square.

Example: Participant A’s bingo card includes the statement, “Has run a marathon.” They approach Participant B, who has indeed run a marathon. Participant A writes Participant B’s name in that square. The goal is to fill in as many squares as possible and shout “Bingo!” when they do.

8. Scavenger Hunt:

A scavenger hunt is an interactive icebreaker that involves participants searching for specific items or completing tasks within a set time frame. It can be done indoors or outdoors, and participants can work individually or in teams. The organizer provides a list of items or tasks, and participants race to find them.

Example: In an office-based scavenger hunt, participants might receive a list that includes tasks like “Find a red stapler” or “Take a selfie with a colleague from a different department.” The first person or team to complete all the tasks wins.

These icebreakers serve various purposes, from fostering connections and networking to sparking creativity and promoting engagement. They can be adapted to suit the specific goals and preferences of your event or meeting, making them versatile tools for building rapport and enhancing interactions among participants.

9. What are some fun facts for Icebreakers?

Facts make for fantastic icebreakers because they’re like little windows into each person’s unique world. Sharing a fact about oneself or a fascinating tidbit of knowledge not only sparks conversation but also fosters a sense of curiosity and connection. Facts are the bridges that allow individuals to relate to one another, creating a dynamic and engaging ice-breaking experience that goes beyond small talk.

– The first recorded speeding ticket in 1896 clocked in at just over 8 miles per hour, a far cry from today’s traffic violations.

– In the English language, “E” takes the crown as the most common letter, appearing in 11% of all words. Meanwhile, “A” follows closely behind at 8.5%, while the letter “Q” is a rarity, showing up in only 0.2% of words.

– While many are familiar with animals like dogs and horses in police service worldwide, some regions in China employ geese for their noisy and disruptive qualities to help maintain street order and deter criminals.

– Hailstorms are a natural occurrence, but on planets like Saturn and Jupiter, lightning strikes carbon soot, transforming it into graphite. Under immense pressure during storms, this graphite converts into diamond hail, creating extraordinary diamond storms.

– Philanthropist Bill Gates, a part of the Giving Pledge initiative, has donated approximately $30 billion to non-profits and has saved over six million lives through healthcare and vaccination initiatives. This inspiring effort has garnered the support of 231 philanthropists.

– Scotland has adopted the unicorn, despite never having seen one in person, as its national animal. This mythical creature holds a special place in Scottish history, surpassing even the famous Loch Ness Monster in cultural significance.

Professional fun facts about yourself 

Another way you can use fun facts as an icebreaker is by introducing yourself with a fun fact. It can be a great ice-breaking activity as everyone introduces themselves with an interesting fact. These examples can help you develop your fun fact answers that provide others with a clearer background of your professional goals, accomplishments, or experience:

• The bravest thing I’ve ever done was give a product demonstration to a live audience of over one thousand people.
• My role model is my dad because he immigrated to Canada when he was only 18, got a job right away, and worked hard to provide for our family.
• I have worked in marketing for over half my life.
• I have traveled to over 30 countries for business. My favorite one was Japan because they have a lot of delicious food.
• The first time I ever moved away from home was participating in a job internship 500 miles away from my hometown.
• I’m reading a book about financial technology to familiarize myself with the industry and its ongoing trends.
• I speak four languages: English, Spanish, Italian, and French.
• I was 17 when I got my first job at a fast-food restaurant, which helped me develop leadership, communication, and listening skills.
• My favorite subject in school was English, so I decided to become a writer.
• I once set the record for most products sold in one day during my previous sales job.

What is an Icebreaker that is not cringe?

A non-cringeworthy icebreaker fosters a positive and comfortable atmosphere, encourages interaction, and is relevant to the context. Here’s an example of a simple and effective icebreaker: An advanced and superior substitute of the Two Truths and a Lie icebreaker- which is called:

10. “Two Truths and a Dream”

In this icebreaker, participants share two facts about themselves and one aspirational dream or goal. This not only helps break the ice but also allows people to get to know each other on a more personal level and can lead to meaningful conversations.

Here’s how it works:

Each participant thinks of two true statements about themselves. These can be related to their personal life, hobbies, or professional background. They also think of one aspirational dream or goal they have for the future. It could be related to their career, personal growth, or a lifelong dream. Participants take turns sharing their two truths and one dream with the group. The challenge for the others is to guess which statement is the dream.

For example, someone might say:

• “I’ve traveled to five different countries.”
• “I’m learning to play the guitar.”
• “My dream is to start my non-profit organization.”

This icebreaker is effective because it allows people to share something personal and positive while also sparking curiosity and conversation. It’s not cringe-inducing and can lead to genuine connections among participants.

When to use Icebreakers?

Icebreakers are powerful tools to infuse fun and interaction into various situations. Here’s a quick guide on when to deploy them:

• Meeting Kick-Off : Start your meetings with icebreakers to get everyone engaged and set a positive tone. For example, “Two Truths and a Lie” can break the ice effectively.
• Team-building Events: During team-building activities, icebreakers help foster connections and boost team spirit. “Human Bingo” is a fun choice.
• Workshops and Training: In training sessions or workshops, icebreakers inject energy and creativity. “Would You Rather” questions can spark interesting discussions.
• Conferences and Networking: At conferences or networking events, icebreakers like “Speed Networking” facilitate connections and break the ice among attendees.
• Remote Meetings : In virtual settings, icebreakers bridge gaps and build camaraderie. Use questions like “Share your most unique quarantine hobby.”
• Post-Lunch Slump Buster: Combat post-lunch drowsiness by using icebreakers like “One-Word Icebreaker” to re-energize participants.

Icebreakers are not just for breaking awkward silences; they’re valuable tools to enhance engagement and connections across various scenarios.

How to Facilitate Icebreakers?

As the host or facilitator of the event, you have an important role in making the icebreakers successful. You’re the captain of the icebreaking ship, steering it towards success. Your role is pivotal in ensuring everyone has a great time. Start by preparing meticulously; you’re the conductor, and your baton must be in perfect sync with the icebreaker’s rhythm. When you step into the spotlight, introduce yourself with enthusiasm and clarity, setting the stage for what’s to come. Like a wise guide, explain the rules and what’s expected, ensuring everyone’s on the same page.

Equip participants with the necessary tools and materials, just as a host provides guests with all they need. Throughout the activity, be the energy monitor, adjusting the tempo to keep the vibe lively. Like an appreciative audience, provide feedback and recognition, highlighting the stars of the show. Finally, when the icebreakers conclude, be the storyteller who weaves it all together, connecting the dots between the icebreakers and the event’s purpose. Your role is to ensure that icebreakers are not just activities but memorable experiences.

Imagine the host/facilitator/MC as the thermostat in the room. While a thermometer simply measures the temperature, you, as the thermostat, have the power to set it. Your role is to bring clarity, engage the audience, and infuse energy into the atmosphere – all without crossing into cheesy territory. You’re the one who shapes the environment, making it inviting and exciting for everyone involved. 

Be clear – Be engaging – Be energizing

In wrapping up our exploration of top icebreakers for your next presentation, remember this: icebreakers are the secret spices that turn the bland into the brilliant. They’re not just warm-up acts; they’re the opening chords of a captivating symphony.

From classics like “Two Truths and a Lie” to the creativity of “What’s in the Bag” and the lightning-fast networking of “Speed Networking,” these icebreakers are your allies in engagement, your partners in connection, and your ticket to presentations that won’t be forgotten.

So, as you plan your next presentation, embrace the icebreaker magic. They’re not the side dish; they’re the star of the show. Your audience will thank you for it, and your presentations will sparkle with a charm that’s impossible to resist.

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10 Public Speaking Ice Breakers That Actually Work

An icebreaker is an activity in public speaking that is designed to engage the audience and break the ice to get them ready to hear what you’re about to say. However, many of the icebreakers out there that the internet sites recommend are pretty average at best and in most cases downright awkward to use.

So I wanted to compile the list of 10 icebreakers that actually work.

[youtube id=”7hXF7vVEs5A” mode=”normal”]

So what are these 10 icebreakers that actually work?

Now I’m going to break these into two distinct categories:

1) icebreakers for larger groups of people

2) icebreakers for smaller groups of people.

Now I’m going to assume that you’re in a more formal public speaking setting.

When you’re in a more informal, maybe a really small training group, where it is very hands on then these icebreakers might not work as well and you might need something that is more interactive.

But I’m assuming we’re at corporate meeting or a conference,or a church event or something like that Where it’s more formal public speaking engagement. So what are some of the icebreakers that we can use?

Public speaking ice breakers for large groups

1. make a joke at your own expense.

Now, I want to say – avoid making really lame,very generalised jokes that don’t have to do with you. Definitely avoid jokes that might offend someone as well!

You don’t want to make a joke at the expense of anyone in the audience, a joke at the expense of the company, or a joke at the expense who’s introduced you, but the joke at the expense of yourself tends to work really well because you’re pointing at yourself so people can just laugh along with that.

Jokes like…

“Before coming here tonight I was discussing my talk with my wife and she said to me: ‘Don’t try to be too charming, too witty or too intellectual, just be yourself.’”

Don’t expect full blown laughter with any of these jokes, but it’s just kind of a teaser, just kind of warms it up.

If you’re at a formal dinner setting, and everyone’s getting the same meal or they have two alternating meals, you can say:

“Don’t you think it’s amazing that 200 of us all came together tonight and we all chose the same meal?”

They’re corny but sometimes they can work.

You could say: “Look, I have a bad feeling about this, I was talking to [whoever introduced you], they said they were going to tell a joke before I spoke but instead they just introduced me.”

So you’re implying you’re the joke.

These are some ideas for a couple of jokes that you can do, obviously one that you come up yourself is probably better.

Tie in the context of the company you work for or the situation you’re in. The more personal and more appropriate to the situation, the better are the jokes going to work.

2. OPEN WITH ‘RAISE-YOUR-HAND’ QUESTIONS

You want to do a couple of things before when you’re doing raise your hand questions.

Firstly, you want to be positive with your raise your hand questions . Like: “Raise your hands if you want to be happy in life!” “Raise your hand if you want to make a million dollars!”

You don’t want to create negative raise your hand questions , because then you’re going to create a negative environment. So you’re saying: “Raise your hand if you don’t have much to show for the last year!” It’s not going to make people feel very good about themselves.

And when you’re doing raise your hand questions try to ask questions that most people are going to raise their hand to.

The whole idea of the raise your hand questions is to get audience’s engagement, and to get group involvement, so the people on the outskirts who aren’t really getting into your talk feel like they should get into your talk.

So if you open with a raise your hand question to which only person in the room can raise hand to, it’s going to be pretty awkward for that person. But if you ask a question where 9 out of 10 people raise their hand, that one person that doesn’t raise their hand kind of feels awkward because they’re not doing it.

It’s like using positive peer pressure.

3. START A STORY BUT DON’T FINISH IT

So when you get there, just say: “I just want to tell you a story that I think it is very important for my speech today.” Or you go on and tell your story, but you leave the conclusion out and you say: “I’ll get back to that towards the end.”

And so what you’re doing – you’re drawing people in with stories, but you’re not finishing your story so it keeps them engaged.

4. GET AN INTRODUCTION

A lot of people wouldn’t classify this as an icebreaker, but it really is. Get someone to introduce you and talk you up a little bit and get people warmed up for you as you come on to the stage.

Then the audience is anticipating your coming and you don’t need to break the ice as much because it’s already been a little bit broken for you.

5. BREAK SOME NEWS (BIG OR SMALL)

I was recently reading Robert Kiyosaki’s book, Retire Young, Retire Rich. And he talks about an investment talk that he did, and he couldn’t think how to open his presentation.

As he was reading the morning paper, he came across a story about a couple who had retired about 10 years early. But he then used that news to tie into his story.

So when you get up on stage and you say: “I’ve read this really interesting article in the paper today,” or “Something really interesting or strange happened to me today.”

We are inclined as a culture to want to be ‘in the know’ so when something is happening in the news and people are talking about it we want to hear what it is.

So that’s a good way to get people engaged – to break some sort of news, whether it’s news that’s happened in your country or on the globe or whether it’s just something new that has happened in your life that’s a bit odd and a bit interesting.

6. ASK EVERYONE TO COMPLETE A SIMPLE TASK

Get the audience to say to the person next to them: “I’m so glad you’re here today.”

So everyone in the audience has to say that. Or tell them to give the person next to you a high five or give the person a handshake or turn around and say hello to the person behind you or in front of you.

So you get people to complete this small menial task that engages them with people around them and just kind of opens them up and gets them a little more engaged in your presentation.

7. OPEN WITH A QUOTE

Probably not the best icebreaker in the world but it can work especially if it’s a great quote and if it’s very specific to what you’re going to be talking about. Keep it specific to the context or make it a little bit funny.

So surf the internet and look for some quotes and potentially open with a quote.

PUBLIC SPEAKING ICE BREAKERS FOR SMALLER GROUPS

So public speaking icebreakers for smaller groups.

8. GET EVERYONE TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AS A SUPERMARKET ITEM (OR SOMETHING ELSE)

Get everyone to introduce themselves in a strange way.

You could say: “I want everyone to go around the room and I want you to introduce yourself, introduce your name, and then tell us what item in the super market you would be?” or “what item in a hardware store you would be?” or “what kind of fruit you would be?” or “what kind of dish you would be?”

Or you could even do something like: “What is your porn star name?” (which is the name of your first pet, and then your last name as your porn star name is the name of the first street you lived in). So use these sorts of funny things, funny ways for people to introduce themselves.

9. GET EACH PERSON TO INTRODUCE THE PERSON NEXT TO THEM, GIVING THEM A FICTITIOUS LIFE

This can work if the group doesn’t know each other at all, but it can also work if the group does each other and so you just say: “Look, this is Bob, and he’s actually a super hero at night, he moonlights as a super hero, and his super power is that he can spit fire,” or you make up whatever it is and people are inspired to use their creativity.

10. DO A QUIZ

This can be something like you just asking questions to the audience and they have to raise their hands if it’s yes or leave it down if it’s no.

You can have it in such a way that people stand up and if they’re wrong, then they have to sit down.

If you’re at a conference, you can do it based on previous content that they should have heard and remembered. Or you can do it based on anything.

Ice Breakers That Actually Work

So there’s some icebreakers for you – 10 icebreakers that aren’t too awkward.

They aren’t mindblowingly amazing but they do work. They are very effective and I hope that gives you a starting place to look out where you’re going to open up your speech.

12 thoughts on “10 Public Speaking Ice Breakers That Actually Work”

very exciting kind of ice breakers. I like them

I enjoyed that.

We would like to know more about ice breakers

super way to address meetings

It’s really interesting and hope to learn more in future.

this is so gonna help me with my presentation next tuesday thank you so much

Pingback: A Common Problem Among Scientists: Not Being the Best Presenters – Lesson One – The Early Career Voice

I love this! I have a graduation speech next month and will be speaking and am going with number 6! I’ve tweaked it a little bit I know its going to loosen the mood and make us connect more!

this helped me so much during my speech!!!! i recommend that you read this!!!!

I really, really liked these icebreakers. I’m gonna use them for sure in the future.

thanks so much. this is really helpful for my public speaking speech i have to prepare and give over. i feel a little more confident now.

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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.

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15 Introduction Icebreakers to Open Your Conference With

Icebreakers are the perfect way to make a good first impression at the start of a presentation or conference. They aid with boosting audience engagement, help people to settle in, and set the tone of the session.

It’s a good idea to think them through thoroughly before your event so that you’re fully prepared.

When planning an icebreaker activity, there are three things that you’ll want to bear in mind.

• Set a clear goal Know what you want to achieve with your icebreakers. Is it to help people to get to know each other, start collaborating, or engage with speakers?
• Keep it simple but purposeful The simpler the activity, the easier it is to engage in it. Just make sure it helps you reach your event objectives.
• Be sensitive Remember that people have different values, beliefs, and experiences. Get in your audience’s shoes and be considerate of them.

Here is a list of our most favorite icebreakers:

• Storytelling
• Introduction interviews
• Icebreaking polls
• Sharing expectations
• Snowball fight
• Flying challenges
• Two truths and a lie 
• Human bingo
• Prepare the questions
• Ongoing TOP 10 quiz
• Coffee break assignments
• Find the man
• Question ball
• Guess my job

We like to use many of these icebreaker questions at our own events, while others are inspired by events we’ve attended and loved. Happy icebreaking!

Read also: List of 200 Icebreaker Questions For Meetings and Tips On How to Use Them

Are you looking for some fun icebreakers to kick off your virtual meeting or virtual event?

Discover 15 virtual icebreakers

1. Storytelling

People love stories. And they can learn a lot from them. 

At the FRESH conference in Copenhagen, facilitator Martijn Timmermans split the audience into groups of five and gave everyone a pen and a sheet of paper. Next, he asked them to write a story about the most innovative event they had organized.

In the first step, people were given 10 minutes to reflect and note down key points. Then, taking turns, group members narrated their professional achievements to the rest of the group.

This way, Martijn created an environment where people not only inspired one another but also connected on a personal level. Revealing, connecting, icebreaking!

2. Introduction interviews

Getting to know the people in the room is a crucial part of every conference. And yes, obligatory introduction rounds are usually pretty awkward.

Try something different. Put participants in pairs and let them interview each other. Give them five minutes to learn about one another’s background, professional experience or passions.

Then, do the introduction round, but this time let the interviewer introduce the interviewee. The intros may look something like this:

This is Peter; he lives and breathes technology. He built his first robot at the age of five. He’s now working as an innovation lead. He also loves skydiving.

Not only will you make the introductions less stiff, but you will also help people to connect.

Credits for this activity go to Lukas Bakos , Managing Director at Maxman Consultants.

3. Icebreaking polls

Live polls are one of the easiest ways to break the ice and capture your audience’s attention. They work particularly well if you want to engage larger crowds at conferences (50+).

As part of your opening remarks, use a fun poll to loosen up the atmosphere. Polls are also a great way to set the tone for your event.

Here are a few examples that we love, all gathered from our clients.

• How energized are you feeling right now? (Rating 1-10, 1 = no energy, 10 = super energized)
• As a child, what did you want to be when you grow up?
• If age is only a state of mind, what is your state of mind right now? (Options: Cheeky child, Tormented teenager, Mad midlifer, Groovy grandparent)

See also: 33 Beautiful Word Cloud Ideas for Your Meetings or Events

4. Sharing expectations

You can use live polling for much more than just cracking people up.

Relevant content is the backbone of every event. To ensure it is fine-tuned to your attendees’ needs, kick off with an icebreaker poll to discover their expectations and learning objectives.

Try something along these lines:

• What do you expect to get out of this event/training/workshop?
• Using one word, what themes do you want to hear about?
• What’s your level of understanding of the topic? (Options: I’m an expert/I have some solid background/I have some basic knowledge/I’m completely green)

See also: 40 Best Poll Questions That Will Engage Your Audience

5. Snowball fight

This dynamic icebreaker is really something. It can skyrocket the energy levels in the room and get people super excited. It’s inspired by Eric de Groot who used it to kick off his presentation at TEDxFryslân.

Eric aimed to demonstrate how easy it is to change people’s behavior. He invited everyone in the room to stand up, grab a paper that had been previously handed out and crumple them up into small balls.

Then he instructed people to throw the paper balls at a target in the room once the music started to play.

The result? An instant party. See it for yourself (the snowball fight starts at 03:01): 

6. Flying challenges

At one of our internal training sessions , we took inspiration from Eric de Groot’s Snowball fight (previous point) but gave it a slightly different spin.

