100 Best Ice Breakers for Remote Team Meetings
In the world of remote work, nurturing connections and cultivating a fun environment are more important than ever.
One of the best ways to naturally facilitate that connection easily is to incorporate check-in and check-out rounds into your existing meetings.
A lot of people call "check-in" rounds "Ice Breakers". Whatever you call it, the purpose is for connection and facilitating presence.
With a list as robust as this, you could incorporate a check-in and check-out stage into all of your meetings.
So to help you start facilitating your meetings like a pro, I've prepared 100 check-in (or ice breaker) questions that will bring your team closer together during your next remote meeting.
The questions are thoughtfully divided into five categories, making it easier for you to find the perfect question for the type of meeting you're holding.
This list of questions is a mix of some of my favorite questions from the past 2 years doing check-ins, some that I've thought of in that time and never used and a few from friends who shared their favorites!
Category 1: When You Were Younger
- What was your favorite childhood toy?
- What was the first movie you saw in a theater?
- Did you have a favorite childhood cartoon or TV show?
- What was your favorite subject in school?
- What was your first job?
- What is your most embarrassing childhood memory?
- Who was your best friend growing up, and are you still friends?
- What was your favorite game to play as a child?
- Did you have any pets growing up?
- What did you want to be when you grew up?
- What was your favorite childhood snack?
- Were you involved in any extracurricular activities or sports?
- What was your favorite family vacation?
- What was your favorite book growing up?
- Who was your childhood celebrity crush?
- What was your favorite playground activity?
- What was your most memorable birthday party?
- Were you afraid of anything as a child?
- What was your favorite childhood movie?
- Did you ever win an award or trophy in school or sports?
Category 2: What is the Best Y and Why
- What is the best book you've ever read, and why?
- What is the best movie of all time, and why?
- What is the best vacation destination, and why?
- What is the best meal you've ever had, and why?
- What is the best concert or live performance you've attended, and why?
- What is the best piece of advice you've ever received, and why?
- What is the best gift you've ever given or received, and why?
- What is the best job you've ever had, and why?
- What is the best hobby you've taken up, and why?
- What is the best TV series you've watched, and why?
Category 3: Silly "Would You Rather"
- Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?
- Would you rather have a pet dinosaur or a pet unicorn?
- Would you rather live without music or without movies?
- Would you rather have the ability to time travel or teleport?
- Would you rather be a famous actor/actress or a famous musician?
- Would you rather be stranded on a desert island or in the middle of the jungle?
- Would you rather be able to control the weather or speak to animals?
- Would you rather have super strength or super speed?
- Would you rather be able to breathe underwater or walk on water?
- Would you rather only be able to eat sweet or savory foods for the rest of your life?
Category 4: Random Facts About You
- What is your favorite type of cuisine?
- Do you have any hidden talents or skills?
- What's the most interesting place you've visited?
- What was the last book you read?
- What's your favorite way to relax after a long day?
- Do you have any unusual phobias or fears?
- What's your favorite type of exercise or physical activity?
- What's something you've always wanted to learn?
- What's your favorite season and why?
- How would you describe your style?
- What's your favorite type of music or band/artist?
- What is one thing you cannot live without?
- What was the most recent movie you watched?
- What's your favorite holiday and why?
- What's something that always makes you laugh?
- What's the strangest food combination you enjoy?
- What's the most challenging thing you've ever done?
- What's a cause or charity that's close to your heart?
- What's something you're really good at that might surprise others?
- What's your favorite piece of technology you own?
Category 5: What is Your Favorite X
- What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
- What is your favorite movie genre?
- What is your favorite type of workout or sport?
- What is your favorite way to spend a weekend?
- What is your favorite type of weather?
- What is your favorite type of clothing or fashion style?
- What is your favorite way to travel (car, train, plane, etc.)?
- What is your favorite type of beverage (coffee, tea, soda, etc.)?
- What is your favorite time of day (morning, afternoon, evening, night)?
- What is your favorite childhood memory?
- What is your favorite social media platform?
- What is your favorite type of art (painting, sculpture, photography, etc.)?
- What is your favorite board game or card game?
- What is your favorite type of outdoor activity?
- What is your favorite type of indoor activity?
- What is your favorite city or country you've visited?
- What is your favorite type of plant or flower?
- What is your favorite podcast or radio show?
- What is your favorite type of pet or animal?
- What is your favorite way to celebrate a special occasion?
Category 6: If you were a [THING], what kind of [THING] would you be?
- If you were a car, what kind of car would you be?
- If you were a superhero, what kind of superhero would you be?
- If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be?
- If you were a book genre, what kind of book genre would you be?
- If you were a musical instrument, what kind of instrument would you be?
- If you were a type of cuisine, what kind of cuisine would you be?
- If you were a piece of furniture, what kind of furniture would you be?
- If you were a color, what kind of color would you be?
- If you were a season, what kind of season would you be?
- If you were a movie genre, what kind of movie genre would you be?
- If you were a plant, what kind of plant would you be?
- If you were a piece of technology, what kind of technology would you be?
- If you were a historical figure, what kind of historical figure would you be?
- If you were a type of weather, what kind of weather would you be?
- If you were a type of exercise, what kind of exercise would you be?
- If you were a mode of transportation, what kind of transportation would you be?
- If you were a type of fabric, what kind of fabric would you be?
- If you were a type of architecture, what kind of architecture would you be?
- If you were a type of dance, what kind of dance would you be?
- If you were a planet, what kind of planet would you be?
When 100 ice breakers just isn't enough...
I love a good list, especially one that sets expectations, but there are so many good questions that I need to add some because they're too good to leave out.
- What has your attention? (thanks kate)
- What is something that surprised you recently? (thanks kate)
- What is something you learned recently? (thanks kate)
- What is your internal/mental weather right now? (thanks kate)
- What is your version of the "Super Bowl for Football fanatics"? (thanks Keya)
- What's something you're really good at that you don't do for work but could? (thanks Aaron)
- What one gift that you have would you not want someone else to steal from you?
- What is your "pixie dust"?
- Tell us about an item you own that has significant sentimental value.
When it comes to remote meeting ice breakers, this collection of 100+ questions is just what you need to create meaningful conversations and build strong connections within your team.
These inventive and thought-provoking ice breakers will inspire your remote team members to share their personalities and interests, sparking engaging discussions that deepen connections.
Incorporate these ice breakers into your remote meetings, virtual happy hours, or team-building sessions to foster team unity and cultivate a fun, inclusive atmosphere perfect for remote collaboration.
Extras
Here are some more questions if you're feeling adventurous!
