Series 17: How to Break the Ice with Your New Team Members
designACE- your daily resource for team-building.
Hiring new employees is an exciting and important process for any organization. It’s also a crucial opportunity to make a good first impression, establish a rapport and create a positive and welcoming work environment. One of the ways to do that is to use icebreaker questions that can help you get to know the new hires better, understand their strengths and interests, and make them feel comfortable and valued.
Here are five icebreaker questions that are perfect for new hires…
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What are some things that motivate you?
What is a personal passion of yours?
How do you approach problem-solving?
How do you celebrate your achievements?
What was the last course you took?
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What are some things that motivate you?
Motivation is a key factor influencing one’s performance, satisfaction and engagement at work. Asking someone what motivates them can help you discover their intrinsic and extrinsic drivers, goals and aspirations, and sources of inspiration. You can also share your motivation and how it aligns with the organization’s vision and mission.
Andrew’s Answer:
“I find great motivation in making a positive impact and continuously improving my skills. I love teaching people new ways of working. My ultimate objective is to assist individuals in discovering happiness in their professional and interpersonal relationships. Life is too short to be unhappy at work!” -Andrew, designACE
You can follow up with questions like:
How do you measure your progress or achievements?
How do you deal with setbacks or failures?
What is a personal passion of yours?
Passion is a powerful emotion that fuels enthusiasm, dedication and joy for something or someone. Asking someone what they are passionate about can help you learn more about their personality, values and hobbies. You can also share your passions and how they relate to your work or life.
Christine’s Answer:
Over the last few years, I've really grown to love flower arranging. It's become a passion of mine that keeps blooming—see what I did there? But here's the thing, it's not just about arranging the flowers and making beautiful pieces for me. The skills I've learned go way beyond petals and stems. It taught me much about teamwork, collaboration, and getting things done. Like each flower has its own role in creating a beautiful arrangement, I've come to understand the power of bringing together different talents and strengths to achieve amazing results. Flower arranging has become a bit of a metaphor for me and reminds me to embrace diversity and tap into the collective creativity of a team” - - Christine, designACE
You can follow up with questions like:
How did you discover or develop your passions?
How do you balance your passions with your work or other responsibilities?
How do you approach problem-solving?
Problem-solving is a vital skill that involves identifying, analyzing and resolving issues or challenges in various situations. Asking someone how they approach problem-solving can help you understand their thinking process, methods and tools, and strengths and weaknesses. You can also share your problem-solving strategies and how they complement or differ from theirs.
Andrew’s Answer:
“When it comes to solving problems, I like to take a few steps to make sure I'm on the right track. First, I define the problem and gather as much information as I can from users involved. Then, I like to create "How might we" statements or use a "Problem funnel" to help me stay focused on finding the best solution.” -Andrew, designACE
You can follow up with questions like:
What are some of the problems or challenges that you have solved or faced in your last role?
How do you cope with ambiguity or complexity when solving problems?
How do you celebrate your achievements?
Achievements are the outcomes or results of one’s efforts, actions or accomplishments in various domains of work or life. Celebrating one’s achievements is a way to acknowledge one’s success, appreciate one’s hard work, boost one’s confidence and motivation, and share one’s joy with others. Asking someone how they celebrate their achievements can help you learn more about their personality, preferences and emotions. You can also share how you celebrate your achievements and how they reflect your values or culture.
Christine’s Answer:
“I love to treat myself after achieving something great by clinking glasses filled with bubbly with a dear friend. It's the perfect way to commemorate an accomplishment, and it's even better when you get to share the moment with someone special.”- Christine, designACE
You can follow up with questions like:
What are some of the achievements that you are most proud of or happy about?
How do you handle criticism or feedback on your achievements?
What was the last course you took?
Learning is a continuous process that involves acquiring new knowledge, skills or abilities through various sources such as formal education, training programs, online courses, books, podcasts, etc. Asking someone about their last course can help you discover their interests, goals and learning styles. You can also share your learning experiences and how they have helped you grow or improve.
Andrew’s Answer
“When I started the Coursera High-Performance Collaboration: Leadership, Teamwork, and Negotiation online learning journey, I had high hopes of honing my leadership skills, specifically regarding group collaboration and virtual teamwork. Little did I know that this certificate program would exceed my expectations, equipping me with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive as a manager and leader.” -Andrew, designACE
You can follow up with questions like:
What are some of the benefits or challenges of taking online courses?
What are some of the courses or topics that you want to learn or explore more?
Discover our Icebreaker Games for meetings.
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In Conclusion
We hope these icebreaker questions for new hires will help you establish a productive and friendly working relationship. Give them a try, and feel free to share your feedback with us. Best of luck with your hiring!