We handed out pens and paper and prompted participants to write down their personal challenges. Then we instructed them to crumple up the paper into balls and counted down before throwing them in the air.

After this, everyone grabbed the nearest paper ball and read out some of the anonymous challenges.

This icebreaker was not only a great energy boost, but it also helped reveal some of the most serious hurdles our team members face.

See also: The Best 110 Trivia Questions for Team Bonding Quizzes

7. Two truths and a lie

This is one of those introduction icebreakers that works well for both small groups and large audiences. People are asked to share two true facts and one false statement about themselves and the audience guesses which one is the lie.

We use it to introduce our new hires in the form of a Newbies Quiz. It’s a nice way to take the pressure off people and make the introductions fun.

When preparing the quiz, collect two truths and one lie from every person you want to introduce. Then create a poll for each person, for instance, “Martin: Which one is a lie?”

Present the three statements in a live poll and encourage the audience to guess which one is false by real-time voting. Make sure you hide the results before you activate each poll.

Once people have voted, invite each person to tell the story behind each answer option. It’s good to appoint a moderator who will guide the audience through the quiz. 

You can pull off this icebreaker with Slido Quizzes to give it a bit of a competitive spin, or simply create a multiple choice poll and mark the correct answer .

8. Human bingo

Have you ever played bingo? This icebreaker game is a bit more special. It will get people to interact and know each other better.

Prepare 5×5 bingo matrices filled with a series of personal or business-related statements and hand them out to the attendees.

Here are some example questions:

• Have you visited more than 15 countries?
• Do you have a pet?
• Have you ever fallen asleep during a conference call?
• Have you been with the company for over 10 years?

Instruct the participants to interview each other and tick off the boxes that apply to each person. The person who completes the card first wins.

9. Prepare the questions

Q&A sessions at conferences often suffer from a lack of spot-on questions. This icebreaker is a double win – it will get people talking while powering up your Q&A.

It’s simple. Prompt people to talk to their partners (or trios or any other configuration feasible with the room seating) and have them come up with one question each.

Then instruct them to present their questions to the group and to collectively decide on the best one.

Next, ask the participants to submit their winning questions into Slido. While they do it, they can also review the questions submitted by others and upvote the ones they like the most.

The speakers or panelists will then address the questions with the highest support of the audience during the Q&A.

Read also: 15 Virtual Icebreakers for Your Remote Meetings

10. Ongoing TOP 10 quiz

We’re all children at heart. Even the most serious managers turn to playful kids with a bit of competition. This icebreaker is fun and will help you keep your event attendees engaged during the whole day.

Split the group into pairs and ask everyone to write their TOP 10 on a certain topic (from the 10 most visited sites according to Lonely Planet, to the 10 best-selling cars in history) for each round.

Space out the rounds after breaks throughout the day, so the group has an incentive to get back to the room on time.

Give a three-minute limit per round and tell the groups to write down their answers. Award two points for each correct answer and keep the score on a flip-chart for everyone to see. Your attendees will be even more motivated if you put up a prize for the winning team.

The credits for this icebreaker go to Lukas Bakos, who used this activity at a full-day workshop.

11. Coffee break assignments

Coffee breaks are seriously underused at events. While some people have mastered the art of networking at events, others might need a little nudge to help them start conversations with strangers.

At Eventex 2016, seasoned meeting designer and facilitator Jan-Jaap In Der Maur encouraged people to network through coffee break assignments.

Before they left the room, he instructed the participants to meet three new people during the upcoming break and ask: “What’s your story?” or: “How did you get to do what you’re doing?”

After the break, Jan-Jaap got people to pass around the Catchbox — a throwable microphone — while music played in the background.

When the music stopped, the person holding the microphone shared one of the stories he or she had learned during the break.

At Slido, we replicated this activity with a slightly different twist. During our recent all-company retreat, our moderator and chief meeting designer, Juraj Holub, told our teammates to ask at least three people during the lunch break: “What’s the weirdest thing about you?”

After the break, a couple of people shared what they learned and it turned out pretty hilarious.

Related Story: 5 Creative Ideas for More Effective Networking Sessions

12. Find the man

If you want to endorse networking at your event, this icebreaker game is for you.

Give a delegate someone else’s name tag. Next, ask them to go around the room, find the person it belongs to and find out as much about them as possible as conversation starters. Then, if the size of the group and the setup allows it, have every delegate introduce the person whose name tag they had.

It’s great fun and compels delegates to approach new people and get to know them.

13. Question ball

This icebreaker will get your audience nicely warmed up. And we mean literally.

It’s simple: Take a larger beach ball and write punchy icebreaker questions all over it. For example, try questions such as:

What’s your current job role?

• What has been your biggest professional achievement?
• If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
• What’s your hidden talent?

Toss the ball in the audience and tell your delegates to throw it around. Each time someone catches the ball, they would answer a question their right index finger landed on. They will then pass the ball on, and on it goes. The more creative the questions, the more fun!

14. Guess my job

Looking for an icebreaker activity for smaller sessions or group discussions? You’ve found it.

Let the delegates write down on a slip of paper the most interesting or unconventional job they’ve ever had. Place a bowl in the middle of a table and ask each participant to toss their paper in.

Every delegate would then pick a paper for the bowl and guess who had the job written on a paper. They can, of course, ask the rest of the delegates additional questions that would help them guess. Questions such as: “Show of hands, who here has ever worked on a field?” or “How many of you have ever worked with animals?” will help the delegates narrow down the options.

Here’s an icebreaker game that will please even the introverts for it’s very simple and placid.

Place a handful of pennies (or cents) on every table. Tell each of the attendees to pick one randomly. Next, let the delegates introduce each other one by one by stating their name, role, the company they work for and the year embossed on their chosen coin.

They, they would need to tell a story about an interesting thing that happened to them in that year or share with others what made that particular year exceptional. Quick, fun, and informative!

Read also: Want to pick up more tips and tricks on how to organize an exceptional conference? Read more articles in our conferences category.

Icebreakers are powerful kick-offs to any event or conference. They will help you engage your audience right at the start and make them feel more comfortable within a group of strangers.

All of the icebreaker activities that we listed above will motivate your attendees to interact and create valuable connections.

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Presentation Training Institute

A division of bold new directions training, these great ice breakers will engage your audience and start your presentation off right.

A good ice breaker can be a fantastic way to kick off your presentation. It sets the tone for the presentation, boosts audience engagement, and peaks everyone’s interest right from the start. It can be a valuable first impression and a way to make your presentation more memorable. However, before you jump right into an ice breaker activity, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. 

• Your ice breaker should have a clear purpose. Is it to help people get to know each other, start collaborating, or engage with the speaker?
• Keep it simple. Don’t overcomplicate things, as this can just make your presentation appear messy and unorganized. 
• Be sensitive and considerate of your audience. Everyone has different values and beliefs so be mindful of that. 

With all of that in mind, here are a few great ice breakers that can start your presentation off right. 

Introduce Yourself

Though you might not think of an introduction as an ice breaker, it is a great way to break the ice and build trust with your audience. The audience members want to know who you are and why you are qualified to speak to them. State your name, your credentials, and give a brief explanation of why you are there. 

Tell a Story

People love stories so this is a great way to engage your audience. You can tell a story regarding your own experience as a way to connect with your audience on a personal level. You can also tell a story that is relevant in some way to your topic. Either way, stories allow you to connect with your listeners while keeping them engaged and entertained. 

Take a Poll

Polls are one of the easiest ways to break the ice and capture your audience’s attention. You can always start with a fun poll by asking questions like. “How many of you are really excited to be here?†“ How many of you are working your dream job?†Polls can be done with a show of hands or they can be done using technology such as through a live twitter feed. 

Say Something Funny

Humor is always a great way to break the ice and create a more relaxed atmosphere. You can start with a joke, tell a funny story, share a funny quote, or show a funny statistic. 

Two Truths and a Lie

This is a great ice breaker that can work well in both large and small groups. The presenter will start by telling sharing two true facts and one false statement about themselves and the audience has to guess which one is the lie. It’s a great way to lighten the mood and make the presentation more fun and interactive. 

Snowball Challenge

A great way to get the audience involved in the presentation is by kicking things off with the snowball challenge. In this icebreaker, audience members are each given a sheet of paper and a pen. They are asked to write down their biggest personal challenge. Then instruct them to crumple the paper into a ball and count down before throwing them in the air. At this point, everyone should grab the nearest ball and read out a few of the anonymous challenges. It’s not just a great way to break the ice, but it also helps reveal some common challenges that team members face.

61 Ice Breaker Games [That Your Team Won’t Find Cheesy]

Whether it's kicking off a meeting or getting to know new team members, an effective ice breaker game can help set the right tone and help build connections. But how do you choose the right one?

In this post, we'll share a collection of tried and tested ice breaker games you can use to engage and energize groups of any size. Whether you just want to have fun, encourage team building or level-up your meetings, there's an activity here for you.

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An in-depth study from TINYpulse , an employee engagement company, studied more than 40,000 workers’ inputs from more than 300 companies globally. They found a correlation of 0.92 between employee fulfillment and their relationships with colleagues. Since you can end up spending more time with coworkers than with your family or partner, it is a topic that deserves much attention.

But how can you break the ice without also frustrating your team or making them roll their eyes? Using facilitator-tested and proven methods like those below are a surefire way to open your meetings more effectively and engage your team.

You’ll find classic conversation starters like Two truths and One Lie , fun games like The Marshmallow Challenge or even a Virtual Scavenger Hunt! You’ll find our collection of 61 of the best ice breaker games for work separated by category and find some useful tips for running them in your workshop or meeting too!

Purpose of ice breaker games

So how do you avoid creating a frustrating, patronizing ice breaker game that won’t make participants feel like they are wasting their time?

The benefits of a good ice breaker far outweigh any negatives. They can take care of introductions in a much more fun way than just simply going around the room and stating what’s on your business card. They can help people remember names , start conversations and create a positive atmosphere in moments.

When done right, ice breakers can quickly build a sense of community , set the tone for the upcoming session & give participants ownership of the learning ahead.

Icebreaker games are also a great way for people to share their expectations and for facilitators to introduce the topic of the day. They help participants to loosen up, understand each other more and enable better collaboration and networking . Last, but not least, it is a surefire way to energize the group and have everyone focused and ready to go.

Ready to design a session around your chosen icebreaker? SessionLab makes it easy to build a complete agenda in minutes . Start by dragging and dropping blocks, add your timings and adjust with ease to create a minute-perfect session. When you’re ready for feedback, invite collaborators and refine your agenda with ease.

Ice Breaker Games to Get to Know Each Other

Whenever you bring a group of people together for a meeting, project, or event, it’s helpful to get to know each other at the outset.

This does not only mean just memorizing names, but also involves getting the facilitator or leader of the session familiar with everyone and getting a read on the energy of the room.

One of the other major benefits of these games is in allowing group members to break free from dry or boring introductions and get to know each other more meaningfully. Let’s dive in!

Just One Lie

Diversity bingo.

• Two truths and One Lie

Unique and Shared

Passions tic tac toe.

• Jenga Questions

Speed Dating Icebreaker

Break the ice with the help of your key.

• Whose Story is it?
• Trading Card Icebreaker
• Find Your Pair
• Toilet Paper Icebreaker
• Show and Tell

This method is an adaptation of the well-known ice breaker ‘Two Truths And A Lie’ to create an activity that can be run throughout a day of a meeting or workshop.

Participants mingle and ask questions from each other while noting the answers on post-its. But everyone includes one lie. The result is that you have a board of interesting facts about all the participants, among them, one lie. Throughout the workshop you can return to these boards for participants to introduce each other and find out what was the lie.

Just One Lie   #icebreaker   #energiser   #team   #get-to-know   This method is adapted from the well-known icebreaker ‘Two Truths And A Lie’  to create an activity that you could return to throughout a meeting.

Diversity Bingo is one of our favorite group ice breaker games. This game help participants to get information on each other in a fun, competitive way.

First, create a bingo card containing a grid of squares with a statement or question in each square that will apply to some members of your group and is in line with the objectives of your class, workshop, or event. After each player gets a bingo card, they mingle around introducing themselves and finding other participants who can sign their cards indicating that a statement applies to him/her.

To avoid having people only talk to one or two people and filling up their card, limit the signatures they can give to 1 or 2 per card. When everyone has reached bingo or is super close, you can share something you’ve learned about each other, yourself and the experience of this ice breaker activity.

Diversity Bingo   #icebreaker   #get-to-know   #opening   #teampedia   #action   This game helps participants to get information on each other in a fun, competitive way.

Do you have people who come from many different places to your session? If you’re looking for fun icebreakers for meetings that are active, Group Map is a good bet!

A great way to get to know each other is to have participants place themselves on an imaginary map laid out in the room representing the country according to where they grew up. Ask them to share one internal value they got from that place, and why that is important for them.

Encourage people to share a short story if they want. Sharing customs and values from your childhood can create more understanding and help form stronger bonds – a hallmark of a good icebreaker.

Icebreaker: The Group Map   #get-to-know   #icebreaker   #remote-friendly   Ask people to place themselves on an imaginary map laid out in the room representing the country according to where they grew up. Ask them to share one internal value they got from that place, and why is that important for them. Encourage people to share a short story if they want

​ Two Truths and One Lie

A simple and classic ice breaker game. Each employee shares three statements about themselves – two truths, and one lie. Then, everyone tries to guess which is the lie by asking questions. Try to find out as many details about the statements as possible and watch the speaker’s reactions closely. The whole point is to learn facts about your peers while inserting an element of mystery.

This team icebreaker helps the group learn about each other and gives both introverts and extroverts an equal chance to reveal themselves and discover others’ assumptions. It’s been done before, but if you’re looking for simple ice breaker games for work, this is one everyone is sure to know and requires zero prep from the facilitator.

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

Create groups of 4-5 people, and let them discover what they have in common, along with interesting characteristics that are unique to a person in the group.

This icebreaker promotes unity as it gets people to realize that they have more common ground with their peers than they first might realize. As people become aware of their own unique characteristics, they can also help people feel empowered to offer the group something unique.

Common and Unique   #get-to-know   #teambuilding   #icebreaker   Create groups of 4-5 people, and let them discover what they have in common, along with interesting characteristics that are unique to a person in the group.

The goal of this icebreaker game is to help the participants to get to know each other at the beginning of an event or to help identify their values during the later part of a training session.

Create a 3 x 3 grid for each participant and have them fill in each block with a different personal passion randomly. After the individual work, have everyone walk around the room and compare notes. When they find the same passion listed in both grids, ask them to sign for each other in the appropriate square. The winner is the participant who manages to have other people’s signatures on three lines (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal). You can continue the game to have as many winners as you like.

Passions Tic Tac Toe   #get-to-know   #values   #icebreaker   #thiagi   This simple game that explores the concepts from these two quotations: “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you”. —Oprah Winfrey. “Getting to know someone else involves curiosity about where they have come from, who they are.” —Penelope Lively, novelist

​Jenga questions

Jenga is the starting point of many fun gatherings. It’s a super easy ice breaker activity to explain and pick up & anyone can join any time. You can spice up a regular tower-toppling contest by writing intriguing questions on each block (or as many as you can).

When you draw each block, read the question out loud & answer before placing the piece on the top of the tower. This can ignite exciting conversations about everyday topics like favorite downtime activities to more in-depth stuff, like career and self-development goals.

Traditional games with a unique spin can often generate curiosity and engagement in a groups setting. Try having different kinds of icebreaker activities in your toolbox in order to overcome any potential resistance in your group.

This fast-paced icebreaker activity allows participants to get acquainted with while also exploring something thought provoking and inspiring. Prepare a set of inspirational quotes prior to the session and the number of participants on individual slips of paper. Put the pile in the center of the room. Each participant picks up one quote, then picks a partner and begins to discuss what the quote says to them, if it is meaningful, and how.

Then after a minute or so the facilitator gives a signal and participants switch partners, and may switch quotes as well if they’d like. This can continue for 4-5 rounds for around 15 minutes. Choose quotes that relate to your meeting topic or company culture for an even more effective opening to your session!

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

The goal of this game is to have a succession of very rapid conversations in an extremely short amount of time with as many people as possible. Have people sit in pairs, with colleagues that they don’t directly work with on a day-to-day basis. Determine the time limit (say 3 minutes for each conversation) and set a timer. When it starts, each pair has to start speed networking & find out as much professional info about the other as possible.

While it’s natural for group members to want to spend time with people they know, encouraging your team to mix is an important step to improving team cohesion. Team building icebreakers like this one are great for starting that process!

Speed-dating   #teambuilding   #icebreaker   This can be used as a teambuilding activity or a way to introduce participants to each other.

Games and activities that include physical objects can help ensure the session is memorable and specific to those people present. In this ice breaker, ask participants to sit in a circle and bring their keys with them.

Explain that they will get to know each other through their keys. Ask them that one by one present all the keys they have on their keychain and tell a few sentences about the area the key represents – the city or neighborhood they live in, the activity it represents (bike or locker key) or the person they received it from.

Be sure to start the circle yourself so the participants get the feeling of how it should be done. Bonus points if you can demonstrate openness and vulnerability for your group to follow!

Break the ice with the help of your key!   #team   #get-to-know   #teambuilding   #icebreaker   The key ice breaker is a team building favorite and a great exercise to get to know each other in a group or team. It is easy to understand and set up, can be modified according to the objects participants have, fast way to get info on each other , and surely makes everyone included!

Whose story is it?

Start this ice breaker game by writing your funniest or weirdest story on a small piece of paper. It has to be a true one, no fiction! Then fold the paper up and drop it into a bowl or other container.

The facilitator or the person leading the program randomly reads every story and group members guess who the writer is. This is a great way to get to know each other and find out new things, even if you’ve worked together for a long time.

​Trading Card Icebreaker

Starting a meeting by defining your personality and being creative is a great way to kick off a more involved team project.

This activity from Gamestorming works great because it lets people self-define and share their personality outside of their day-to-day work. This approach means people get to connect more meaningfully and authentically while also creating fun and memorable cards that serve as conversation pieces as the meeting progresses.

Trading Cards   #gamestorming   #icebreaker   #opening   This meeting starter is great because it lets people self-define,  gives them a “personality” outside the typical work environment. Additionally,it gives participants quick snapshots of multiple players (since they see many cards as they’re being passed around), and it creates memorable visuals that give people conversation pieces as the meeting progresses.

​Find your pair

Prepare word pairs, like salt and pepper, milk and honey, sail and wind, etc on separate pieces of paper. Tape one to each person’s back. People then have to walk around and ask closed questions (with a yes or no answer) to find out what their phrase is. Once they find out, they have to find their pair & by continuing to ask questions (these can be open or closed) they have to learn 3 new things about the other.

​Toilet Paper Icebreaker

This is one of those ice breaker activities that is easily prepared in most live settings – you only need one roll of toilet paper. Pass this around, and have everyone rip off how much they would usually use. Everyone will feel awkward & will not really see the point at the beginning & possibly think you’ve lost it.

When everyone has taken off a few squares, they should count them. The amount they have is how many fun facts they should reveal about themselves. A warning though: this is an activity that is best suited for more lighthearted occasions and you’ll want to know your audience a bit before trying this!

​Show and tell

Group icebreakers are important, even in teams that know each other well. For more established groups, where people are more familiar with each other, it’s always good to dedicate a day, or an afternoon for “show and tell”. Each team member gets the chance (not all at once of course) to showcase something – an object or a topic that they are interested in.

