Series 11: Five New Icebreaker Questions - to help you align with your team
designACE - your daily resource for meetings and workshops. As a leader, you can set the tone for your team's meeting. However, choosing the right icebreaker can be a challenge. Of course, you want to engage your team and align on new ways of working, but traditional icebreakers can be dull and uninspiring. Don't worry. We've got you covered. We have five fantastic icebreaker questions that will help you get to know your team better and set the stage for a productive and successful meeting.
Instead of engaging in small talk about the weather, try these five icebreaker questions to get to know your teammates better.
Check out the Series 10 recap for our top icebreakers in May
What are Icebreaker Questions?
Icebreaker questions are useful in helping individuals become more familiar with one another before engaging in a meaningful discussion. They are especially beneficial at the start of meetings because they:
Make people feel more relaxed and comfortable
Create a positive and friendly atmosphere
Encourage participation and interaction
Build trust and rapport among team members
Stimulate creativity and problem-solving skills
Vote by Comment: Which of our icebreaker questions is your favourite?
Vote by responding and tell us which icebreaker question is your favourite. Bonus marks if you answer the question too!
What's your ideal work condition; do you prefer working in-person, online, or hybrid?
What is your most productive time of day, AM or PM?
Do you prefer to communicate by text or by phone?
When you need support, do you like to ask for help or quietly struggle?
Do you prefer to learn in a classroom style or hands-on on the job?
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What's your ideal work condition; do you prefer working in-person, online, or hybrid?
Understanding your team members' work preferences and styles is crucial in fostering a productive and collaborative work environment. By asking this question, you can gain insight into each individual's unique approach to work, allowing for more effective communication and identifying areas you must consider for accommodations. In addition, this question can create a more inclusive and supportive workplace for all team members.
Try this script
Greetings, everyone! Thank you for attending this meeting. Before beginning our agenda, let's start with a brief icebreaker question to break the ice and get to know each other better. What type of work environment do you prefer - in-person, online, or hybrid? I'll start by sharing my preference for a hybrid work environment, as it offers me the flexibility to work from home or the office, depending on my schedule and mood.
Moreover, I appreciate face-to-face interaction with my colleagues, but sometimes I need to head down and focus without distractions at home. So now, it's your turn to share your thoughts. Who would like to go next?
Follow-up Question
How do you balance your work and personal life in your preferred work condition?
What are some benefits and challenges of working in-person, online, or hybrid?
What is your most productive time of day, AM or PM?
Engaging in an icebreaker activity is significant, as it allows for gaining insights into your team members' energy levels and rhythms. Doing so will enable you to efficiently plan meetings and other tasks based on when everyone is most attentive and productive. Furthermore, this provides an opportunity to exchange valuable tips and tricks on effectively managing time and enhancing productivity, ultimately leading to achieving organizational goals and objectives.
Try this script:
Hello everyone. Thank you for being here today. Before we begin, I'd like to ask you a quick icebreaker question to warm up and get to know you better. The question is: What is your most productive time of day, AM or PM? I'll start, and then we can go around the table. My most productive time of day is AM because I'm morning, and I like to get things done early. I feel more energized and focused in the morning and lose steam in the afternoon. How about you? Who wants to go next?
Follow-up questions:
How do you plan your tasks according to your productivity cycle?
How do you cope with distractions or interruptions during your productive time?
Do you prefer to communicate by text or by phone?
Getting to know your team members' communication preferences and expectations is crucial, which is why this icebreaker is essential. Doing so can avoid misunderstandings or miscommunications by choosing the appropriate mode and tone for each situation. Additionally, you can work on improving your communication skills and building a solid rapport with your team.
Try this script:
Hello everyone. While we wait for a couple of people to join, I'd like to get to know people's communication styles. Do you prefer to communicate by text or by phone? I'm old school and love picking up the phone and chatting things through, but I also like someone to text me first to make sure it's a good time to chat. Honestly, I get so many emails daily that a text and phone call is the fastest way to connect and align. What about everyone else?
Follow-up questions:
When is the best time to call or text you?
Do you have a black out time when you like to be heads down and not disturbed?
Are you on Pinterest and want to collaborate on our productivity board?
When you need support, do you like to ask for help or quietly struggle?
You can gain valuable insight into their strengths and working styles by choosing an icebreaker that allows your team members to share their experiences and approaches to overcoming challenges and obstacles. In addition, this question can help team members learn how to request help effectively and provide assistance respectfully, leading to a more productive and harmonious work environment.
Try this script:
Hey folks, we have some time before we jump into our agenda, and I want to ask the group how everyone communicates their need for support. Do you like to ask for help or quietly struggle? I find asking for help challenging, and I can quietly struggle. You can tell I need help because I'll often get flustered and distracted by a problem I can't seem to solve. I'm working on being better at raising my hand and asking for help. What about everyone else? Who wants to share next?
Follow-up Question:
How do you like someone to ask you for help if the table is turned?
What are some of the reasons why you ask for help or struggle quietly?
Shop for our entertaining icebreaker games for work,
perfect for in-person, hybrid, and virtual teams.
Do you prefer to learn in a classroom style or hands-on on the job?
Understanding how your team learns new skills and knowledge is crucial. By doing so, you can create learning opportunities that cater to different learning styles and preferences. Additionally, sharing your best practices and resources with your team can help them grow and excel in their roles and projects.
Try this script:
Hey everyone. Before we start, I'd like to learn something new about each other, so let's do a quick icebreaker question: do you prefer to learn in a classroom style or hands-on on the job? I'll go first, and then we can take turns. I like to learn hands-on on the job because I find it more exciting and practical. I like to learn by doing and experimenting rather than listening and reading. Plus, I get distracted easily in a classroom setting. How about you? Who wants to share next?
Follow-up question:
What skills or topics did you learn in a classroom style or hands-on on the job?
How do you apply your knowledge to your current role or project?
Discover our Icebreaker Games for meetings.
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When are Icebreakers Useful?
Team building and collaboration will enhance your meetings and group dynamic. We are happy to offer five excellent icebreaker activities to energize your team and promote teamwork. These questions range from discussing communication preferences to learning styles and will help your team build meaningful connections.