Strategies For Virtual Icebreakers

Please stop with the BORING zoom meetings! For anyone who hosts virtual meetings, please add one little thing. At the beginning of a meeting with a group of 4 or more, ask an icebreaker question in the chat to get the good vibes going. This can replace small talk and can serve as a knife to cut any tension. Use this if you usually have meeting participants slowly trickle in for the first few minutes, or if you're waiting for one particular attendee. Icebreaker questions in the meeting chat can be especially useful to get creative juices flowing and get people feeling comfortable speaking up if you're hosting a brainstorming session. Here are a few questions you can steal: --> If you could time travel, would you prefer to go forward or backward? --> What's a great book you've read recently? --> What city would you love to travel to next? --> What would be your strategy in a zombie apocalypse? --> What was the first concert you saw live? --> Which famous person would you invite to dinner? --> Favorite quote? --> Favorite food to eat? Asking icebreaker questions like these is exactly what Ryan K. and I did in my podcast this week. I really like his management style and I took a page out of his book and brought some fun into my workday :) Life is short. Office life can be dry. Introduce some fun. Let's give it a shot. Find a question in the comments below that makes you smile and leave a reply (or comment your own question that people can answer!)

Most companies fly their teams out for offsites. And then leave the one thing that actually builds trust completely off the agenda. I coach executive teams and I'm constantly frustrated by the same thing. A company spends the money, carves out the time, flies leadership in from everywhere. And then the dinner is just small talk. Nobody leaves knowing each other any better than when they arrived. Relationship-building on a team can't be left to chance. Especially in a hybrid world where you're cycling through five different teams in a single day. Here are three practices that replace small talk with real trust: 1. Personal / Professional Check-in Go around the room. Everyone shares one thing they're struggling with personally and one thing professionally. "My older son has been struggling" or "this new role has me questioning whether I'm the right fit." The deeper people go, the more it opens the room. 2. Sweet and Sour It’s a lighter entry point for teams that aren't ready for that depth yet. Ask, what's going well in your life and what isn't. Start with the sweet. It builds the muscle without the initial discomfort. 3. Curated Questions at Dinner Replace the small talk with one powerful question: "What experience from your past do you think made you who you are today?" Immigrant stories, parents who set a standard, kids who had to grow up too soon. Every team has had someone share something that changed how the rest of the room saw them. You don't build trust by hoping people open up. You build it by designing the moment.

People often ask me for quick ways to build trust on a team. I have a dozen solid go-to moves, but one stands out because it’s dead simple and nearly always works. You’ve probably heard of the “connection before content” idea—starting meetings with a personal check-in to warm up the room. But let’s be honest: questions like “What’s your favorite color?” or “What five things would you bring on a deserted island?” don’t build trust. They just waste time. If you want a real trust-builder, here’s the question I use: “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄?” That’s it. One question. And here’s why it works: 𝟭. It creates vulnerability without forcing it. You can’t answer this question without being a little real. And when someone’s real with you, it’s hard not to trust them more. You see the human behind the role. 𝟮. It unlocks practical support. Once I hear your challenge, I can picture how to help. I feel drawn to back you up. That’s the foundation of real partnership at work. 𝟯. It increases mutual understanding. Sometimes we feel disconnected from teammates because we don’t know what they actually do all day. When someone shares a challenge, it opens a window into their work and the complexity they’re navigating. If you’re short on time, allergic to fluff, and want something that actually bonds your team—this is your move. Ten minutes, and you’ll feel the shift."

Icebreakers - love them or hate them? I firmly believe that dismissing icebreaker activities as irrelevant time-wasters ignores their pivotal role in nurturing connections and igniting creativity. Throughout my 15 years of leading workshops, I've seen how these activities kickstart engagement, stimulate curiosity, and set a positive tone for the rest of the session. Here are some of my favourites: Two Truths and a Lie: This classic game encourages participants to share unusual facts about themselves, opening a path for more camaraderie and human connection. Problem-Solving Challenge: Initiate a quick challenge related to your workshop's topic. This will not only break the ice, but also activate their problem-solving and collaborative skills. Dream Destination Sharing: Ask participants to share their dream travel destination and why. It's a fun, light-hearted way to learn more about each other's interests. Each of these activities caters to different professional settings, but their aim remains the same: to inspire a more collaborative, interactive, and productive work environment. Now, it's your turn. What are your go-to icebreaker activities? How have they transformed your team dynamics? Lisa Evans Lisa Partridge 🇸🇬🇬🇧🌍 Anna Seefeldt - Brand Strategist at Pink Pineapple Anna Norriss - Marketing Strategist Adelphia Lim (Social Media Manager) Megha Singh Melissa Laurie Charmaine L. Sally Leonard Razy Shah #TeamBuilding #Communication #IceBreakers #EntrepreneurshipAdvice