Try making this activity part of a group routine at the start of every team meeting for bonus points. Creating this habit gives less exhibitionist characters a chance to share and it is also a great practice to hone presentation skills and handle the attention & tricky questions.

Show and Tell   #gamestorming   #action   #opening   #meeting facilitation   Show and Tell taps into the power of metaphors to reveal players’ underlying assumptions and associations around a topic The aim of the game is to get a deeper understanding of stakeholders’ perspectives on anything—a new project, an organizational restructuring, a shift in the company’s vision or team dynamic.

Quick ice breaker games

When you have a tightly packed agenda, it’s useful to have some quick icebreakers you can use to warm up the group in a pinch. These activities are simple to explain, fast to run, and work great in large or small groups . They also can double as after-lunch energizers to encourage team members to engage in what’s next!

Here are some of our favorite games you can use to break the ice in a group in ten minutes or less! Prefer something that requires even less set-up? Check out our collection of icebreaker questions for a set of effective conversation starters.

One Word at a Time

Apple, orange and banana, conversation questions, diversity welcome, stress balls, object meditation.

• Have you ever? (Stand up if)

Ice breaker ideas can come from anywhere, and so can great ideas. Create a surprise sentence by saying one word at a time. Give a general topic. The first person in the group says one word to a topic. The next person continues with another word.

Eventually, the group creates a whole sentence by each member contributing only one word at a time. The outcome is always unexpected & almost always funny. Make sure people don’t say two words when using articles or pronouns.

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.

Some of the best quick icebreakers promote team bonding by simply encouraging the group to be silly and have fun. This game is designed to do just that!

Start by asking your group to stand in a circle with their hands on the shoulders of the person in front. Explain that when you shout either apple, orange or banana they must perform the associated action: moving forward, backward or spinning around. When the group is comfortable, mix it up by saying two or even three words in sequence!

This great icebreaker game gets everyone moving, generates lots of laughter, and is a wonderful activity to use after breaks too.

Apple, Orange and Banana!   #energiser   #icebreaker   #fun   #teambuilding   Fun energiser to create energy and fun. Great to use after breaks such as lunch or coffee breaks.

Sometimes the best and fastest icebreakers are also the simplest! Use this collection of 25 icebreaker questions as the basis for letting to group get to know each other, or have participants answer in rapid-fire!

Small groups might wish to mingle and ask questions one on one, while you might invite larger groups to answer questions by raising their hand to answer. Whatever way you go, these icebreaker questions are a great starting point for team bonding and helping participants get to know other group members.

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

Quick icebreakers also have the potential to set the right tone for your meeting or workshop. The focus of his activity is to promote diversity and help create an inclusive environment for your session. Start by naming a possible trait of someone who may be present and saying they are welcome. For example, “If you love dogs, you are welcome here! If you prefer cats, you are welcome here!”

Slowly move into deeper territory by naming traits and concepts that resonate with your audience. With established groups, invite participants to share their own welcome, focusing on helping everyone in the room feel safe and welcome.

Diversity welcome   #diversity   #inclusion   #opening   #remote-friendly   #hybrid-friendly   The intention of the diversity welcome is inclusion. It can be long or short. The common element is to inclusively name a range of possibilities with a genuine “Welcome!”

We love games that not only function as a fun introduction but also offer a way to improve company culture. Stress Balls is a fast-paced icebreaker that helps highlight the importance of communication and teamwork while also encouraging lots of fun.

Begin by simply asking participants to stand in a circle and pass a ball to their left. Debrief and ask how the task went before asking participants to try again while moving the ball faster. Introduce further complexity until the game becomes a mess! While the result is chaotic fun, it also offers a very teachable lesson about how teams can communicate in order to achieve great results.

Stress Balls   #energiser   #communication   #teamwork   #team   #thiagi   #action   #icebreaker   Understanding the importance of communication and teamwork is an important requirement for high performance teams of knowledge workers. This exercise is an effective energizer that requires communication and teamwork. Ask participants to form a circle and throw a ball around to simulate the movement of a message. Change different variables such as speed, quantity, and complexity to create a mess.

Just because an icebreaker can be done quickly doesn’t mean it can’t also be mindful! This focused meditation activity is a wonderful way to open a meeting and encourage everyone to be present.

First, have everyone choose an object that is close to them and invite them to close their eyes. Next, ask the group to notice how they feel and to consider any feelings that aren’t serving them right now. Invite them to transfer these feelings into the object they are holding for the duration of the meeting and then come back to the room.

Combined with a quick debrief, this method is a great way to gently break the ice with your group. Check out the full method below for a script you can follow too!

Object Meditation   #icebreaker   #meditation   #emotional intelligence   #managing emotions   #check-in   #self-awareness   A focused meditation to become present and aware. We accept our feelings, leaving behind what we doesn’t serve us right now. A ideal way to open a workshop or team meeting.

Use this ice breaker activity at, or very near, the start of a course, workshop or meeting where people don’t know each other to help get to know everyone’s names. Have the group sit in a circle where everyone can see the others. The first person says their name. The next person continues, but after saying their own name, they repeat the first person’s name. This continues with each person repeating one more name. Reassure people towards the end that it’s ok if they get stuck & encourage the others to jump in to help if anyone is lost.

Name Game   #opening   #icebreaker   #energiser   Use the exercise at, or very near, the start of a course, workshop or meeting where people don’t know each other as it helps to learn names of each other

​Have you ever? (Stand up if)

Prior to the workshop the facilitator prepares a list of questions which can only be answered with yes or no. These questions should begin with “Have you ever…?” or “Stand up if…”. The facilitator reads out the questions or statements one by one. For each statement the participants stand up if they could answer the statement with yes.

The questions should be designed to not be discriminatory, intimidating or insulting. Possible topics can be countries visited, dishes, games or sports tried, movies seen etc. This should be quite familiar to people before they attend the meeting or workshop and is quick and easy to understand – ice breaker ideas don’t need to be brand new to be effective!

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

This is a quick ice breaker game where players have to form an orderly line without any discussion, or any verbal cues or help at all. The line is formed by predetermined criteria (like height, or color of each person’s eyes etc.). and gently asks people to start working together to get themselves into order.

With a more familiar group, try adding more complication to encourage your team to think more deeply. This icebreaker helps develop team collaboration and non-verbal communication, and it’s great when kicking of a training session with lots of talking later!

Line-Up   #hyperisland   #energiser   In the short group challenge, participants must organize themselves in a line according to a certain criteria (like height) without speaking. The activity promotes non-verbal communication and teamwork. Simpler versions of the activity can be used in early stages of group development while more complex versions can be used to challenge more established groups.

Ice Breaker Games for Meetings

Using an ice breaker at the start of a meeting is a great way to encourage group members to be present and get things started on the right foot. Effective opening activities energize everyone, helping them ‘arrive’ mentally and leave behind whatever task or thought they were previously working on.

They can also help clarify the objectives of the meeting and position the group for what’s coming next. While many of the ice breakers in this collection work well for work, we’ve found these ones especially effective. Here are some ice breakers for meetings to help ensure your next team meeting is a success!

Coat of Arms

One word exercise, the real reason why you are here, lego metaphors, weather check-in.

• Rain Icebreaker

Celebrate the wins in your team

Mindfulness icebreaker, purpose mingle.

This game is a great way for players to introduce themselves and their colleagues. It’s especially fun for people who think they already know each other very well – almost every time there are at least a few surprises!

Sometimes these new nuggets of wisdom can have an immediate effect on the employees’ relationships, current projects or challenges. Since you have to draw, rather than explain, it serves double duty for topics like problem-solving, creative thinking and innovation. Fun icebreakers for meetings don’t get much better than this!

Coat of Arms   #teambuilding   #opening   #icebreaker   #team   #get-to-know   #thiagi   Coat of Arms exercise provides a way for participants to introduce themselves and their colleagues, particularly for groups who think they already know each other very well. Almost invariably participants discover something about their colleagues of which they previously had no idea. Occasionally this revelation has an immediate and direct application to another participant’s current project or challenge.Because this activity forces people to use drawings rather than words, it is particularly useful as a dual-purpose introductory exercise in training sessions that deal with such topics as innovation, creativity, and problem-solving.

Pick a phrase that is central to the reason you’ve gathered and have everyone write down or say a word that comes to their mind in relation to it. If you’re leading a meeting about planning an upcoming project, ask participants to share one word that they think describes the goal or the processes that are needed.

Once everyone has shared their phrases, discuss the results. This ice breaker helps explore different viewpoints about a common challenge, before starting the meeting.

When we first arrive in a meeting, we’re often carrying other things with us. The stress of unfinished work, thinking about the evening or just what we’re having for lunch. Encourage your team to be present and think about why they are in your meeting or workshop with this simple ice breaker that helps spark conversation.

Begin by asking the group to state the concious reason for being in the meeting, and then invite them to consider the deeper reasons for being in the session. The surfacing of these deeper reasons for being present can be surprising, but are often useful for the group to discuss while breaking the ice!

The real reason why you are in this workshop   #constellations   #objectives   #icebreaker   #warm up   A deep-dive method to reveal the subconscious reason why you are in a workshop. Facilitator goes first and by doing so invites the other participants to incorporate the

For some meetings, time can be short. Quick but fun icebreaker activities like this one can be an effective way of getting a read of how everyone is doing while still being time efficient.

Begin this ice breaker by asking each member of the group to share how they are feeling & what’s going on for them right now in the language of weather. For example, I’m feeling like it’s mostly sunny skies with a bit of a rain cloud looming or I feel like I’m in the eye of a tornado! I’ve found this game especially useful when working with remote teams, for whom a metaphor can feel like a safe way to share in a group setting.

Weather check in   #opening   #listening and awareness   #self-awareness   #teambuilding   #em   Each person describes how they are feeling as they are weather

Each participant gets a set of few LEGO bricks (identical sets to everyone – a few items, around 5-10 bricks per person will suffice). Everyone builds something that relates to the topic of the meeting.

Afterwards, everyone gets 30 seconds to explain what their building means (e.g ‘My Home’, ‘Interesting Experiment’, ‘The coolest computer ever’) and how it relates to the topic of the meeting. (Optional: the figures/buildings and the metaphors may be used later on to help discussions around the table.) Remember that icebreaker games for work don’t need to sacrifice fun, and some of the best team building icebreakers are creative and allow people to get in touch with their inner child!

LEGO Challenge   #hyperisland   #team   A team-building activity in which groups must work together to build a structure out of LEGO, but each individual has a secret “assignment” which makes the collaborative process more challenging. It emphasizes group communication, leadership dynamics, conflict, cooperation, patience and problem solving strategy.

Rain icebreaker

Encouraging everyone to be present and engaged at the start of your meeting doesn’t need to be complicated. By simply getting everyone in the room participating in the same goal, this icebreaker can quickly help everyone “arrive” in the session.

Start by having everyone in the front of the room rub their hands together vigorously. Row by row, get more people to join in until you reach the back of the room. Next, have the first row switch to clicking their fingers and proceed through the room in the same way. Go back and forth between clicking and rubbing in order to replicate the sound of rain and then invite the group to stop and enjoy a break in the shower.

Rain icebreaker   #icebreaker   #energizer   #collective intelligence   #warm up   This meeting icebreaker is a great energizer to do right before a break or coming back from a break, especially if you have stragglers

An easy icebreaker that will have everyone feeling good before a meeting. Go around a circle and highlight a story – an action, decision or result – that can and should be praised from each team member. Something where they reached beyond their typical responsibilities and excelled.

Have everyone acknowledge and thank each other for surpassing expectations. This is a great mood booster – by lifting each other up, the energy just starts to vibrate in the room. Everyone likes to be recognized. Ice breakers for meetings that give people the chance to celebrate success can be key in setting a great tone for the meeting to come.

The best ice breaker games often have a very clear goal. You can use this method at the beginning of any meeting to set the stage and get people thinking about what they can contribute. It’s a simple way to get started and always gets results!

At the beginning of your session, have people walk around & share with others what they will contribute to that particular session. It’s a great way to enhance engagement & help people set goals and hold themselves accountable. It also makes others aware of everyone’s intent and can help prevent misunderstandings.

Meetings can sometimes become difficult because attendees come in stressing about the topic or are distracted by things outside of the meeting.

In this mindful ice breaker, ask people to take a few moments to “check-in” with themselves and write down their worries, energy levels, and what else is on their mind. After everyone is done, they should rip up their answers and discard them. This helps them identify their state, let go of their worries and have better focus & more empathy towards others.

What are you bringing to the meeting   #teampedia   #opening   #team   #check-in   A good way  to start a meeting/workshop/training to see how participants are feeling, what might be distractions that they are carrying with themselves into the room and how low/high their energy level is.

Fun Ice Breaker Games to Support Team Building

Ice breaker games are not only useful at the beginning of meetings or getting to know new people. They are also a great way to support team building, by creating a positive atmosphere, helping people relax and break down barriers.

Team building icebreakers can also reveal new information about colleagues that otherwise you wouldn’t discover during your everyday routine. Remember that successful teams are often those who’ve gotten to know each other better on a personal level too!

Team icebreakers such as those below are great for enhancing team bonding and empowering everyone in the group to move forward together. Let’s take a look!

Break the Ice with The Four Quadrants Activity

Team jigsaw puzzle game, back to back drawing, scavenger hunt, electric fence icebreaker, low tech social networking.

The Four Quadrants is a fun and creative team icebreaker than can be adapted for any situation. It is super easy to prep for and set up – you only need large sheets of paper (flipcharts or similar) and markers. Have people draw up a 2×2 grid and ask them four questions. They should draw the answers in each quadrant.

Questions can cover topics like current challenges, stressors, defining moments, moments of pride, fears, desired outcome for the current gathering etc. Afterwards they can show each other their drawings and discuss their creations. The exercise is fun, colorful and visual and can be modified to work with any group and/or topic just by changing the questions.

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!

Separate people into teams. Give each a very different jigsaw puzzle (with equal difficulty & number of pieces). Each group has the same amount of time to complete the puzzle.

The secret twist is to switch up a few pieces with the other groups beforehand! Fun icebreakers can help keep a team on their toes and encourage creative thinking – try ice breakers for meetings that include an edge of competitiveness and fun to really liven things up.

The goal is to finish before the others – so they must figure out collectively how to convince other teams to give up pieces they need. This can be through barter, merging or changing teams, donating minutes, etc.

This is a longer game, but one that is worth doing, since it encourages teamwork on several levels – internally and externally too.

Jigsaw Puzzle   #team   #icebreaker   #get-to-know   #teampedia   This game is useful as a side-activity during breaks, as it encourages starting conversations between random people.

Two people should sit facing away from each other. One receives a picture of an object or phrase. Without saying directly what they see, they should describe it to their pair without using words that clearly give it away. Their pair has to draw a specific picture.

The game requires two people to sit facing away from each other, where one team member is given a picture of an object or word. Without specifying directly what it is, the other person must describe the image without using words that clearly give away the image. This is a great team building game to develop verbal communication and is a fun alternative to more traditional icebreaker games.

Back-2-Back Drawing   #communication   #collaboration   #trust   #icebreaker   #teampedia   #action   This is a communication exercise when participants in pairs have to use only verbal communication to help their pair to draw a specific picture. There are several variations of the exercise detailed in the instructions.

Many people have great memories from a childhood scavenger hunt. Recreating this experience to let our the inner child and work as a team is one of our favourite icebreaker games for adults too! Start by creating a list of items that need to be gathered and then split your group into small teams to try and find them all to kick off your scavenger hunt.

Working with a remote or hybrid team? Try the virtual scavenger hunt below! Be sure to put in items that require a wide range of skills and thinking and diverse personalities to be completed successfully. A scavenger hunt is also a great opportunity to mix people into teams who don’t typically work together and bring them together with ice breaker games.

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! 

This is a great energiser that requires players to move about as they build an imaginary electric fence. They have to try and cross it without touching it and getting “electrocuted”. The fence can be represented by a rope or a shoe string tied between two objects. It should be about waist high. Players can’t go under it, this is not limbo dancing!

They must also be touching a teammate with at least one hand at all times. This ice breaker activity requires quick brainstorming, problem-solving and negotiating other ideas. Make sure that people who are uncomfortable with physical contact have an option to not participate but still feel involved in the brainstorming part. Inclusive games make for some of the best ice breakers: be sure to bare this in mind when deciding on icebreaker games for work or your next meeting.

The object of this ice breaker game is to introduce event participants to each other by co-creating a mural-sized, visual network of their connections. – great for medium size events where participants come from different organisations. All participants will need a 5×8 index card and access to markers or something similar to draw their avatar. They will also need a substantial wall covered in butcher paper to create the actual network.

Once their avatar is ready, they “upload” themselves by sticking their card to the wall. Then they find the people they know and draw lines to make the connections. This is one of our favourite ice breakers when working with large, multi-discipline groups where connections might not be immediately obvious.

Low-tech Social Network   #gamestorming   #icebreaker   #opening   The object of this game is to introduce event participants to each other by co-creating a mural-sized, visual network of their connections.

Ice Breaker Games for Small Groups

While many of the icebreaker games above can be adapted for any group size, these activities are especially effective when working with groups of less than 15 people.

These small group icebreakers are great at using the extra space to create opportunities for team bonding and deeper sharing between team members. They’re also designed so you’re not left with awkward silences just because you don’t have a massive team taking part!

Interview icebreaker

• Paper telephone

One of the major benefits of small group icebreaker games is space for participants to talk and get to know each other a little more than they would in a group of 20+ people. Interview is a playful way to get team members talking at the start of a session while also introducing the topic of the workshop or meeting.

Start by getting people into pairs. One person begins by being a reporter and then other will be the interviewee. For three minutes, the reporter will interview the other person on a chosen subject and attempt to get as much information as they can before switching roles. Encourage the group to really get into their roles and provide some example questions to guide the group toward the topic of the day.

Interview   #warm up   #icebreaker   #energiser   The interview is a good warm up for every training or workshop session. Playful start in which the participants will start to communicate with and come to know each other, directing the thinking toward the topic of the day. It is usually a very cheerful activity. Az interjú egy jó bemelegítés, jégtörő minden tréninghez vagy workshophoz. Játékos kezdés, amelyben a résztvevők elkezdenek megismerkedni és kommunikálni egymással, miközben a gondolataikat már a nap témája felé irányítjuk.

Spending time in a small group is a great opportunity to get to know people a little more deeply. This game encourages players to share more about themselves than an average icebreaker, and it’s a fun way to kickstart creative thinking too!

Start by assembling a box of interesting objects (photos will do in a pinch!). Next, invite participants to choose an object without overthinking it and then explain who they are, why they chose the object and what they think the connection between the object and the workshop is.

Magic Box   #team   #icebreaker   #get-to-know   #teambuilding   #remote-friendly   Ice breaking at the beginning of the workshop/meeting

Paper Telephone

Paper telephone is a fun icebreaker that encourages creativity and laughter by combining two classic games: telephone and pictionary. Start by handing out a stack of small papers and pens, and invite each team member to write a sentence on the first piece of paper. Players then pass their stack to the next person who must read the sentence and then create a visual representation of that sentence on the next piece of paper in the stack.

Play proceeds around the circle, with players needing to transform back and forth between words and images. Often, by the time you get your original stack back, the sentence has gone on a weird and wonderful transformation!

While you can play paper telephone with larger groups, the more people you add, the longer it takes. Doing this icebreaker in a small group means you have more time to share what people came up with and the journey you all went on together.

