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Icebreaker questions for work: 60 ideas + template

A good first activity gives everyone an easy way into the conversation. This icebreaker combines an energy word cloud, a preference poll and two open questions about skills and shared interests. It works as a gentle introduction before a workshop, a training session or a first team meeting. Below, 60 more icebreaker questions are grouped by situation.

Time including discussion:
10–15 min
For:
New groups, workshop participants and project teams

English template · 4 questions

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Make your own copy and edit it. Sign in or create an account to open it in the editor.

Question 1 of 4

In one word, what energy are you bringing today?

Participants contribute their own words during the live session.

What you can leave with

A few shared interests to return to during the session, plus a first sense of the group’s energy.

All questions in this template

Read the prompts now. Open a question to see its choices; the editor lets you adapt the wording and order.

  1. 1. In one word, what energy are you bringing today?

    Participants contribute their own words during the live session.

  2. 2. For an ideal break today, you would choose…
    • Time outdoors
    • A cultural discovery
    • Something creative
    • A quiet moment
  3. 3. What skill would you like to learn just for fun?

    Participants contribute their own words during the live session.

  4. 4. What shared interest would you like to find with someone in the group?

    Participants contribute their own words during the live session.

60 icebreaker questions for work

Pick one or two per meeting, or turn them into a poll, a word cloud or an open question in your session. Let people pass, and avoid questions that ask for private information.

Quick check-ins for team meetings

  • In one word, how are you arriving today?
  • What are you looking forward to this week?
  • On a scale of 1 to 5, how is your energy right now?
  • What was the highlight of your weekend?
  • What is one small win from the past few days?
  • What would make this meeting a success for you?
  • Which emoji sums up your week so far?
  • What would you like to set aside for the next hour?
  • What are you curious about today?
  • What did you learn recently, at work or elsewhere?
  • What gave you energy this week?
  • If today had a theme song, what would it be?

Getting to know a new team

  • What do people often find surprising about you?
  • What did you want to be as a child?
  • Which skill would you love to learn this year?
  • What is the best piece of advice you have received?
  • What is your favourite way to spend a free afternoon?
  • Which place would you like to visit next?
  • Which book, podcast or series would you recommend to the team?
  • Which hobby could you talk about for hours?
  • What would you like to do at least once in your life?
  • What was your first job?
  • Which three words would your friends use to describe you?
  • Which dish from where you grew up should everyone try?

Work and collaboration

  • What does a great workday look like for you?
  • When do you do your most focused work?
  • How do you prefer to receive feedback?
  • Which tool or habit makes your work easier?
  • Which project are you proud of, and why?
  • What could you teach the team in ten minutes?
  • What do you need from others to do your best work?
  • What slows the team down that we could change?
  • Which meeting habit would you keep, and which would you drop?
  • Who helped you recently, and how?
  • Which part of your job do you enjoy most?
  • What should the team know about how you work?

Remote and hybrid meetings

  • Show us an object within reach and tell us its story.
  • What can you see from your window right now?
  • What is your favourite drink while working?
  • What is your best tip for staying focused at home?
  • What is the most unusual place you have joined a call from?
  • What does your ideal remote-work routine look like?
  • Which city are you in, and what is it known for?
  • Which background sound is with you right now?
  • What do you miss most about meeting in person?
  • Which small ritual starts your workday?
  • What makes a video call better for you?
  • If you could work from anywhere for a month, where would you go?

Fun and creative

  • Which superpower would be most useful in your job?
  • Who, past or present, would you like to have dinner with?
  • What is your go-to karaoke song?
  • Coffee or tea, and how do you take it?
  • Which fictional character would make a great colleague?
  • What is the best concert or show you have seen?
  • If you had a free day tomorrow, how would you spend it?
  • What would the title of your autobiography be?
  • Which animal best represents your work style?
  • What is your most useless talent?
  • Beach, mountains or city break?
  • What small thing always makes you smile?

How to run this activity

  1. 1

    Set a low-pressure tone

    Explain that short answers are enough and that nobody has to disclose personal information. Share the PIN and read the first question aloud.

  2. 2

    Make space for every voice

    Give everyone a quiet moment to contribute to the word cloud before commenting on it. Ask about one or two words without trying to interpret the whole group.

  3. 3

    Turn answers into conversations

    After the poll, invite people with a shared interest to exchange a short example. Use the two open questions to form pairs or small discussion groups.

  4. 4

    Connect to the work ahead

    Close by naming a connection between what people shared and the purpose of the meeting. Keep the introduction short enough to protect time for the main activity.

Make this activity yours

Keep what fits, rewrite what does not and set the pace for your group.

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