15 Questions Thoughtful Leaders Ask to Build Trust I once believed trust was built by delivering big wins. But real trust starts with genuine curiosity and listening. Here are 15 questions that thoughtful leaders use to spark deeper connection and loyalty: 1️⃣ How are you, really? ↳ Starts with genuine care about the person. 2️⃣ What’s one small win you’re proud of this week? ↳ Brings positivity and acknowledges progress. 3️⃣ Is there anything we haven’t addressed that concerns you? ↳ Invites hidden thoughts or worries to surface. 4️⃣ What do you need from me right now? ↳ Shows willingness to support in a concrete way. 5️⃣ Where do you feel stuck? ↳ Identifies obstacles and demonstrates empathy. 6️⃣ What have you already tried? ↳ Builds on existing efforts and prevents rehashing the same solutions. 7️⃣ How can we make this process simpler? ↳ Prompts a collaborative search for more efficient approaches. 8️⃣ Who else’s perspective should we consider? ↳ Expands thinking and values diverse input. 9️⃣ Can you tell me more about how you arrived at that idea? ↳ Shows genuine interest in their thought process. 🔟 Which part of your work brings you the most energy? ↳ Helps align tasks with strengths and passion. 1️⃣1️⃣ What would success look like for you personally? ↳ Personalizes goals and respects individual definitions of success. 1️⃣2️⃣ How would you like to be recognized for your efforts? ↳ Tailors rewards to individual preferences. 1️⃣3️⃣ Who on the team deserves a shoutout this week? ↳ Fosters a culture of mutual appreciation. 1️⃣4️⃣ What’s one thing you’d change if you could? ↳ Encourages reflection on improvements or new opportunities. 1️⃣5️⃣ What’s your biggest takeaway from our conversation? ↳ Reinforces clarity, alignment, and next steps. Trust is built one genuine question at a time—when people see you care enough to truly listen. Which question will you start with today? Share below ♻️ Repost to help other leaders build genuine connections 🔔 Follow Dr. Chris Mullen for more insights on leadership and team-building

Ever felt awkward… initiating conversations with others? 🫣Sometimes, even the most extroverted among us can get the jitters at the thought of starting a conversation. Here are some go-to questions to help you break the ice and connect effortlessly👇🏻 🌟Personal life ↳ What’s a new hobby or skill you’ve picked up recently? ↳ What’s a favourite tradition or holiday memory you cherish? ↳ Have you traveled anywhere interesting recently? ↳ What’s your favourite book or movie to binge watch? ↳ Are you working on any personal goals or projects? 🗣️ In the workplace ↳ What’s the one thing you love about working at your company? ↳ Do you have any tips for staying productive and organized? ↳ Have you attended any interesting conferences or workshops recently? ↳ Have you noticed any interesting trends in our industry recently? ↳ Are you facing any challenges in your current/new role? 👩🏻💻In professional meetings ↳ Do you have any resources or tools that might be helpful in this project? ↳ What are some of the key goals you’re aiming to achieve in this quarter? ↳ Do you have any innovative ideas/ suggestions that could drive our projects forward? ↳ Are there any skills you’re currently focusing on developing? ↳ Can you highlight a recent success your team has had? 🌐 In networking events ↳ What brings you to this event today? ↳ Have you been to one of these events before? ↳ What does a typical day look like for you in your role? ↳ How did you get started in your current field? ↳ Did you hear about (recent industry news/event)? What are your thoughts on it? How do you kick off a great conversation? Share your favourites in the comments below😄

𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 Most of us are tired of the same old small talk. "How's the weather?" "Busy week?" "How's it going?" These questions fill the air but rarely deepen relationships or spark ideas. Despite countless interactions throughout the day, people crave meaningful conversations that spark curiosity, encourage collaboration, and build real trust. For ambitious leaders, time is precious—and so is genuine connection. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿 When you dive into meaningful topics, you improve: · Relationships: People remember those who make them feel seen and heard. · Collaboration: Deeper understanding leads to better teamwork and creativity. · Personal growth: Thought-provoking conversations challenge your assumptions and expand your perspective. You'll be surprised how quickly people open up, often with relief and enthusiasm. Most of us are waiting for someone to break the ice and go deeper. 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗨𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 You can focus on deepening relationships with open-ended questions that encourage vulnerability. Here are questions that lead to great conversations: · What's the most important thing I should know about you? · What excites you right now? · What is something incredible about you that even some friends don't realize? · What's the best thing that happened to you last/this year? · What's a challenge you're wrestling with? · What makes you smile when you get up in the morning? You should be prepared to match their vulnerability or risk more in the interest of building a more meaningful connection and getting advice. These questions should delight your conversation partners, who are equally eager to move beyond small talk. Keep in mind that some people may shy away from deeper conversations, so read the room and adjust accordingly. 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 When relationships move beyond surface-level exchanges, they become the foundation for trust and loyalty—essential ingredients for business growth. Through deeper conversations, people truly understand each other's values, motivations, and challenges, reinforcing their connections. Stronger bonds foster a shared understanding and purpose, leading to valuable relationships with customers, partners, investors, and other stakeholders. These bonds also encourage effective collaboration in teams so people become more willing to share ideas, take risks, and support each other's success. Businesses that prioritize authentic, meaningful dialogue set themselves apart by building on a foundation of growth, loyalty, and lasting impact. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆: Bring one of these questions to your next meeting or event and try it with a few people. #leaders #founder #adapt #startups

If you’re making the perfect sandwich, what would be on it? What is one thing that never fails to make you feel better? What do you own that you’re pretty sure no one on the team owns? What is the most interesting thing in your fridge? These are some of the icebreakers I’ve posed in the team chat this year and the responses always reveal something I would never have known about my colleagues otherwise (like, some of us have very strong opinions about Dutch crunch bread)! It’s a simple act, but asking questions (and I mean really good questions) regularly is so crucial to building connection on my team. - How to do this: Use what Priya Parker calls “magical questions”: these are prompts everyone in the group wants to answer and hear and that go beyond small talk (e.g., “What was the first concert you went to, and who took you?” or “What’s a gift you got that you deeply loved?”) - When to do this: At the top of a team call (popcorn-style) or asynchronously in chat by posting a regular icebreaker thread. - Why to do this: A significant share of intrinsic motivation ties back to an employee’s relationship with their manager. That means we have to be intentional about creating personal connections, especially in a virtual workplace where this is less likely to happen organically. If you have a favorite magical question, please share it. I’m always on the hunt for compelling queries! #RemoteWork #Culture #Inclusion #Leadership 

Feeling disconnected in virtual teams? → Meetings that feel like checking boxes. → "Team" feels more like "individuals working alone". → Missing the spark that physical proximity brings. The real loss: → Collaboration suffers. → Ideas don't flow as freely. → The sense of being part of something bigger fades. But, here's the thing: Distance doesn't have to be a barrier. It's a chance to innovate how we connect and collaborate. 🌟 Turn the tide: → Regular check-ins: Not just for work, but to genuinely ask, "How are you?" → Virtual coffee breaks: Grab a cuppa and chat. Work talk is off-limits. → Team challenges: Engage in fun, non-work-related challenges that everyone can participate in. →Celebrate wins together: Big or small, a win is a win. Make some noise about it. → Learning sessions: Share skills or hobbies in short, informal sessions. The goal: → To create a virtual environment that feels just as warm and inviting as any office could. → To make sure every team member knows they're valued, seen, and heard, regardless of where they log in from. Distance only becomes a barrier if we let it. With intentionality and creativity, we can build a team culture that's not just about surviving, but thriving.