Paper Telephone   #teampedia   #icebreaker   #creativity   #team   #action   Paper Telephone is a mix of two methods, “Telephone” and “Pictionary”. It is a creative game aiming to fasten the get-to-know each other phase of the team while having a good time.

The human knot is a fun, physical icebreaker that is best played in groups of 7-16 people. It’s a great way to break the ice while also creating energy and a sense of fun.

Start by getting the group to stand in a circle and ask them to close their eyes. Next, everyone reaches out and links one hand with someone across the circle. Then they link the other hand with another person in the circle. Then, ask everyone to open their eyes and try to untangle the knot they’ve made without breaking the chain!

Human Knot   A physical-participation disentanglement puzzle that helps a group learn how to work together (self-organize) and can be used to illustrate the difference between self-organization and command-control management or simply as a get-to-know-you icebreaker. Standing in a circle, group members reach across to connect hands with different people. The group then tries to unravel the “human knot” by unthreading their bodies without letting go of each other people’s hands. As a management-awareness game to illustrate required change in behavior and leadership on a management level (e.g., illustrate the change from ‘task-oriented’ management towards ‘goal/value-oriented’ management).

Working with small groups creates an opportunity for greater depth. In this icebreaker game, invite team members to draw their life as a map, using common symbols and signs you might find on a map. Stop signs, deer crossings, mountainous areas…the choice of how to illustrate your life story is yours!

Give time after drawing for everyone to share and for others to ask questions. The connections, conversations and shared understandings that come out of this reflective icebreaker can set a wonderful right tone for the work ahead.

Life map   #team   #teampedia   #icebreaker   #get-to-know   With this activity the participants get to know each other on a deeper level.

Ice Breaker Games to Improve Teamwork and Collaboration

Good ice breaker games usually all have a strong aspect of teamwork and collaboration as people work together in groups to accomplish a challenge or solve a puzzle. Therefore these team icebreakers can also be used as part of team building events and team development workshops. They are meant to fast-track group familiarity and increase the socialization process in a new or existing environment.

With increased social interaction, people naturally learn how to work together more productively – the mood can warm up between colleagues who are normally highly formal with each other. The best ice breakers have the power to strengthen coworker bonds, stimulate better brainstorming sessions, and create an atmosphere of inclusivity.

Here, we’ve collected ice breaker activities to help improve teamwork and collaboration in a more involved manner.

The Marshmallow Challenge

Helium stick, blind square – the perfect square, desert island.

In eighteen minutes, teams must build the tallest free-standing structure out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow. To complete the marshmallow challenge, the marshmallow needs to be on top and hopefully, not fall off! This icebreaker game emphasizes group communication, leadership dynamics, collaboration, innovation and problem solving strategy.

Genuinely fun icebreakers for meetings can be hard to find – The Marshmallow Challenge is one of those icebreaker games for work that feels almost like play. The Marshmallow Challenge was developed by Tom Wujec, who has done the activity with hundreds of groups around the world. Definitely give it a try.

Marshmallow challenge with debriefing   #teamwork   #team   #leadership   #collaboration   In eighteen minutes, teams must build the tallest free-standing structure out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow. The marshmallow needs to be on top. The Marshmallow Challenge was developed by Tom Wujec, who has done the activity with hundreds of groups around the world. Visit the Marshmallow Challenge website for more information. This version has an extra debriefing question added with sample questions focusing on roles within the team.

This fun activity could be used as an icebreaker both for people who have just met and for already existing teams. Breaking people up into groups, each one needs a fresh egg, some straws, masking tape and other items for creating a package to protect the egg.

Using the raw materials provided, the team goal is to build a structure that will support a free-falling egg dropped from a predetermined height (e.g. 7 feet) without the egg breaking. Get to know you games with an element of danger are always fun ice breakers for meetings. This is a method that fosters team communication, collaboration and strategic thinking as well.

Egg drop   #teampedia   #collaboration   #teamwork   #icebreaker   #team   This fun activity could be used as an icebreaker for people who have just met but it can be framed as a method that shows and fosters team communication, collaboration and strategic thinking as well.

Solving seemingly simple problems as a group to get everyone working together at the start of a workshop. This game requires one long, thin, light rod (e.g. a broom handle) and a bunch of curious participants!

First, line up people in two rows facing each other. Introduce the Helium Stick and ask participants to hold their index fingers out. Lay the Stick on their fingers & before letting go, have everyone adjust their position so the Stick is horizontal and everyone is touching it. The goal is to lower the Stick to the ground in a way that no one lets go of it at any time.

Pinching, grabbing, or holding on properly to the Stick is not allowed. If the group makes a mistake, they start from the beginning. Helium Stick is a fun icebreaker that asks participants to really engage with one another and we’d recommend it for any team building workshop!

Helium Stick   #teampedia   #team   #teamwork   #icebreaker   #energiser   A great and simple activity for fostering teamwork and problem solving with no setup beforehand.

Blindfold your seated participants. Take a long string or rope with the ends tied together & place it in everyone’s hands. Leave the circle and ask them to form a perfect square from the rope without looking.

When people think they are finished, they can remove their blindfolds to see the result. Ice breakers for meetings don’t always include props or blindfolds, but deploying them effectively can make for a memorable ice breaker.

Blind Square is one of the icebreaker games you can use to highlight leadership and communication – some people will want to take charge, while others are more comfortable following direction. Also, it can be repeated after the first try to see if they can improve their collaboration.

Blind Square – Rope game   #teamwork   #communication   #teambuilding   #team   #energiser   #thiagi   #outdoor   This is an activity that I use in almost every teambuilding session I run–because it delivers results every time. I can take no credit for its invention since it has existed from long before my time, in various forms and with a variety of names (such as Blind Polygon). The activity can be frontloaded to focus on particular issues by changing a few parameters or altering the instructions.

Many of us will have played some variation of this ice breaker game before. This game asks you team: if you were trapped on a desert island, what would you use to survive?

Introduce participants to a list of possible items and have them choose the three they find most essential. Then, they’ll share the items they chose with the rest of the group. This activity works well with a remote team and with larger groups, you may want to separate people into smaller teams where they collaboratively strategize on which items to pick.

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.

Fun Ice Breaker Games

The best ice breakers have the power to strengthen coworker bonds, stimulate better brainstorming sessions, and create an atmosphere of inclusivity.

They’re also incredibly fun to play, making them a welcomed break from regular work activities. They break down barriers that might exist between employees & make it easier for people to communicate with one another.

Ice breakers should also encourage lighthearted interactions that wouldn’t usually take place in the context of a normal workday. When the correct game is chosen, everyone benefits from the energy they bring to any meeting or event. Remember that even some business-critical meetings can benefit from a bit of levity and fun!

Here are some ice breaker ideas for when you just want to have fun with your team.

Portrait Gallery

• What is my name

Rock Paper Scissors Tournament

Crazy handshake, the movie pitch icebreaker, share a joke, the no smiling icebreaker, hello kitty.

This ice breaker activity is a fun one that requires some creativity. It enhances a sense of community because people have to draw the others as a group – not just between the drawers, but the recipients of the portraits too. The outcome is very visual and colorful and the result images can be put up in the meeting room afterward! Meeting ice breakers that produce physical results that can be shared can really help ensure the good vibes of the meeting continue afterward!

Portrait Gallery   #hyperisland   #team   #icebreaker   The Portrait Gallery is an energetic and fun icebreaker game that gets participants interacting by having the group collaboratively draw portraits of each member. The activity builds a sense of group because it results with each participant having a portrait drawn of him/herself by the other members of the group together. It also has a very colourful visual outcome: the set of portraits which can be posted in the space.

​What is my name

Stick the name of a well-known celebrity or public figure on people’s backs. Have players mingle and ask each other questions to find out who they are. This is a light game that initiates easy conversations without forced & awkward small talk. Make sure the figures are generally well recognizable. What is my name is one of those icebreaker games for work that is easy to set up and get going and is fun for all involved.

This is a warm-up to really get a group energized. It is a game based on the traditional Rock Paper Scissors game but with a twist. The people who lost become fans and have to cheer for the players still in the game. The final is cheered on by a large crowd & the excitement is through the roof! If there are a larger number of people, you can have multiple tournaments. Fun icebreakers don’t need to be complicated. Keep your ice breaker simple and ensure everyone can get involved easily.

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! 

Set up harmless obstacles in the room you’re meeting in. Use squeaky toys, whoopie cushions, bubble wrap and the like. Everyone takes turns going around the course while blindfolded, guided by their teammates. The goal is: help each to navigate through the minefield.

While this game often results in lots of laughter, it also helps teach the importance of clear communication and trusting your team.

Minefield   #teampedia   #teamwork   #action   #team   #icebreaker   A fun activity that helps participants working together as a team while teaching the importance of communication, strategy and trust.

This ice breaker helps people ease into a group and brings out their creativity without a lot of effort. Splitting the group into pairs, each pair develops a creative handshake. Once done, the pair splits and each individual partners with another group member. The newly formed pair then teaches each other the original handshakes and together creates a new one. You can break up and pair off people as many times as you want.

Crazy Handshake   #icebreaker   #get-to-know   #opening   #teampedia   #team   This activity helps people ease in a group and brings out their creativity without a lot of effort.

Divide players into several groups and have each team come up with an idea for a movie they want to make. They should prepare a pitch within 10 minutes. Once everyone had a chance to tell their idea, all players vote on which idea deserves ‘funding’.

The winners won’t start to make their film, but they should get awarded with either a funny object or some treats. We love using creative icebreakers like to ease people in and get used to collaborating and giving feedback ahead of the main discussion.

For this game, you have to have quick reactions or you’ll be eliminated. Have everyone stand in a circle with one person in the middle as the ‘sheriff’. They must surprise other players by pointing to them. These people must quickly crouch and those on either side of them have to quickly ‘draw’ their weapons. If you are too slow, you switch places & become the sheriff.

This icebreaker is a wonderful way to increase group energy before starting a meeting in earnest, and it also helps people learn names too! If you’re working with an especially large group, note that it’s better to play in parallel before finishing with a final showdown!

Bang   #hyperisland   #energiser   Bang is a group game, played in a circle, where participants must react quickly or face elimination. One person stands in the middle of the circle as “the sheriff”, pointing at other players who must quickly crouch while those on either side of them quickly “draw”. A good activity to generate laughter in a group. It can also help with name-learning for groups getting to know each other.

Have new teammates tell a joke at their first all-hands meeting. This is a great way to encourage people to be vulnerable and also ensures the meetings start on a cheery note. Remember that opening activities needn’t be complicated to be effective and when looking for ice breaker ideas, don’t discount the simple joy of making others laugh!

This is a simple icebreaker activity that energizes participants, and it’s also suitable for highlighting spontaneity and teamwork. The activity involves participants standing in a circle and throwing imaginary ball(s) to each other in increasing pace. When throwing the first ball, the person starting should make a special sound that has to be repeated by the catcher upon receiving the ball.

Once the ball is being thrown around at a fairly brisk pace, you can introduce another imaginary ball and start throwing it. When the group gets proficient at it, you can have three or four balls in play!

Sound Ball   #energiser   #icebreaker   #thiagi   #team   #outdoor   This a simple icebreaker activity energising participants, also suitable for debriefing learning points towards spontaneity and teamwork. The activity involves participants standing in a circle and throwing imaginary ball(s) to each other in increasing pace.

This is a seemingly contradictory ice breaker that actually results in lots of smiles. Instruct everyone to keep a straight face and do not smile under ANY circumstance in the first five minutes of the meeting. People turn into children with an instruction like this, and immediately start looking at others, seeing how they are coping. The anticipation makes everyone giggly, so after a while they cannot suppress their laughter anymore. This activity takes zero prep and so is a great one to pull out at the last minute!

Starting a meeting with smiles and laughter is a great way to set the tone for the session. In this fun icebreaker, separate your group into teams of kittens and puppiess. Puppies try to make the kittens laugh or crack a smile by simply saying, “Hello Kitty” in an amusing manner. Any kittens who smile or laugh join the puppies until their is only one kitten left standing!

Encourage the group to be creative and be sure to give kudos to the funniest participants or those who manage to keep a straight face!

Hello Kitty   #hyperisland   #energiser   #remote-friendly   A simple and short group game all about trying to make each other crack a smile. Participants take turns being ‘kitties’ and ‘puppies’. The puppies try to make the kitties crack a smile or laugh. The last kitty standing is the winner! An original from The Northern Quarter Agency.

From icebreaker to completed agenda

Now you’ve discovered the perfect icebreaker, it’s time to create the rest of your meeting!

With SessionLab, you drag, drop and reorder blocks to create your agenda in a snap. Your session timing adjusts automatically as you make changes and when you’re done, you can share a beautiful printout with your colleagues and participants.

Explore how facilitators use SessionLab to build effective workshops and meetings or watch this five minute video to get started!

Now over to you!

Your meetings and workshops don’t have to be boring. We hope you have found some useful tips for practical and fun ice breaker games you can use in your next session!

What are your favorite ice breaker activities? Have you tried any of the methods above? How did you find them? Let us know about your experiences in the comments. Want to see even more great icebreaker ideas? Our collection of icebreaker questions contains heaps of conversation starters you can bring to your next session.

Want to go further? Check out our guide to planning an effective workshop to start building more engaging sessions with better outcomes!

Robert took his first facilitation training in 2009, and since then immersed himself in designing and delivering experiential learning experiences, group workshop, and train-the-trainer/facilitator programs. His passion for facilitation led him to co-found SessionLab, the online platform that helps people design and facilitate better workshops.

20 Comments

tHIS was a life saver. I forgot that I had to present a game (or what-ever) for a Red Hat meeting tomorrow. You SAVED THE DAY, so to speak….so many, many thanks. frankanz

That’s fantastic to hear, I’m so happy we could help you – thanks for sharing your story :-)

Thanks for this list! some great finds in here (I LOVE the portrait gallery!) – have saved 10 faves and will definitely us the passions tic-tac-toe and rock paper scissors tournament at next workshop :D

That’s awesome to hear, I’m happy you got some useful ideas! (The portrait gallery is one of my favourite tools, too :-)

Great list! Here are some of the icebreakers I use: 1- Batikha (Watermelon in Arabic) The group sits or stands in a circular form. One person starts by placing their palms on their mouth as if they are holding a ball (watermolon) and passing it to the person on their side (if they pass it to the person on their right, they must use their left hand pointing to the right direction), the next person carries on with this rhythm. At any point anyone could decide to reverse the path of the ball by changing their hand and the pointing to the other person. This is when it gets tricky because if anyone else -other than the person pointed to) takes an action by raising their hands they get out of the circle. Additional if someone points the ball upwards, it means the next person will be skipped and the following person should complete the cycle. I don’t know if it makes sense in writing, it’s very simple through :) 2- Say what? This games involves a person (usually the trainer) asking each one individually a series of questions. The person who answers must answer truthfully without saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or make any gestures or sounds that means yes or no. They also can’t think for more than three seconds and they cannot repeat what the trainer asked. The trainer must get tricky by asking follow-up questions like: What’s your favorite book? answer… But isn’t out of publish? The participant will probably say no and lose.

Thank you, Nahla, great to see your favourite ice breaker activities, too – thanks for sharing!

This is an Awesome with great fun usable ideas!!

You’re welcome, Joshua – great to see that you’ve found the post useful!

Board/card games teach important social skills, such as communicating verbally, sharing, waiting, and taking turns. It can also foster the ability to focus and lengthen one’s attention span by encouraging the completion of an exciting, enjoyable game. Check this newly found card gamehttps://lagimcardgame.com/ and see how interesting and creative it is.

These are some amazing ideas! Thank you

These are all so good! You usually can’t find so many good ideas in one place. Thanks so much!

Excellent list and love the card format of the activity. Thanks. For Icebreaker questions I use icebreakrs.io.

Thank you very much! Very useful!

thank you very much very useful

This will help each other in the team professionally and personally , we can share ideas and solve problems .Awesome!!

Thank you for this great collection of wonderful and fun icebreakers and activities. Here’s a favorite icebreaker called Paris, Rome, or New York.

Objectives: To get participants to share their opinions, encourage listening, and promote better discussion in the group.

Method: This is a very simple exercise that participants can also have some fun with.

Ask participants of the training event to imagine themselves in each of the cities above. And, what they would like to do there? What would they work at? Would their life be different? If so, in what ways?

Once each person has described who they would like to get the group in a circle to discuss the exercise.

This exercise also encourages questioning and listening skills within the group and individuals’ perceptions of different things.

Discussion Questions: Did anyone feel uncomfortable doing this exercise? If so, why? How can this exercise help us during today’s training event? Of all the places presented does anyone want to change? If so why or why not?

Great ideas and will use this week at our yearly NHS Nurse away day. Thank You

These are some great ideas. I do both online and face-to-face education, so the variations are really nice. I also do an exercise called, “How did I get here?” Everyone takes a sheet of chart paper and some markers and writes or draws (or both) how they got to where they are and what led them to the course. I give them 10 minutes and then we share as a group. If too many to share in a large group, create several smaller groups and they share to that group. You can get some really interesting responses.

Dear Robert Cserti, My gratitude to you….Thank you so much .Iam using these games as ice breakers ,related to many topics and also in out bound training. Sharing the knowledge ..that’s amazing and tells that u lead by example. Great work!!!! with regards Anu Shakthi :-)

Many times link with ice breakers are disappointing. This was packed full of easy to use, possible to tweak. And amazing ideas!

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So… What’s your superpower?

Is it your ability to solve a Rubik’s Cube in 30 seconds? Or maybe make the world’s best lasagna? 

Whatever it is, is there a better superpower than watching your team bond over a couple of icebreakers you prepared before the meeting?  

Nope. We don’t think so, either. 

In fact, icebreakers help get the conversation going before any team meeting and even in classroom settings . They’re also wonderful activities to improve team communication and build team spirit.

If you’re looking for inspiration, we have 10 icebreaker categories to kickstart fun and productive meetings:

• Team-specific icebreakers

Get to know your team icebreakers

Funny icebreakers, would you rather icebreakers, thought-provoking icebreakers, fun and light icebreakers, seasonal and holiday icebreakers, world travel icebreakers, music icebreakers, company-themed icebreakers, 5 tips to help break the ice.

These four icebreaker tips will help you navigate the start of group discussions and get the team comfortable and excited to answer questions. 

• Whoever leads the meeting should answer the icebreaker question first. This helps break the tension and immediately opens up the conversation.
• Listen actively, and ask follow-up questions if necessary. The goal is to unite the team and give each person the opportunity to answer.
• Let people interact with one another. 
• Allocate enough time, and don’t rush the team-building activity.
• Consider the context of the meeting and the people involved when choosing your icebreaker question.

Team-specific icebreakers 

The benefit of using team-specific icebreakers is that everyone can have an open conversation about their thoughts and ideas regarding the dynamics and collaboration of a team. 

• What is your favorite team memory?
• Describe your team in one word.
• What is your team’s biggest strength?
• What are the top three must-have office items?
• Best professional development book you’d recommend?
• What is your most valuable soft skill for successful teams?
• What is your favorite tool to use for team productivity?
• How do you describe your job to a three-year-old?
• What is your go-to office lunch?
• What makes your team unique?

Our top pick: Describe your team in one word.

This question reveals what their team means to them and enables managers to spot the strengths of their team.

Related: Try these 25 icebreaker activities for virtual meetings

Use icebreaker questions to break barriers and understand the personalities and characteristics of each member. In the long run, it helps build compassion and relationships between team members, which results in improved communication and teamwork.  

These icebreakers are especially helpful when new employees join a team, as the questions enable them to meet each team member in a fun environment.

• Where did you grow up?
• What day in your life would you like to relive?
• What is the kindest act you have ever done?
• Describe yourself in three words.
• What was your dream job as a kid?
• What are the top three items on your bucket list? 
• What movie scene is worthy of an Oscar?
• Who would be the three guests at your dinner table?
• What is your proudest achievement?
• Five things that make you happy?

Our top pick: What is your proudest achievement?

This question unveils the events and achievements that are important to each individual. It gives insight into the personality and how each team member defines success.

Use funny icebreakers to lighten the mood. These icebreakers are great for Friday meetings ahead of the weekend or to bring laughter to the team after a rough week.

• Do you consider yourself a lemon or a lime? Why?
• What is your DJ name?
• What is your superpower?
• What three things would you do if you were invisible?
• What is the best prank you’ve experienced or planned?
• Tell us a weird fact you happen to know for no reason.
• If you could take one prop from any movie set, what would it be?
• Tell us your favorite joke.
• If your pet could talk, what would they say?
• If your life was captured in the “expectation vs. reality” meme, what would the two pictures be?

Our top pick: What is your superpower?

This is a fun way to ask your team members what their secret talents are and what they consider their strengths to be.

Would you rather questions are fun because they don’t put team members on the spot to come up with an answer; instead, they offer two options to choose from. This is helpful for teams that might be a bit shy or for new hires at the company.

• Would you rather get free plane tickets or free accommodations for the rest of your life?
• Would you rather spend a weekend in a tropical paradise or a snow haven?
• Would you rather speak 10 languages or play 10 instruments?
• Would you rather always be two hours early or 20 minutes late?
• Would you rather sail or van life around the world?
• Would you rather be able to control time or fly?
• Would you rather read the end of every book or always forget the story’s ending?
• Would you rather be a whale or a lion?
• Would you rather have every traffic light turn green or always have the best parking spot?
• Would you rather have slow internet or always forget your passwords?

Our top pick: Would you rather have every traffic light turn green or always have the best parking spot?

This question challenges employees to choose between practicality and patience. Both are important skills in the workplace and fun values to discuss. 

Thought-provoking questions are interesting ways to dig deeper into employees’ opinions and perspectives. However, they should only be asked when the team has already built a strong relationship with one another, as they require vulnerability and a safe space.

• Why do we create art?
• What subject do you wish was taught in every school?
• If you could know the answer to any question, what would it be?
• What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?
• When do you feel the most courageous?
• What piece of advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?
• When was the last time you tried something for the first time?
• What are the three values you treasure the most in a friendship?
• What is the best piece of feedback you have ever received?
• Where do you find inspiration?

Our top pick: If you could know the answer to any question, what would it be?

This is our favorite question as it reveals what deeper topics employees find interesting and what problems they'd like to solve. 

Fun and light icebreakers let employees bring out their creativity and have fun getting to know one another with questions that are unrelated to work.

• What is your favorite cereal?
• Which two companies would you like to be sponsored by?
• What was your last Netflix binge?
• If you could be a character in any movie, what character and what movie would it be?
• If you invented an ice cream flavor, what ingredients would it have, and what would it be called?
• If you could make an office rule that everyone had to follow for a day, what would it be?
• What is the best concert/ festival you have ever been to?
• A genie grants you one wish; what do you wish for?
• What would you title your biography?
• What three items would you bring with you on a deserted island?

Our top pick: If you could be a character in any movie, what character and what movie would it be?

This reveals what characters employees admire, which is a fun way to understand a person! 

Related: Try these icebreakers for smaller groups

Get your team in the holiday mood with seasonal icebreakers. These are great for celebrating the change of seasons and building holiday spirit in the workspace.

• What is your favorite season?
• What’s your favorite holiday?
• Do you over or under-decorate for the holidays?
• What is your favorite summer activity?
• What is your favorite winter meal?
• If you could add an additional holiday to the calendar, what would it be and when?
• Do you have any special traditions for the new year?
• Do you create a New Year’s resolution list?
• What is your favorite holiday movie?
• What is your favorite holiday song?

Our top pick: Do you create a New Year’s resolution list?

This is a great opener to discuss each individual's New Year’s resolutions and to create a team New Year's resolution list.  

After any vacation, travel icebreakers are a great way to bring out stories and understand what type of activities and experiences your team enjoys outside of work. 

• If you had to sleep on a beach anywhere in the world, where would it be?
• If you could live in a different country for a year, which country would you choose?
• What is your favorite travel story?
• What is the most underrated city you have ever visited?
• What country impacted you the most?
• What is your favorite travel hack?
• If you could organize a team retreat, where would it be?
• Who is your favorite travel buddy or group?
• What is more important for you when traveling, comfort and relaxation or energizing new experiences?
• Who is the most interesting person you’ve met while traveling?

Our top pick: What is your favorite travel story?

Traveling always creates new memories and stories. It's a great question to understand how employees overcome challenges, their goals during their time off, and how they learn from their experiences.

Music questions are helpful for teams in the early stages of getting to know one another because they are lighthearted and fun to share without needing to get too personal. 

• What song brings back childhood memories?
• Which artist would you like to meet?
• Which band would you join? And what would your role be?
• If you could name a band, what would it be called?
• What song has the most beautiful lyrics?
• How has your taste in music changed in the past 10 years?
• What is your go-to karaoke song?
• What movie has the best soundtrack?
• What song would be the anthem of your life?
• If you were a genre of music, what would it be?

Our top pick: What song would be the anthem of your life?

This is a creative question to see how your employees would describe their lives and to inspire discussions over the answers.

Company-themed questions are helpful and relevant icebreakers before any company event, like an all-hands meeting. They keep the attendees on track and focused on the company discussion.

• If you could swap roles with anyone at the company for one day, who would it be?
• What advice would you give a new hire at the company?
• What do you most enjoy about your job?
• How do you define success at the company?
• What is your favorite company value?
• What do you think is your company's biggest strength and weakness?
• Where do you see the company in a year?
• If you could change the company's name, what would it be?
• If the company had a mascot, what would it be and why?
• Who has influenced your work ethic the most?

Our top pick: What is your favorite company value?

This creates an insight into what value each employee finds the most important and chooses to live by. 

Now you’ve broken the ice...what’s next? 

Once the ice is broken, it’s time to get your team to collaborate through plans, strategies , and development. 

However, starting a meeting with an icebreaker doesn’t automatically mean your team will continue to collaborate effectively. They will still need the support of collaboration tools and continuous team spirit to maintain the trust they’ve built .

That’s where a tool like Mural can step in, helping facilitate teamwork with a collaboration platform to express ideas, share thoughts , and plan together. 

Take a peek at how our virtual whiteboards can bring your team’s imagination to life.

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12 Ice Breakers for Presentations to Help You Succeed

• By Judhajit Sen
• June 4, 2024

A presentation icebreaker is a short activity or question used at the start of a meeting. Its purpose is to break the initial uncomfortableness or “ice” among the audience members. By creating a positive and engaging atmosphere, icebreakers help people feel more relaxed and open to  business communication .

Fun icebreaker activities can take many forms, such as simple questions and engaging games encouraging movement or interaction. They aim to make attendees feel more at ease and connected before the main presentation begins, resulting in better engagement and collaboration throughout the session.

Corporate ice breaker ideas are essential because they help warm up the room. When people feel comfortable, they are more likely to participate and absorb shared information. Taking a few minutes for an icebreaker in a physical or virtual setting can make your presentation more successful.

Key Takeaways

• Break the Ice: Starting presentations with ice breakers helps ease the audience’s initial discomfort, creating a relaxed atmosphere conducive to communication.
• Engagement Boost: Funny ice breakers for presentations, like polls and games, increase audience engagement, making them more receptive to the presentation’s content and promoting participation.
• Networking Opportunities: Ice breaker slides facilitate networking by encouraging interaction among attendees, fostering connections, and potentially leading to future collaborations.
• Positive Atmosphere: Presentation icebreakers cultivate a positive environment that encourages learning, interaction, and team bonding, enhancing the presentation experience.

Benefits of Beginning Your Presentations with Ice Breakers

Starting a presentation with a fun icebreaker can help people get more comfortable and reduce the awkwardness of public speaking in front of a new audience. Here are some key benefits of using icebreakers in your next meeting:

Breaks Down Awkwardness: Ice breaker jokes help lessen the uncomfortable feeling in the room. This makes people more relaxed and ready to listen to your presentation.

Helps People Relax and Have Fun: People are more open to new ideas when they relax. Cool icebreaker activities can make your audience more receptive and willing to participate or ask questions.

Builds Connection with Your Audience: Quick and easy ice breakers allows you to introduce yourself and your topic smoothly. This helps with your  audience engagement strategies .

Boosts Energy Levels: Long presentations can be tiring. Using an icebreaker, even in the middle of your presentation, can wake up your audience and bring their focus back to your topic.

Provides Networking Opportunities: Marketing ice breakers can get your audience talking and finding common ground, leading to valuable connections and future collaborations.

Creates a Positive Atmosphere: A positive atmosphere encourages learning and interaction. Common ice breakers help people lower their defenses and engage more openly with each other.

Fosters Stronger Team Relationships: In a company setting, icebreakers can help bridge the gap between members of a team, especially with remote workers. This promotes better communication, collaboration, and trust within the team.

Incorporating presentation ice breakers can make the slideshow more engaging and memorable, improving the overall experience for your audience.

Tips for a Good Ice Breaker for Presentations

Know Your Audience: Understand who you’re speaking to. Research your audience so you can choose a presentation ice breaker that makes them feel comfortable, not awkward. Avoid anything that could unintentionally offend them.

Keep Your Objective in Mind: Your icebreaker ppt should align with your business goals. For instance, if you’re talking about teamwork, choose an activity that encourages collaboration. This helps set the tone and makes transitioning into your main topic easier.

Involve Everyone: Make sure your fun ice breakers for meetings are inclusive. Nobody should feel left out or uncomfortable. If you have a diverse group, plan an activity that everyone can participate in. Have a backup plan if your first choice isn’t suitable for everyone.

Understand the Context: The setting of your presentation matters. A casual icebreaker might not be appropriate for a serious business plan meeting. Consider factors like time, space, and the tone of your presentation to select the best icebreaker.

Avoid Calling It an Icebreaker: The term “icebreaker” can make people cringe. Instead, introduce the activity in a way that sounds engaging and fun. Say something like, “Let’s try something new!” to get a more positive reaction.

The following 12 icebreaker tips for presentations can help you ease tension, engage your audience, and set the stage for success.

Introduction

Start your icebreaker PowerPoint by introducing yourself. Position yourself confidently, make eye contact important in communication , and begin speaking. Tell the audience your full name—it sounds more professional and avoids unnecessary fillers.

Speak in a clear and confident voice, keeping your pitch steady and dropping it at the end of your sentences. If you’re with a small group that already knows you, keep it simple with a greeting like, “Good morning. Welcome to the presentation.”

If you’re in a setting where people might not know each other, ask everyone to introduce themselves and share an unusual or fun fact about themselves. This helps to make the session more engaging. Before you end a presentation , ask if anyone remembers the fun facts shared. If someone gets it right, consider rewarding them. 

Introducing yourself or having others introduce themselves is a great way to build trust and get everyone comfortable before diving into your main content.

Live polls are a fun example of an ice breaker activity to get everyone involved and interested. They’re super handy for big gatherings like conferences with 50 or more people. To kick things off, throw in a fun poll to lighten the mood and get everyone in sync. Polls also help set the vibe for your event.

Several apps let your audience vote on stuff and immediately see the results. This is an excellent way to make polls serious or silly, depending on your interests. You can ask about their mood, what food they dig, or how much they know about what you’re talking about.

If you’re up for fun, ask your crowd to share their mood with a GIF. It’s a neat way to keep things playful. And if you’re worried about what they’ll post, set up a poll with options they can pick from. It’s a chill activity that also gives insight into your audience and how pumped they are.

Gauging Expectations

Before diving into your presentation, setting the stage right is essential. Icebreakers aren’t just for laughs; they’re tools to get everyone on the same page. Start by using live polling to gauge what your audience expects. Ask simple questions like:

• What do you hope to gain from this event/training/workshop?
• Pick one word to describe the topics you’re interested in.
• How familiar are you with the subject?

Understanding your audience’s expectations is critical. If their ideas don’t align with yours, this is your chance to clarify things. You can even tweak your presentation to better meet their needs.

By setting expectations upfront, you ensure that your presentation hits the mark. Plus, it helps you seamlessly introduce your topics. Taking charge of the rhythm and agenda makes you look and feel more confident.

Snowball Fight

Looking for a fun way to kick off your presentation? Look no further than the Snowball Fight icebreaker! Inspired by Eric de Groot’s TEDxFryslân presentation, this dynamic activity is bound to ramp up the energy levels and get everyone excited.

Here’s how it works: Divide your group into two teams. Each person gets three pieces of paper to crumple into ‘snowballs.’ Once everyone’s ready, set a timer for 1 or 2 minutes and let the snowball fight begin! The goal? Get as many snowballs onto the other team’s side as possible.

This activity breaks the ice and taps into a healthy dose of competitiveness, making it a surefire way to get everyone engaged and ready to participate. So, grab some paper and let the snowball fight commence!

Human Bingo

This is a unique twist on the classic game, perfect for breaking the ice and getting people to interact.

Preparation

Prepare 5×5 bingo cards filled with personal or business-related statements to get started. Make sure each participant has a card and a pen or pencil.

How to Play

Instruct participants to mingle and interview each other to find people matching their card statements. They can check off that box when they see someone who fits a statement. The first person to complete their card wins a prize.

This game is a fun and engaging way to help people get to know each other better, making your event more enjoyable and fostering interactive communication .

Scavenger Hunt

Remember the scavenger hunts you did in school? They were fun and brought out your competitive side, right? You worked with your team to win the game. The same idea works for presentations. A scavenger hunt helps office members improve communication skills and teamwork.

Here’s how you can do it: Divide your participants into 4-5 groups. Hide a few prized items around the venue and create clues that lead from one place to another. They will move closer to finding the prizes as they solve the clues. 

Keep some fun prizes for the teams that do the best. This will make the presentation exciting and motivate everyone to participate fully. Plus, it’s a great way for everyone to work together and bond.

The Guessing Game

The Guessing Game is a perfect choice for smaller sessions or discussions.

Start by asking each participant to note down the most exciting or unconventional job they’ve ever had on a slip of paper. Collect all the slips in a bowl in the middle of the table. 

Each person then picks a slip from the bowl and tries to guess who wrote the job on the paper. To make it easier, participants can ask questions like, “Who here has ever worked in a field?” or “How many of you have ever worked with animals?” This will help them narrow down their options.

Not only is this game fun, but it also helps people find common ground and start conversations. It’s an excellent way to get everyone interacting and engaged immediately.

This is a simple and effective icebreaker for presentations. It’s a great way to set the tone for a meeting and promote open communication.

Ask each audience member to describe their state of mind using just one word. This brief exercise helps everyone share their feelings and encourages a candid atmosphere for the rest of the meeting.

Alternatively, divide the team into smaller groups and assign each group a discussion topic. Ask them to come up with one word that best describes the topic. For instance, if the topic is company culture, each group should discuss and agree on a single word that captures the essence of the culture. This sparks engaging discussions and brings different perspectives to the table.

You could also give everyone a minute to think of one word that best describes themselves. Once everyone has their word, let the group discuss whether they agree with each person’s self-assessment. This activity helps members of a team understand each other better and fosters a sense of camaraderie.

Using this game as an icebreaker is a quick and interactive way to kick off your presentation and get everyone involved.

A Present Just for Showing Up

Give your audience a small token of appreciation just for attending your presentation. It’s a simple way to thank them for their time and effort. If your meeting is optional, a small gift can make attendees feel valued and encourage them to participate. Remember, they’re choosing to spend their time with you, so showing your gratitude with a little present can make a big difference.

Two Truths and a Lie

This interactive icebreaker is perfect for presentations, whether onboarding new members within a team or engaging a large audience. Here’s how it works: Each participant shares three statements about themselves. Two of these statements are true, and one is a lie. The rest of the audience then guesses which statement is false.

This activity works well for both small groups and large audiences. It takes the pressure off individuals by making introductions fun and lighthearted. To start, note down two truths and one lie from each person you want to introduce. 

Next, present these statements in a live poll. Encourage the audience to vote on which statement they think is the lie, but keep the results hidden until everyone has voted. After the survey, invite each person to share the stories behind their statements. This reveals the lie and gives more insight into each person’s experiences.

Having a moderator to guide the activity can help keep things running smoothly. This person can introduce each participant, present the poll, and manage the flow of the game. 

This activity is a great way to promote interaction, and learn exciting facts about team members in a relaxed setting.

Would You Rather

This is a game that starts conversations about perspectives and personalities. Each person is given a choice between two situations and has to pick one. After choosing, they explain why they picked that option.

The questions might seem quirky, but you’d be surprised at what you can learn about your colleagues.

This game can help engage your potential customers when planning your sales presentation icebreaker. It’s a fun way to highlight the value of your product and what they might be missing out on. For instance, asking, “Would you prefer struggling five hours per week on PowerPoint or getting your presentations done by presentation consultants in 24 hours or less?” really puts things into perspective!

Storytelling

Start by splitting the audience into groups of five. Give everyone a pen and paper. Ask them to jot down a story about the most innovative event they have organized. Allow 10 minutes for them to reflect and note down key points. Then, have each group member narrate their achievements to the rest. This approach inspires and helps people connect on a personal level. 

Another way to use storytelling in business presentations is to create a collaborative story. Begin with the first sentence and then ask the first person in front of you to continue. Each person adds a sentence, deciding the story’s direction. This activity engages everyone and builds a sense of unity as the story unfolds.

Storytelling is the king of icebreakers for business presentations. It’s a powerful tool that helps you make your point and connect emotionally with your audience. Starting your presentation with a storytelling icebreaker grabs attention and sets the stage for a memorable session.

Engage and Energize Your Audience with Effective Ice Breakers

Using professional ice breakers at the start of your presentation can significantly enhance engagement and create a positive atmosphere. These short activities or questions help ease initial discomfort, making the audience feel more relaxed and open to communication. By incorporating fun elements like polls or scavenger hunts, you can build connections and foster a collaborative environment.

The benefits of different types of presentation icebreakers are manifold. They break down awkwardness, making people more receptive to new ideas and encouraging participation. They also boost energy levels, provide networking opportunities, and create a positive atmosphere that promotes interaction and learning. Moreover, icebreakers can strengthen team relationships, especially in remote settings, by bridging gaps and building trust.

Choosing the right icebreaker involves understanding your audience, aligning with your presentation’s objective, and ensuring inclusivity. Tailoring the activity to suit the context and avoiding the term “ice breaker” can lead to more enthusiastic participation. 

The key is to make your audience comfortable and ready to engage. Start your next presentation with an icebreaker and watch how it transforms the entire session into a more engaging and successful experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a presentation icebreaker?

A presentation icebreaker is a short activity or question used at the beginning of a meeting or presentation. Its primary purpose is to reduce initial awkwardness and help the audience feel more comfortable and engaged.

2. Why should I use an icebreaker in my presentation?

Funny ice breakers for presentations help create a positive atmosphere, making the audience more relaxed and open to communication. They break down awkwardness, boost energy levels, and foster better engagement and collaboration during the presentation.

3. How do I choose the right icebreaker for my audience?

To choose the right icebreaker, understand your audience and the context of your presentation. Ensure the activity aligns with your presentation’s goals, is inclusive, and is suitable for the setting. Avoid using the term “ice breaker” to keep the activity appealing.

4. What are some examples of effective icebreakers?

Effective icebreakers include activities like live polls and scavenger hunts. These activities help engage the audience, and set a positive tone for your presentation.

Break the Ice and Elevate Your Presentations with Prezentium

Starting a presentation with an engaging icebreaker can turn an ordinary meeting into an extraordinary experience. At Prezentium, we understand the power of a good icebreaker to break down initial awkwardness and set a positive tone. Our AI-powered services, including Overnight Presentations , Prezentation Specialists, and Zenith Learning, seamlessly integrate icebreakers into your presentations to enhance engagement and foster collaboration.

Imagine kicking off your next presentation with an intriguing game or a lively activity. These icebreakers energize the room and build connections, making your audience more receptive to your message. Our experts at Prezentium can transform your ideas and meeting notes into visually stunning presentations, complete with customized icebreakers tailored to your audience.

With Prezentium, you’ll ensure your audience feels relaxed and ready to engage. Let us help you create memorable and impactful presentations that start on a high note. Contact Prezentium today to make your next presentation a success!

Why wait? Avail a complimentary 1-on-1 session with our presentation expert. See how other enterprise leaders are creating impactful presentations with us.

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11 Best Icebreakers for Large Groups

Breaking the ice with a large group can be tough — but it's worth it! There's a lot of science that says that spending a few minutes ice breaking gives great returns for your team or group cohesion, and for later retention of your upcoming information.

“Ice breakers are helpful to encourage participants to bond, form a new team, get to know people from different backgrounds, and become involved with learning about new subject matter." - Jill F. Kilanowski, PhD, APN, CPNP "Breaking the Ice: A Pre-intervention Strategy to Engage Research Participants"

Struggling to figure out what to do with your big audience to get them talking, laughing, and ready to listen and engage? We've got you covered. Here are 12 great options to warm up your big group before a meeting, class, conference, or event, so you can get them ready to be open to your content. The more engaged they are to start, the more engagement you'll get!

All of these icebreakers work remote, in person, or hybrid. In other words, whether you're all in a video call, conference hall, or a mix of both, these ideas will work. So get your Zoom / Microsoft Teams / Google Meet / Webex / Hopin group together, or book your local convention hall, and get icebreaking.

1. Ask Icebreaker Poll Questions

The best way to get everyone feeling like a cohesive group that has things in common? Show them what they have in common! Ask fun live poll questions and do a show of hands or use live polling tools to let your audience answer as a single block.

Here's a list of great poll questions to get you started:

• Who here is a "morning person"? "Night time person"?
• Who here is already an expert on this topic? Who's totally new to it?
• Which of these are you here to learn? [Put in 2 or 3 of the takeaways of your talk]
• Which of these problems are you most interested in solving? [Put in 2 or 3 of your audience's pain points you would be addressing in your talk]
• Which is better: sweet brunch (pancakes!) or savory brunch (huevos!)
• Raise your hand if you've ever done a conference call in your pajamas.
• Who's at this conference alone? (Person next to them — make friends!)
• Raise your hand if you played a sport in school. Lower your hand if it was basketball. Football. Baseball. Volleyball. Swimming. Track. (those left — what did you play?) [This format works well with many things — travel destinations, food preferences, living location styles, and more]

The best icebreaker poll questions will have something to do with your content, so if you can come up with "this vs that" or "who here has ever --?" types of questions that fit with what you're speaking on, that's golden.

Poll your Audience Icebreaker Questions Game ‍ A short, ready-to-play game of fun and safe-for-work (but still interesting) poll questions. Great for large groups! ‍

Or, if you want to make your event smoother and easier on yourself, here's a pre-made poll question game you can run to let everyone respond to already-created poll questions. It has questions and automatically shows off the responses (that your audience can send in from their phones) in an interactive chart. It's free to use with up to 10 players!

2. Pairs / Breakout Room "This or That" Speed Round

If you're in person, divide everyone up into groups or pairs ("look to the person sitting next to you"), and if you're remote, send people out to a breakout room in groups of 2 or 3. Tell them they'll each have 30 seconds to answer a round of speed "this or that" questions.

Then announce spitfire "This or That" topics of discussion one by one every 45 seconds, either out loud or through zoom room "broadcast" announcements. Have the smaller groups share their preferences with each other in this speed "which would you rather" format!

Some good "This or That" questions:

• Coffee or tea?
• Hot or cold weather?
• Savory or sweet brunch?
• Beach or mountain vacation?
• Dentist or annual physical?
• Chocolate or fruity candy?
• Puppies or kittens?
• Late nights or early mornings?
• Woodsy cabin or fancy condo?
• More time or more money?
• Driving or walking?
• Music or podcasts?
• In your free time: relaxation or personal projects?

3. Make a Live Word Cloud

Letting folks interact and share their own experience as a large group can be tough — but wordclouds are great for this. There are lots of good wordcloud tools out there (try Slides With Friends , Poll Everywhere, Aha slides, and more). Ask your audience to send in a word or phrase, and then have them vote on responses they like from others. More-submitted and highly-voted words will grow and appear larger. This is great for brainstorming, getting a read of the room, and more.

Word Cloud Game ‍ 4 quick, fun word clouds for any audience. Free to play with up to 10 players

Here's a ready to play game that has word clouds already entered and ready to use with your audience. It lets your audience join in, sned words, and vote for words from others to make them live-update and grow in real time, displaying live feedback from your group. You can update the text of the wordcloud questions so you can ask your audience anything, especially things relating to the event you're running!

4. Never Have I Ever - Show of Hands

If you're in person, this is easy. If you're remote, have everyone turn their camera on! You can also use the Zoom chat or the "raise hand" function in zoom. Then take informal, fun polls by asking the group to raise their hand if they've ever done the thing you're listing. Here's a few office- and professional-conference-safe "Never Have I Ever" questions:

• Never have I ever broken a bone
• Never have I ever quit a job without planning it
• Never have I ever spoken in front of a large group
• Never have I ever taken an exercise class

Pro tip: Get creative and specific with your questions, tailor them to your group and content. So, if you're giving a talk about recruiting or hiring workflows, you could ask:

• Never have I ever done a video job interview without pants on
• Never have I ever social media stalked a job applicant candidate before hiring them ‍

5. Scavenger Hunt

Have your audience find an item or two, and bring it back!

Video / Remote This is especially good for large-audience video calls where you can call people up on center "stage" screen (and where people can get out of their home office chairs to go find something).

• Come up with a list of 1-4 "find-it items" (here's some great ideas )
• Post a list in the chat or share your screen with the items outlined, and give everyone a countdown clock
• First person to return with the items and send a "got it"note in chat, call them up to the main stage and have them show off what they found
• Or, here is a pre-made interactive scavenger hunt game you can just launch and play, it's already got a great list of find-it items

In Person in a conference

• If you're in a large conference room, ask folks to find things on their person / in their bag.
• Some item ideas folks are likely to have: a pen, a legal notepad, a second cell phone, a phone/computer charger, a business card from someone else, a sugar packet, a snack, a beverage,
• The first person to hold up the item wins!

If you're looking for a good list, here's a full blog on virtual scavenger hunts with a pre-made interactive scavenger game, downloadable hunt lists, and tons of ideas!

6. Play a Tiny Trivia Game

Put together a trivia game to play with your group. Bonus if the game is trivia specifically themed around your content. Make the answers either/or and you can use the Zoom chat or "raise your hand" style answer method. Or use tools that are made to play group trivia: You can share your screen and use a live async trivia website for free like Useful Trivia , or Buzzfeed (but you won't be able to make your own trivia questions and will need to use what's already provided). Ask the audience to vote on which multi-choice option is correct, and select the most popular response for them to see if the crowd group-sources the right answer.

Or you can make it easier on yourself while also enabling each individual to play using interactive trivia tools like Slides With Friends , Kahoot, Mentimeter, and more. With SlidesWith you can use pre-made games as-is, change a pre-made game however you want to make it your own, or create your own quiz from scratch, it's up to you. There's lots of great trivia options out there!

Quick Trivia Game A quick round of trivia for any group, work and conference-safe and fun for all.

Here's an already made, ready-to-go trivia game. You can update the questions if you want to make them more tailored to your group, or just play as-is. You audience can join in on their phones and send answers, and you can show winners at the end. ‍

7. Two Truths and a Lie

If you're looking to get a larger group to know each other better, a great way to do this is "two truths and a lie" format. This option takes a bit more pre-event work, but it's worth it!

• Reach out to your attendees in advance and get each of them to send you: their preferred name, a headshot, two truths, one lie (marked as the lie).
• I suggest creating a simple 4-column excel or google spreadsheet to keep track of everything as it comes in.
• Put together a slideshow using Powerpoint, google slides, or an interactive tool like Slides with Friends or Mentimeter.
• Play through it! If you're using a static presentation mode like PPT, use "show of hands" or the chat to get answers. If you're using an interactive tool, this is much easier.

Template slide deck — "Two Truths and a Lie" A form for you to fill out with your team's "two truths and a lie" content. Add pics, and their truths/lies to the multiple choice slides, and use this already-formulated deck to play a great game!

Here's a template you can use to get started: It's got placeholder slides for you to input questions, and will show off winners at the end.

8. Hot Takes

Get individual hot takes! Announce a topic, and have people raise their hand and call on them to give you their special "hot take" on the topic, or type it in the chat. This can be a great, silly, and surprising way to get people laughing and connecting.

To break the initial barrier to entry of large group ("Oh no, I don't want to talk in front of this many people, I'm definitely not raising my hand") and help people want to volunteer, it will be helpful for you to give a good first example or two ("For instance, my Hot Take on the best cartoon character for president would be Ursula from the Little Mermaid, because she's a real motived go-getter") Or, have a plant in the audience ready to provide the first answers ;) Or you can let people type things in the chat or share through interactive tools.

Some good "Hot Take" Topics: 

• best cuisine
• best cough syrup flavor
• most surprisingly attractive actor
• most surprisingly attractive cartoon character
• best villain
• worst ice cream flavor
• best celebrity for president
• best food to eat as leftovers

9. Get Audience Feedback and Information

Survey your group to find out the things you want to know about them and you'll kill two birds with one stone: Get people engaging and participating, while also getting important data for yourself. If you're in person make sure there are mics around for individuals to speak up, and if you're remote let people type in the chat.

Great topics to start with:

• What do you want to learn from this session?
• Which of the following describes you: [offer a breakdown of demographics likely to be in your talk, eg. "What's your role: teacher, speaker, hiring manager, etc"]
• What are the problems you're trying to solve?
• What would success in attending this conference look like for you?
• Are you already well versed in this subject? (hold up fingers, 1 is total newb, 5 is expert)

Here's an interactive session template: update it with your desired questions, throw in a few polls, and play with your conference audience!

Session Kickoff Template Survey and get a better understanding of your conference, meeting, or team call attendees.

10. Play a "Get to Know You" Game

Settle your group into feeling like they're part of the whole, and help them feel closeness even though they're in a large crowd.

You can ask yes or no questions (see above for some good "never have I ever" and "this or that" get to know you type questions) and ask for show of hands. You can also use the chat or the "raise your hand" functionality if you're on Zoom. Or you can take polls or do wordclouds with specific "tell us about yourselves" vibes.

Some good "get to know you" large group questions:

• Who here is a [role/job position likely to be at your event]?
• Are you here for work or not for work?
• Who here has experience with [your topic]?
• Who here is a coffee drinker? Who prefers tea?
• Who here lives within 20 miles of [current location]? 100? Who here is on a different continent?
• Do you prefer to be a sports player, or a sports watcher? Or are you totally uninterested in sports?
• Raise your hand on which of these is the best genre of music: Rock, Hip Hop, Country, Classical, Pop.
• Raise your hand on which of these is the best cuisine: French, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, American

Or you can simply play a ready-made game like this one:

"Get to Know the Group" Mini Game Great for networking or getting to know who's all in the room. 10 min, 3-250 people

11. Show & Tell for adults

This is a great way to get people invested in what you're talking about — by giving them the chance to participate and contribute and talk about *their own* content. You can do this in advance by sending out a prompt for folks to bring a specific item or topic of item (see the list below). Or you can spring the questions on them and see what they come up with!

Topics for "what to bring" to a great show & tell:

• Your favorite mug
• Your pet (if you're remote) / Photo of your pet
• Your favorite snack
• Something that you brought home from a trip
• Something that reminds you of your school days
• Something that reminds you of a good time in your life
• Something you're grateful for
• Something you got unexpectedly / that was a surprise to you
• Something that makes you laugh when you see it
• Something you love
• Something that no one but you understands

Conference Icebreaker Show and Tell Game Or, here is a ready to play interactive "Show and Tell with pictures from your phone" game that offers topics and gives people a few moments to search their camera roll for great photos to upload.

It will go through, one by one, however many photos you select (from just 1 to every photo submitted) at random from the pics uploaded by your players. This works great remote or in person anywhere that you can share your screen!

Get icebreaking!

We hope we gave you some good ideas, and want to hear about if you try them out. Or do you have great ideas you want to add? Let us know! If you've played great, simple games with large groups that should definitely be on this list, shoot us an email letting us know what has worked for you.

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The 127 Best Icebreaker Questions to Ask Anyone

General Education

We've all been there: you're with a person or group of people you don't know very well, and no one knows what to talk about. So you fall back on the cliches: How was your weekend? Any plans for tonight? How about that weather?! These questions are boring, but icebreakers don't have to be! Our guide has 127 of the very best icebreaker questions, for any situation. Whether you're looking for funny icebreaker questions, questions to ask on a first date, good ice breaker questions for coworkers, and more, we've got you covered, so you never need to stress about what to talk about.

What Are Icebreaker Questions? When Should You Use Them?

Icebreaker questions are questions you ask to get to know someone better. The person you're asking might be a new date, a coworker, or even just the person sitting next to you on a plane or at the bar. They're a great way to strike up an interesting conversation and learn more about someone. Ice breakers can get a bad rap though, because they need to tread a fine line: not be boring, but also not be too personal (you don't know this person very well, after all!). When you ask a great icebreaker question, you can fall into an easy conversation and learn more about someone. They're great for all kinds of situations, so use them whenever you're struggling to find something to talk about. While icebreakers are mostly used in situations when you're meeting someone new, a lot of these are great to ask friends and family members, too.

Icebreaker questions don't need to be deep or profound to start good conversations. In fact, it's often better if they're not because many people are reluctant to really open up to someone they don't know well. Even seemingly-simple questions can start great conversations.

For example, if you were to ask me my most irrational fear, I'd tell you that it's being eaten by a Komodo dragon. Why? When I was a kid, I watched a TV show with a very intense reenactment of a person getting killed by Komodo dragons, and I've since learned that they're basically the perfect predator. ( Oh, you want some evidence? They can take down creatures as big as water buffaloes, outrun humans, swim, climb trees, and have extremely venomous saliva that can eventually kill you even if you manage to escape being eaten.) But then, as I learned more about them, I realized Komodo dragons are endangered and often smuggled and killed for traditional medicine. I got into more of the conservation side of it, and now I want to save Komodo dragons! Just from that simple question, someone could have learned a lot about me (and also have a new and deeply unsettling fear of Komodo dragon attacks). So try out a lot of icebreaker questions, you never know what the answer will be!

Good Ice Breaker Questions for All Situations

These icebreaker questions are safe and fun to use for anyone, at any time, and any place. Get asking!

• What's your earliest childhood memory?
• If you could time travel, would you go back in time to meet your ancestors, or forward in time to meet your descendants?
• Would you rather win an Olympic medal or a Nobel prize?
• What book do you own but have never read?
• What's something on your bucket list?
• What's your favorite animal?
• Would you rather listen to country or classical music?
• Have you ever been mistaken for someone famous?
• What's your cellphone wallpaper?
• If you had your own talk show, who would your first guest be?
• What's one place you have no interest in traveling to?
• What's your most irrational fear?
• What's one thing you're really bad at?
• What's your biggest pet peeve?
• What's one thing you'll never do again?
• If you could have any new skill instantly, what would you choose?
• Do you ever think your parents gave you the wrong name?
• If you could choose to remain an age forever, what age would you choose?
• If you could only have three apps on your phone, which would you choose?
• What breed of dog do you think you would be?
• What's the most spontaneous thing you've ever done?
• What's the last new thing you tried?
• What's an unusual skill you have?
• Would you like to be famous? What for?
• Have you ever won a contest?
• What would you do if you had an extra hour in the day?
• What's the last song you listened to?
• Do you believe in ghosts?
• If you had to spend $10,000 today, how would you spend it?
• If you could go to outer space for free, as a tourist, would you do it?
• On an airplane, do you prefer the window or aisle seat?
• If you had to spend a day as a fish or a bird, which would you choose?

Funny Icebreaker Questions

Want to lighten the mood? Sharing a laugh with a new acquaintance is a great way to feel closer, so try out these funny icebreaker questions!

• If you had to swap your legs with the legs of any other animal, which animal would you choose?
• What's the strangest gift you've ever received?
• What's your favorite joke to tell?
• If you had to eat a crayon, what color would you choose?
• What's the worst idea you've ever had?
• How long do you think you'd last in a zombie apocalypse?
• Have you ever eaten an entire pizza by yourself?
• What's your biggest guilty pleasure?
• How do you feel about clowns?
• What's the worst haircut you've ever gotten?
• What's your favorite meme or viral video?
• What are you hilariously bad at?
• What song or jingle always gets stuck in your head?
• What's the weirdest food combination you enjoy?
• What assumption have you made that went very wrong?
• What's your favorite useless fact?
• What's the worst advice you've ever been given?
• What's something you're kind of snobby about?

Icebreaker Questions for Work

People often especially hate coworker/team icebreaker questions because they're often straight-up boring or weirdly personal to share at the office. These icebreakers, some of which pertain to work and others to outside-the-office life, are great conversation topics for coworkers , whether they know each other well or not.

• What's the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?
• What's the most recent project you put 100% into?
• What's the best book or article you've read this year?
• What's the strangest thing that's ever happened to you in a meeting?
• If the company had a mascot, what do you think it should be?
• What do you think is the best workplace snack?
• If you could be on any game show, which would you choose?
• What's the smelliest food to cook in the office microwave?
• What time of day are you most productive?
• What was your first job?
• What activity helps you relieve stress?
• What do you do during your commute?
• What is the most awkward thing that ever happened to you during an interview?
• What class you took in school has been most useful for your job?
• If there was no dress code, how would you dress for work?
• Where's your favorite place to go for lunch?
• Have you ever met anyone famous?
• If you could have any view out your office window, what would you choose?
• If you had to be a famous person's personal assistant, who would you choose?

Icebreaker Questions for Dates

There's nothing worse than being on a first date where neither of you know what to talk about, and an awkward silence settles heavily over the two of you. Avoid that by using these icebreaker questions. They're a bit more personal than the others, but still light enough to discuss with a person you've only just met.

• What's your love language?
• What's your middle name?
• Where are you a regular at?
• What's your go-to drink order?
• What's the weirdest Wikipedia rabbit hole you've stumbled down?
• What's the dorkiest thing about you?
• What's one goal you have for this year?
• Have you ever played hooky?
• What's your best travel story?
• Who was your celebrity crush growing up?
• Among your friends, what are you best known for?
• Shark diving, bungee jumping, or skydiving?
• What's your typical Sunday like?
• Did you have a nickname when you were growing up?
• Would you be more worried introducing your date to your family or your friends?
• What's the best dish you make?
• What movie do you never get tired of watching?
• How did you meet your best friend?
• Would you rather spend a year living in an RV or on a sailboat?
• Have you returned any purchases recently?
• Do you collect anything?
• What's your favorite holiday tradition?

Icebreaker Questions for Teens

Good ice breaker questions for teens are those that aren't dumbed-down, but are still fun and help the youths get to know each other better.

• What's the best animal sound you can make?
• Which emoji do you use the most?
• What's your best study tip?
• Who has been your favorite teacher, and why?
• Would you rather live in the ocean or on the moon?
• Have any of your teachers ever sworn in class?
• What kind of texter are you? (Fast? Slow? Lots of little texts? Perfect spelling and grammar?)
• How old were you when you got your first cell phone?
• What's your favorite Disney movie?
• What career do you think you would hate the most?
• What's the craziest dare you've ever taken?
• What's the most embarrassing thing your parents have ever done?
• Do you secretly think you're your parents' favorite child?
• What's the best dessert you've ever had?
• Which three emojis would you use to describe yourself?
• What's the worst movie you've ever seen?
• What's the first thing you do when you get home from school?
• What would be your ideal time to wake up every day?

Icebreaker Questions for Adults

It's good to avoid more R-rated topics with people you've just met, so these icebreaker questions for adults aren't raunchy, just more focused on life experiences and memories of lost youth.

• What was your dream job as a child?
• What's the most embarrassing thing you've ever emailed or texted someone?
• What was your favorite food as a child?
• What's the most embarrassing fashion trend you participated in?
• Where do you want to retire?
• What was the first concert you attended?
• What wastes the most time in your day to day life?
• What's a social cause you care about?
• What's a New Year's Resolution you made but never kept?
• What's the biggest risk you've ever taken?
• What was your favorite book growing up?
• Is there a household chore you actually enjoy doing?
• How did you spend your first paycheck?
• What do you wish was illegal?
• What big problem do you think technology will solve next?
• What slang word you are happiest went out of style?
• Who has been your strangest or most annoying neighbor?
• Which sport do you think is the most boring to watch?

What's Next?

Telling a joke is also a great way to break the ice.  We've collected 119 of the best jokes sure to make anyone laugh!

Writing a research paper for school but not sure what to write about?   Our guide to research paper topics   has over 100 topics in ten categories so you can be sure to find the perfect topic for you. 

A quick, fun, and easy game to play is This or That. Here’s a huge list of This or That questions that will keep you entertained and laughing for hours!

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Blog > 20 Poll Ice Breaker Questions to ask in your next Presentation

20 Poll Ice Breaker Questions to ask in your next Presentation

01.01.20   •  #icebreaker #ideas #presentation #tutorial.

Live polls are an ideal way to make a rousing start to your presentation or meeting, and to get your attendees' attention right from the beginning. Of course it is not always easy to create a suitable poll which can break the ice. That's why we've collected the best poll ideas and helpful tips for you to get started!

Tips for your first icebreaker poll

• Create Polls that at least the majority of your attendees can participate in. Your audience should be interested and have an opinion on the question. Also, be sure to keep the result exciting and not to carry out too predictable polls. The icebreaker polls are most effective as an introduction to a presentation and should therefore fit to your topic as well as possible.
• Formulate the question and the answer options clear and understandable. Here, less is more! Also pay attention to the fact that the answer options should be easy to tell apart, especially in single-choice polls.
• Avoid problem areas and try to make your icebreaker poll as positive and motivating as possible.
• Make your poll more appealing by adding emoji or your own pictures, which additionally represent the answer options.
• Don't worry if you don't know your audience very well yet: You can still add new polls, even during the presentation.

Ready to conduct a poll? Choose from these four types of icebreaker polls and get started:

• Funny poll questions

Informative icebreaker poll questions

• Communicative icebreaker poll questions
• Introductory icebreaker poll questions

Funny Icebreaker poll questions to loosen up

Lighten your audience’s mood and start with a positive first impression.

If you could have one of these superpowers, which one would you choose?

• 👀Be invisible whenever you want
• 💪🏻Superhuman Strength
• 🐶Talk to animals
• 🧠Read minds
• 🦅Be able to fly

Which Harry Potter house do you belong in?

• I’ve never seen or read Harry Potter

If you could choose any age, to stay in for the rest of your life, which would it be?

If you could travel in time, what would you want to see?

• 🤖The future
• 🛩There is enough in the present

Have you ever…

• Had a crush on your boss?
• Peed in the swimming pool?
• Taken shampoo and conditioner from hotels?
• Told barefaced lies to your mother?
• Denied receiving work emails when in fact you did?

Get to know your participants better and adapt your presentation accordingly.

Which languages do you speak? (multiple-choice)

What’s your level of understanding of the topic?

• 🧢I’m completely green
• 🤓I have some basic knowledge
• 🎓I have solid background
• 🧠I’m an expert

What is your current role?

• Business Development
• Technical Development

How old are you?

Which technology trend will have the greatest impact on our industry over the next year?

• Internet of Things and smart home tech
• Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)
• Machine learning
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)

How did you get here?

• 🛩By airplane

How are you feeling?

Describe your mood today

Why did you decide to join this event today?

• Knowledge building
• Speaker line-up
• Networking opportunities
• My boss made me

Communicative icebreaker polls

Take the chance to get your participants, of small as well as large groups, in touch witch each other, for example in preparation for a workshop. I’d like to meet someone from…

• The person at my left
• The person at my right
• Both people next to me
• None of the people next to me yet

I believe/know that the person to my left… (multiple choice)

• Loves to read
• Works in a big company
• Has studied a year abroad
• Has children
• Likes to do crossword puzzles

Create a poll to find out how well your participants already know each other. After that, according to the outcome of your poll, ask them to get to know each other.

Introductory icebreaker polls

Use live polls to introduce yourself or your company in a fun and engaging way. Prepare a few true statements about yourself, add some lies, then let your participants vote for the answer they believe to be true. Examples: Which statement is true?

• I’ve been working in this sector for more than 10 years
• I’m color-blind
• I speak three languages

Which statement is true?

• In the last year our company’s sales increased by 10%
• At the time our Company was founded, it had a different name
• Our company has five locations for distribution in Germany

If you want to speed things up, you can rephrase the question like this: Which of the following statements are true? (multiple-choice)

SlideLizard Templates

But wait! There is no need to remember all the cool poll ideas. SlideLizard is the best tool to conduct interactive surveys in your presentation. Moreover, it has already a lot of useful poll templates directly built in. Try SlideLizard for free . Here is how you can use them in your presentations:

• In the SlideLizard Plugin click on Polls in the menu
• Click on Create from Template
• Choose one of the templates
• Optionally adapt the question or the answers to your presentation

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About the author.

Christoph Berghuber

Having realized the unexploited potential of many presentations of these days, Christoph especially uses his skills in logic an algorithms for finding creative solutions.

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5 Ice-Breakers for Your Presentation or Meeting

It can be tricky to know how to start a meeting. In fact, the introduction is often the hardest part to get right. But with a great ice-breaker you can relax yourself and your audience, making them more alert and receptive.

Here are five simple ways to put an audience in the right frame of mind.

Show the audience photos of yourself

At the beginning of your presentation you will of course introduce yourself. A great way to create rapport is to spend a minute of your introduction talking about your life outside work. Show a few photos of your pets, your hobbies, or any holidays you’ve taken recently. This will humanise you, and can get a laugh, depending on your choice of pictures.

Showing that you are a well-rounded human being will make you more relatable. The audience will be on your side and interested to hear what you have got to say.

Get participants to introduce one another

It’s always good to have participants share a little information about themselves. So why not use this as a way to get people talking?

Buddy everybody up. Instead of introducing themselves, they are going to introduce their buddy, with their name and a few details. It doesn’t have to be anything too personal, just some key facts about their life and interests. Give them a few minutes to make notes about one another and then ask them what they have learnt.

This is bound to trigger a few laughs and means that even the shyest and most retiring people have spoken.

Do a straw poll

Posing questions can be both an ice-breaker and a way to get insight into the audience’s understanding of your topic.

Ask alternating relevant and irrelevant questions to make this more fun.

For example:

• Who thinks our current sales figures are better than last year’s?
• Who thinks Brazil will win the next world cup?
• Who thinks we should budget more for sales support?

This will help the audience engage with the subject and enjoy themselves.

Truth and lies

This is a brilliant ice-breaker for occasions when you have time to spend on team building and introductions.

Ask everyone to write two facts about their life and one lie. Anything will do, although the more interesting the facts, the better. Split the group into two teams. One person at a time will read out the three statements. The other team must determine which is the lie by asking up to three questions. The winning team is the one that smuggles through the most lies.

This is a really fun way to learn about the participants, and it works best with small groups.

The old theatre adage is ‘Open with a joke, close with a song.’

Comedy and singing might be a tall order, but you can achieve similar engagement with interesting facts. Sharing unusual and surprising information will grab the audience’s attention. Try to find related facts that will lead into your topic.

For example, some businesses “facts” that you could call out:

• One in ten Europeans are conceived in an Ikea bed.
• The iPad retina display is made by Samsung.
• Google originally traded as ‘Backrub’.

The audience then have to answer true or false.

Some ice-breaker Do Nots:

You can expect people to engage, but don’t put them on the spot. Ask their name, but not their opinion on national service, or the opening line of their favourite novel. Most people will freeze up in that scenario.

If you are going to ask for contributions, do it in advance.

“In a moment I’m going to ask you your favourite ice cream flavour.”

Then give them a moment to think about it. If your question comes out of nowhere, it will confuse and disorient people, which is the exact opposite of what you’re trying to do.

Don’t criticise the subject of the presentation. It might be tempting to say “before we get into the boring stuff…”. This attitude signals to the audience to disengage with the topic because you yourself have shown little respect for it.

Don’t get personal. It might seem obvious, but sometimes a joke that goes down well in a social setting just has a bullying tone with strangers. Telling a young person “You don’t look old enough to be here” might not seem particularly offensive, but what does it actually achieve? You might get a laugh from the room, but only by putting that person in the spotlight.

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21 Best (Non-Boring!) Large Group Icebreakers For Work

Icebreakers aren’t just for kids’ birthday parties. Here are the best large group icebreakers for helping employees get to know each other.

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Let’s face it: when you’re thrown into a room (or virtual meeting) with a big group of new colleagues, the awkward silence can be excruciating. But these activities are some of the quickest ways to get people laughing, talking, or creating something together. 

Here are 21 simple icebreakers to initiate group conversations amongst employees, including large group virtual icebreakers for remote teams . 

What are Large Group Icebreakers?

An icebreaker is an organized activity, game, or series of questions designed to make people feel more comfortable in new social settings.  Think of icebreakers like the pre-workout warm-up: they help kick your team’s collaboration muscles into gear and prevent awkward cramps or discomfort in the workplace. 

In workplaces with teams of 10 or more people, icebreakers are especially useful for starting conversations, creating new bonds, and evoking laughter.  

21 Large Group Icebreakers for Work and Icebreaker Games 

“Get to know you” games don’t have to be cliche, awkward, or childish. When done correctly, they can inspire some intriguing conversations or at least some tension-relieving laughter. 

Whether you’re gathering virtually or IRL, one of these simple icebreakers can help your team feel more comfortable around each other and get them excited about new collaborations. 

#1 Remote Scavenger Hunt

This remote game requires everyone on the team to find an item or take a photo in a rush against the clock. 

Include simple yet fun assignments that you can share in a group chat or on video:

• A pet selfie
• Your favorite coffee mug
• Nearest book
• Your window view
• Home office work setup
• What you’re eating/drinking right now
• Take a photo of your favorite yoga pose
• Do your favorite TikTok dance

Share a virtual checklist and set a countdown timer on the screen for 5-10 minutes during the virtual call. See who can check off the most scavenger hunt items and share them. Name the winner who completed the most things with the funniest or most intriguing submissions. 

#2 Great Conversation

Believe it or not, having great conversation can be one of the best icebreakers and connect with others. Knowing what to say is important, but it is equally important to know and utilize your self-improvement skills. Here’s a free goodie for that!

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Do you struggle with small talk? Do you often run out of things to say or feel awkward and self-conscious in social situations? 💪 Speak so people listen, 🤐 No more awkward silences, 🚫 No more small talk.

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#3 Foodie Icebreaker

Who doesn’t love to eat? Food brings people together and gives managers ideas for thoughtful employee appreciation prizes (like a catered lunch or gift card for employee of the month). It also sparks up intriguing conversations about similar taste buds or radically different food experiences. 

Go around a table or virtual call and ask participants to answer one or more of these food questions:

• What is the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten? Crickets in Thailand? 
• What’s the weirdest food pairing that you love? Pineapple on pizza? Milkshakes and french fries? 
• What was your favorite childhood food memory?
• If you could only have one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? 
• What’s your signature dish to cook for yourself? 

#4 Who’s Your Office Hero?

Peer-to-peer recognition is one of the most effective ways to motivate your team . Who doesn’t want to feel appreciated and acknowledged for their efforts?

In a meeting or team call, try this 5-minute icebreaker game by going around to each employee and asking them, “who’s your office hero this week and why?” Encourage everyone to think about small or significant ways they have noticed their coworkers rocking their job in the past week. 

To keep the game going, create a shoutout board where employees can regularly post signed sticky notes recognizing their coworkers’ achievements.

#5 Most Likely To…

Test how well your team knows each other (or think they do) with this straightforward game. It strikes up fun conversations. First, create a list of “most likely to…” phrases. Try to match the number of words with the number of people in your group: 

• Most likely to be a movie star 
• Most likely to run a marathon
• Most likely to go skydiving
• Most likely to win a cook-off
• Most likely to win American Idol
• Most likely to write a book
• Most likely to travel the world
• Most likely to play an office prank
• Most likely to start a small business
• Most likely to be a morning person

Then, gather everyone in a large circle (or virtual meeting) and have one person read the first item on the list. Coworkers can vote on who best fits the description and explain why. The process repeats as the list passes, allowing everyone to participate equally.  

#6 Two Truths and a Lie

Challenge your assumptions and learn random facts about your team with the classic “two truths and a lie.”

Go around the room and have each person tell the group three random statements about themselves– two should be accurate, and one should be a lie. Everyone then guesses which one was a fib. Sometimes the best surprises come from a lie that is a bit believable.

For example, “I backpacked the world in my twenties. I love watching the sunrise. My first job was working at a movie theater.” 

#7 Icebreaker Bingo

One of the best large group icebreaker games is Conference Call Bingo. It’s familiar, helps people get to know each other, and offers a chance to award prizes. The basic premise is finding a coworker whose name can fit the statement on the Bingo board. 

To create the Bingo cards, simply use Excel or Word to create a 5 x 5 cell table. Then, fill it with statements that your team may identify with:

Print out or share the Bingo board, and then set a time limit for how long you’d like the game to last. IRL meetings may opt for a 15-20 minute group play, whereas remote teams may prefer a few days or a week for coworkers to chat with virtually each other. 

Then, they search for someone who matches a statement and gets their initials or name on that box. The first 3 people to win a full BINGO get a prize.

#8 Bowl of Questions

Everyone loves to talk about themselves. Asking questions is scientifically proven to make people like each other more.

Whether you’re gathering with an established team or have several new employees, breaking the ice with random questions is quick and to the point. 

Simply type them up, throw them in a bowl, and pass the bowl around to let people choose a strip of paper to answer. 

Here are 450 fun questions to ask to help you get started. Don’t forget to customize your question bowl with relevant things to your industry or location. 

#9 Caption This

Everyone loves a silly social media photo or random meme. This game helps get your team laughing while testing their creativity .

Print or download 3-5 goofy or odd photos ( this Caption This! Flickr album has some great ones). Then, number the images and show them to your team. Everyone comes up with a funny caption and votes who wrote the hilarious one. 

#10 Virtual (or IRL) Show and Tell 

This is one of the simplest meeting icebreakers. It gives everyone a fun peek into the immediate surroundings of colleagues, potentially igniting future conversations about their personal lives. The “show and tell” is as simple as:

• Go around to each person in the group call or meeting and have them share a random item in their immediate surroundings. They could also share a photo in the group chat.
• Share out loud! Each team member can quickly describe the item and its significance.

For example, if you recently went on a trip to Italy, you may show a souvenir bottle of wine and tell a bit about your visit to the vineyard. 

#11 Community Mural

Getting together in a large group at work can be intimidating at first. But, creating art reduces stress and helps people feel more relaxed to socializing. And you don’t have to be Picasso to do it! 

This cooperative drawing icebreaker is an excellent way to mellow out and connect over creativity. While you need a bit more time than other icebreakers, it is a super calming activity that can also help beautify your office. 

First, divide into small groups of 5-8 people. Provide each team with a poster board, canvas, markers, paints, or other creative mediums. You can also hang a giant paper roll over an office wall to create a larger-scale ongoing collaboration. 

Assign a theme or prompt, for example:

• Create a mural with an inspirational message
• Design a poster with motivational words or quotes
• Draw your ideal workplace
• Envision a dreamy landscape

Then, give teams 20-30 minutes to get drawing. You can also display each team’s mural and revisit the drawing/painting activity for 5-10 minutes before each group meeting.  

#12 This or That

With this question game, large groups can easily divide into conversation pairs and have the opportunity to interact with everyone on the team quickly. They can learn about each other’s preferences and share a little bit about their favorite things. 

First, print a list of “this or that” prompts on pieces of paper:

• Pepperoni or cheese pizza?
• Sun or moon?
• Dogs or cats?
• Cheesecake or chocolate cake?
• Breakfast or dinner?
• Yoga or weightlifting?

Create two lines of people facing each other. Then, have them prompt their conversation partner with 3-5 “this or that” questions from the paper. In each round, the players choose their favorite thing and say why. Then, the first person of one line can circle to the other end so the partners can shift.

#13 Business Card Swap

Introductions don’t have to be boring, and business cards aren’t obsolete. Instead of shaking hands and stashing them in your wallet or throwing them in the recycle bin, large groups can use business cards to learn about each other.  

Before this icebreaker exercise, remind your team to bring their business cards to the meeting. If someone doesn’t have a business card, provide an index card where they can quickly write their name, position, and contact info on one side. They will be doing a “speed networking” style game where the goal is to collect as many business cards as possible. 

But, there’s a caveat: With every card exchange, they need to write 3 fun details about the person on the back of the card. Start the timer (15-30 minutes, depending on the group size) and send everyone off to shake hands and swap cards. The person with the most cards at the end of the period wins a prize and gets to read through their coworker’s fun facts from the back of the cards.

#14 Business Brainstorm Game 

This is one of the most innovative icebreaker activities for video calls or in-person. It inspires creativity and entrepreneurial thinking by asking participants to develop unique business ideas. 

Send out a link to these cards from ThinkLinks . Divide group members into groups of 10 or less. Each smaller group clicks the link and must develop a new business idea that incorporates all three cards displayed on the page. Set a timer for 20-30 minutes, and then share the product, service, or concept that each team comes up with. 

#15 Guess Who?

It’s no surprise that people love to talk about themselves. Why not give your team a chance to share a random, funny, and memorable fact anonymously? Then, see how well their teammates know them. This can be incredibly humorous for teams who don’t know each other; they can see how people perceive (or misperceive) them. 

On each index card, have team members write down a random fact about themselves. For example:

• My favorite movie is Titanic.  
• I was the lead cheerleader in high school.
• I have an identical twin.
• My favorite color is periwinkle blue. 

Then, gather all of the cards in a basket, shuffle them around, and have each person pick a card. Go around the table and have each person read the card they pulled aloud. The team can work together to guess who wrote the card and share some laughs about their reasoning behind their guess. 

#16 Giant Jenga Icebreaker Questions

Perfect for a large group, a happy hour, or a team building exercise, this is the classic Jenga party game with a “get-to-know-you” twist. 

Take a normal Jenga tower game and write icebreaker questions on the back. Stack them up and begin the game. As each person pulls the block, they read the question and answer it aloud to the group. If someone makes the tower fall, they have to answer 10 questions.   

Choose from one of these 450 interesting questions or create your own! Better yet, pass out a block or two to everyone in the group and let them write their question ideas ahead of the icebreaker exercise! 

#17 Achievements Under 18

This is a fun icebreaker for learning about your colleagues’ pasts. Whether online or in-person, go around the group and have each person share the achievement they’re most proud of from before age 18. Leave a little time for elaboration and questions so you can sneak a peek into where your employees come from and what they most valued at the time. 

#18 Dream Celebrity Dinner Guest

Learn more about who people admire by asking their dream celebrity dinner guest. Pose the question, “If you could have anyone (dead or alive) over as a dinner guest, who would it be, and what would you cook for them?” 

Use this as a virtual meeting opener or the beginning of an in-person meeting, then give everyone a moment to think about it while the leader provides an example:

• “My dream dinner guest would be Maya Angelou because she is the most inspirational writer, poet, and wise woman I’ve ever read about. I would make her a classic southern comfort meal with a healthy twist.” 
• “I would invite Nelson Mandela and prepare him the classic South African corn dish called ‘samp.'” 

Go around and let each team member share their answer.  

#19 The Endless Story

For another fun way to engage everyone’s creativity, this large group icebreaker brings out the imaginative (or goofy) side of your team as they write a collaborative mini-story wherein each person adds their flair.  

Begin by choosing from a list of story starting prompts, such as:

• I opened my eyes and had no idea where I was…
• Suddenly, a giant lightning bolt struck in the distance.
• She opened the letter, and it said she’d won $1,000,000. 

The first person adds a sentence to the prompt. The following person elaborates on the story and adds their sentence, and so on. Optionally, you can have someone type up the story to read back to the group or just enjoy listening at the moment. 

#20 Never Have I Ever

You might remember this game from childhood, but it is equally as interesting for adult professionals. “Never Have I Ever” can be played virtually or in person. You get to reveal weird or secret facts about your coworkers while understanding a bit more about their personalities. 

To play the game, everyone begins with ten fingers up. As you go around to each person in the group, participants say something they have never done, for example:

• Never have I ever missed a flight.
• Never have I ever gone skydiving.
• Never have I ever lost a bet.
• Never have I ever gotten a tattoo.
• Never have I ever gotten lost in the woods.

If a player has done the activity, they put one finger down—the first player to put all their fingers down wins. 

#21 Group Trivia

Teams that trivia together stay. Something is endearing about letting people show off their knowledge on specific topics. This game allows pairs to work together to guess the answers in a friendly competition with other groups. 

Try incorporating some unique trivia topics that your team might be interested in or knowledgeable about, such as:

• Music: Create a “guess that song” game from an oldies playlist on Spotify
• Sports: Post these sports trivia questions on a video call or projector screen
• Business: Try this business celebrity trivia game to see who knows the most about big business in the spotlight

Keep a simple tally of who gets the most answers and offer a gift card for the winner. 

#22 The High-Five Challenge 

When you have a large group at an event or conference, you probably want to captivate the audience and kick things off with a bang. This large group icebreaker invigorates everyone with energy, positivity, and a sense of community by honing into the bonding and motivational effects of high-fives .

To play the game, explain to the group that they have a certain amount of time to give several high-fives:

• For small groups (30 people or less), 15 high-fives in 15 seconds
• For mid-to large-size groups, 30 high-fives in 30 seconds
• For extra-large groups, icebreakers (50-100+ people), give at least 45 seconds 

To engage everyone to move around the room, each high-five has to be a new person. For an exciting twist, use a loud countdown timer or a “ready, set, go…”. 

In the end, ask who got the highest fives and celebrate the wins. Watch this video to learn more about how and why this icebreaker works so well:

Key Takeaways: Keep Icebreaker Games Short and Simple

Icebreakers are one of the easiest ways to break down social barriers in the workplace. But if they get too complicated or go on for too long, people might get bored or impatient waiting to get to work. 

The best icebreaker games are:

• Easy to explain
• Under 20 minutes
• Replicable in a virtual or IRL meeting
• Team-oriented (everyone gets a chance to talk or participate)
• Conversation-starting (the game should help colleagues get to know each other)

Don’t forget to motivate your team to participate with simple prizes like $5 gift cards, a lunch surprise, a team shoutout, or front-of-office parking for the week. 

Whether big or small, if you want to take your team’s collaboration and communication to the next level during meetings and team retreats, innovative meeting icebreakers can be the secret to warming people up and helping them connect. Watch this video below to learn more: 

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Bookmark this blog: 148 icebreaker questions you’ll keep coming back to

Skip the age-old prompts about desert islands and engage your team with icebreaker questions that are actually interesting.

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It’s easy for icebreaker questions to feel obligatory – an inauthentic exercise everybody feigns interest in before moving on to the meat of the meeting. 

But don’t underestimate the power of the humble icebreaker – it’s been long established that, when you do it right, they actually work. In one 1997 study , researchers asked pairs of participants to share information about themselves. The pairs that did so reported feeling significantly closer than the ones who just engaged in meaningless small talk.

It’s proof that the right questions can foster or strengthen connections, reduce doubt or anxiety, and encourage team members to speak openly. As psychologist Anton Villado says , “We engage in self-disclosure over some period of time – typically lots of time – and icebreakers are simply meant to hasten that.”

The key is choosing the right (read: non-cringey) questions. From rapid-fire prompts to thought-provoking queries that dig deeper, this big ol’ list of icebreaker questions will help you get the ball rolling. 

Quick icebreaker questions

5-minute team building activities for virtual and hybrid squads

These fast icebreaker questions can be answered in only a few words (or, in some cases, just one word), making them perfect for meetings or conversations when you don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to friendly chatter but still want to establish some rapport and familiarity.

• What’s a surprising thing on your bucket list?
• What’s the best thing you’ve crossed off your bucket list?
• If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
• What’s your favorite children’s book?
• What’s your go-to coffee order?
• What’s your favorite board game?
• What’s an underrated kitchen appliance or gadget?
• What was your first job?
• What’s your favorite room in your house?
• What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on?
• What’s your least favorite sport?
• What’s your dream car?
• What toppings are on your ideal pizza?
• What song makes you feel the most nostalgic?
• What’s your go-to karaoke song?
• What song is most likely to get you on the dance floor?
• What format was the first album you purchased? (Cassette, CD, digital)
• What smell reminds you most of a specific place or time?
• Do you have a lucky number? What is it, and why?
• What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
• What’s your favorite way to eat potatoes?
• If you could have an unlimited supply of one thing, what would it be?
• What’s your signature dance move?
• What would your personal theme song or walk-on song be?
• What’s your favorite dad joke?
• What’s your favorite icebreaker question?

“This or that” icebreaker questions

Looking for other quick options? “This or that” questions keep things moving by asking people to choose between only two options. 

• Coffee or tea?
• Early bird or night owl?
• Cats or dogs?
• Salt or pepper?
• Pancakes or waffles?
• Concert or museum?
• Hotel or Airbnb?
• Beach or mountains?
• Book or movie?
• Introvert or extrovert?
• City or country?
• Digital or analog?
• Pen or keyboard?
• Socks or barefoot?
• Sweet or savory?
• Chocolate or vanilla?
• Phone call or text message?
• Adventure or relaxation?
• Comedy or drama?
• Sneakers or sandals?
• Card game or board game?
• Spicy or mild?
• Restaurant or home-cooked meal?
• Ice cream cone or cup?

Meatier icebreaker questions

7 icebreaker games to help your team build authentic connections

When so many icebreakers are surface-level and inconsequential, ones that dig deeper can feel a little counterintuitive. But while these may seem like unusual icebreaker questions compared to the cursory ones you’d typically think of, they’re perfect for sparking meaningful discussions, increasing empathy and understanding, and reinforcing team bonds. 

• What’s your best childhood memory?
• Who would your 12-year-old self say is their biggest hero?
• What’s an unexpected life lesson you’ve learned?
• After people and pets, what’s the first thing you’d rescue if (god forbid!) your home was on fire?
• What’s your proudest accomplishment?
• What’s your most irrational fear?
• If you had to live in a different country for a year, which one would you choose?
• What’s your hottest take or most surprising opinion?
• Would you want to know how much time you have left to live?
• What’s a surprising “fun fact” about you?
• If you had to teach a class or give a TED Talk, what would it be about?
• What one day in your life would you most like to relive?
• What’s a cause or charity that means a lot to you?
• What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?
• How would your loved ones describe you in five words?
• What’s your most treasured possession?
• When was the last time you felt inspired to create something?
• What’s one of your nicknames and how did you get it?
• What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
• What character traits do you admire?
• What trait are you most proud of in yourself?
• If you could master any skill immediately, what would it be?
• What would you title your memoir?
• What’s a habit you’re trying to break or build?
• Would you rather travel to the past or the future?
• What’s the biggest misconception people have about you?
• What’s your favorite family tradition?
• If you could switch lives with someone for a day, who would you choose?
• What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet?
• What advice would you give to your younger self?

Fun icebreaker questions

From the Playbook

If you have five minutes, the Icebreaker Activities Play can help you make personal connections and spark the kind of creative thinking that moves work forward.

Icebreaker questions don’t need to be substantial to be worthwhile. When you need a lighthearted activity for a holiday happy hour, team baby shower, or anything in between, these silly icebreaker questions are just quirky enough to generate plenty of chuckles while still revealing interesting facts about the people you work with. 

• What animal do you think best represents your personality?
• Who would play you in a movie about your life?
• If you could invent a holiday, what would you celebrate?
• If you could have any fictional character as a best friend, who would it be?
• What’s the most bizarre dream you’ve ever had?
• What’s your favorite way to waste time?
• If you could be any age for a week, what age would you be?
• What’s the weirdest (SFW!) thing you’ve ever Googled?
• What’s your favorite under-the-radar life hack?
• If you could change your name to anything, what would you choose?
• What was the last time you laughed really hard?
• What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever collected?
• If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you win a gold medal in?
• If you had to participate in an actual Olympic sport, which would you choose?
• What’s the story behind your coolest scar or gnarliest injury?
• What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever seen in someone’s home?
• What’s the worst haircut you’ve ever gotten?
• What’s your star sign? Do you think your sign’s characteristics describe your personality?
• How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
• What was your most memorable concert experience?
• What was your most memorable wildlife experience?
• What would you want your last meal to be?
• If you won the lottery but didn’t tell anyone, how would your friends and family know?
• What’s your favorite made-up game you play with your friends or family?
• What’s a superstitious belief that you believed as a child (or still believe)?
• What was the first time (or a memorable time) you were frightened by a weather event or natural disaster?
• What’s the oldest piece of clothing you own? Why do you still wear it/keep it?
• Who in your life (or on your team!) would you trust to take care of you if you were an egg?

“Would you rather” icebreaker questions

As a subcategory of silly icebreaker questions, “would you rather” prompts challenge people to consider an off-the-wall scenario and make a choice. You can come up with endless hypothetical scenarios, but here are a few to help get your wheels turning.

• Would you rather have a permanent clown nose or permanent clown shoes?
• Would you rather always have to hop on one foot or always have to walk backward?
• Would you rather only be able to whisper or only be able to shout?
• Would you rather have the ability to talk to animals or speak every human language fluently?
• Would you rather have to sing everything you say or dance every time you move?
• Would you rather have a personal theme song that plays whenever you enter a room or have a personal mascot that follows you around?
• Would you rather be able to instantly master any skill but have to do it in public or be mediocre at everything but always do it in private?
• Would you rather be eight feet tall or three feet tall?

Work-related icebreaker questions

Looking for a way to warm people up without taking the focus off of the work you do together? These icebreaker questions for work can help team members learn more about each other’s work-related experiences, preferences, and achievements. 

• How did you end up in your current job?
• If you could have another career, what would it be? 
• If you could switch roles with anyone at your company, who would it be?
• What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
• What’s the most memorable moment in your career so far?
• What’s your go-to productivity playlist or music?
• If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be?
• What’s the best work-related book you’ve read?
• How do you unwind after a busy or stressful day?
• What’s your favorite way to celebrate a work-related milestone or achievement?
• What’s your favorite thing about working in your industry?
• If you could work remotely from anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
• What’s the biggest misconception about your job?
• Who is your dream career mentor?
• If you could automate one part of your job, what would it be?
• What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
• What is your most productive time of day?
• If you could design your perfect office, what would it look like?
• What’s your favorite quote or mantra that motivates you at work?
• What’s the most fun project you’ve ever worked on?

Virtual icebreaker questions

18 virtual team building activities and games

Nearly all of the above icebreakers can work in a remote setting. But when your team is distributed, you have even more opportunities to learn about people’s habits, routines, and priorities. These team icebreaker questions will help everybody feel more in touch and connected — even if you aren’t colocated. 

• What’s something the team would know about you if we spent time in person?
• What’s one thing that’s always on your desk?
• What’s your favorite way to spend a break during the workday?
• Do you have any pet colleagues?
• What’s the funniest thing that’s happened during a video call?
• What’s your favorite way to end or start the workday?
• What’s something we’d be surprised to find in your office?
• What’s your go-to lunch or workday snack?
• What’s your favorite or most-used emoji?
• Where’s the best spot you’ve ever worked remotely?
• What’s your go-to music or background noise while working?
• What’s your favorite perk of remote work?

What’s your favorite icebreaker question? Let us know in the Atlassian Community – we’ll be adding some of your ideas to this list!

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17 Team-Building Activities for In-Person, Remote, and Hybrid Teams

• Rebecca Knight

Employees with strong relationships at work are more creative, collaborative, and likely to stay with their organization.

Managers sometimes turn to team-building activities to build connections between colleagues. But which activities and practices would work best for your team? And how can you put them into action most effectively? In this article, the author offers advice and recommendations from three experts. Their activity suggestions are intended to inspire ideas that you can then tailor to your team’s size, sensibilities, and circumstances. These activities don’t need to be extravagant or overly structured — what matters is being intentional about making team building happen. Stay attentive to your team members’ needs, involve colleagues in planning, and show sincere interest in getting to know them. By doing so, you’ll help build a positive, inclusive team culture that tackles loneliness and helps everyone succeed together.

In the era of remote work and scattered teams, managers face a key challenge: fostering connections among employees, no matter where they happen to be located.

• RK Rebecca Knight is a journalist who writes about all things related to the changing nature of careers and the workplace. Her essays and reported stories have been featured in The Boston Globe, Business Insider, The New York Times, BBC, and The Christian Science Monitor. She was shortlisted as a Reuters Institute Fellow at Oxford University in 2023. Earlier in her career, she spent a decade as an editor and reporter at the Financial Times in New York, London, and Boston.

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The power of effective communication in leadership.

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Chief Growth Officer of Tynker , a leading K-12 edtech platform that has helped more than 100 million kids learn to code.

Whether running a small startup or an entire nation, great leaders must leverage effective communication skills. Consider some of the leaders who reshaped history—Churchill, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and even Napoleon. All of them were masters of relatable language.

Good communication skills are also crucial for leaders in the corporate world for inspiring both stakeholders outside the company and uniting the internal team into one cohesive group. Strong relationships can boost company resilience and success while increasing talent retention rates.

Effective Communication: Two-Way Vs. One-Way

Influential leaders practice two-way communication, motivating and building solid relationships with team members.​​

As a leader, it is crucial to understand the importance of both one-way and two-way communication. Sometimes, you will have to communicate to your team decisions that have already been made and directives that must be followed.​​ Regardless of the situation, allowing your team members to voice their disagreements about decisions is key—because understanding their concerns is important. However, framing your communication clearly and addressing any concerns before they are presented can lead to faster acceptance.

Here are six characteristics of effective communication in leadership.

Active Listening

Good leaders are active listeners. They don't just listen to the comments and feedback from their team; they process, retain, discuss and, if possible, incorporate it into the decision-making process. When team members feel like they are heard, it builds morale.

​​Leaders should also encourage and facilitate this trait within the team to build better relationships among team members. Open-door policies, communication with individual team members, positive reactions to feedback and constructive debates can help you lead by example.

Team building activities like having discussions on common issues using a chess clock (where each member gets the same time to talk) can drive home the importance of listening.

Individual Communication Styles

​​It would be best if you introduced multiple modes of communication to accommodate your team members. Some people ​​prefer face-to-face interactions, while others might find it more comfortable chatting on Slack. Not everyone will be comfortable presenting to the whole team, but they might communicate their ideas well with an infographic or a shared presentation where people can comment in real time.

​​As a leader, you ​must​​​ understand that each team member's perspective of effective communication differs and might need the right channel to express themselves adequately.

Introducing and encouraging multiple ​communication channels​​​ can inspire the team to share ideas and exchange information more frequently.

Conciseness And Clarity

​​Don't let your communication drown in a sea of words. More information can just as easily confuse the listener as ​insufficient​​​ information. This is valid for all forms of communication. That's why TEDx Talks are designed to be 18 minutes long at most —to keep the audience's attention. ​ ​​

​​Short emails, memos and concise instructions can communicate your point better than large blocks of text. Clarity and conciseness can help team members absorb the necessary information and remain on the same page. This creates cohesion and motivates the team to pursue goals together. ​​​

For example, if a CFO writes a memo to the entire team ​​with finance-specific lingo, it likely won't be as effective in conveying its point to designers, IT, or anyone else on the team not familiar with the finance language. Leadership communication should be clear to all team members. Amazon's six-page memos that serve as a replacement for traditional PowerPoint presentations were introduced to achieve more clarification in communication.

Relatability

​​The key to building strong relationships and inspiring teams through communication is to humanize the information you wish to convey and make it more relatable. This is a common practice in education, where complex ideas are broken down and communicated through simple, relatable examples.

You don't have to break down everything in layperson's terms, and you can make your communication relatable by using references from your industry that all team members would understand. They will appreciate your effort and desire to help them understand what is being communicated.

Transparency

​​Transparency is a crucial characteristic of leadership communication, especially if your goal is to establish trust with your team members. If your employees don't know the organization's purpose or do not understand its values, you will have a hard time inspiring them.

​​ Buffer is a good example of a company employing transparent communication; the leadership team publicly shares information like salaries, time off and specific financial metrics. ​​

An organization's leaders being transparent with its employees about their intentions, company goals, financials and other aspects can foster trust and ​​lead to better relationships and team unity.

Consistency

​​Finally, leaders must be consistent in their communication. If the values, ideas and missions they communicate differ ​occasionally​​​ and among team members, it will lead to distrust against the leader. Inconsistent communication also damages team cohesion. ​ ​​

If some team members receive constant feedback from the leader and other members merely receive any communication when there is an issue, they may feel left out.

Achieving Collaboration Through Clear Communication

In the realm of leadership, effective communication is essential for building healthy relationships, both personal and professional. Leaders who communicate well can inspire team members and achieve shared goals.

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