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Icebreaker questionsGetting to know you

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Getting-to-know-you questions.

50 getting-to-know-you questions that go past small talk. Start easy, then go deeper with a new team, a mentoring pair or a small group.

Sample

Talk it through

What’s a small thing that made you smile this week?

As a word cloud: Something that made you smile this week.

Ask this live as a word cloud or poll – free for 100 people.

All 50 questions

Easy start

  1. What’s a small thing that made you smile this week?Talk it throughAs a word cloud: Something that made you smile this week.
  2. Other than where you live, which place feels like home to you?Talk it throughAs a word cloud: A place that feels like home.
  3. What’s your favorite way to spend a free afternoon?Word cloudTop word cloud pick
  4. Name a simple pleasure you’d never give up.Word cloudTop word cloud pick
  5. Three words for your ideal weekend.Word cloudTop word cloud pick
  6. What are you learning right now, just for you?Talk it throughAs a word cloud: Something you’re learning just for you.
  7. What’s a compliment you still remember?Talk it through
  8. Name a quality you admire in other people.Word cloudTop word cloud pick
  9. What kind of music fits your mood today?PollAnswers: Calm · Upbeat · Nostalgic · Loud
  10. What’s the best gift you’ve ever given?Talk it through

Who you are

  1. Name one value you try to live by.Word cloudTop word cloud pick
  2. What do people often get wrong about you at first?Talk it through
  3. What’s something you’ve changed your mind about in the last few years?Talk it through
  4. What are you most curious about these days?Talk it through
  5. What would your friends say your superpower is?Talk it through
  6. How do you recharge after a long week?PollAnswers: Time alone · Time with people · Outdoors · Making something
  7. Are you more of a planner or do you go with the flow?PollAnswers: Planner · Go with the flow · Depends on the day
  8. What’s a rule you’ve set for yourself?Talk it through
  9. What makes you lose track of time?Talk it throughAs a word cloud: What makes you lose track of time, in a word or two.
  10. Which part of your personality took you longest to appreciate?Talk it through
  11. What’s a cause you care about, and why?Talk it throughMore personal
  12. What’s something you’re proud of that nobody sees?Talk it through
  13. What would you do with an extra hour every day?Word cloud

What shaped you

  1. Who taught you something you still use every day?Talk it through
  2. Name a book that stayed with you.Word cloud
  3. What’s a mistake that taught you a lot?Talk it through
  4. What’s a place that changed how you see the world?Talk it through
  5. What’s a tradition you’d like to keep or start?Talk it throughMore personal
  6. What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?Talk it through
  7. What’s a piece of advice you ignored and later wished you hadn’t?Talk it through
  8. Which year of your life would make the best story?Talk it through
  9. When did you last feel truly part of a team?Talk it through
  10. Who outside your family has shaped you the most?Talk it through
  11. What’s a risk you’re glad you took?Talk it through
  12. What did you love doing as a kid that you still enjoy?Talk it throughAs a word cloud: Something from childhood you still love.
  13. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever learned to do?Talk it through
  14. Which job or role taught you more than you expected?Talk it through

Looking ahead

  1. What does a good life look like to you, in three words?Word cloud
  2. Where would you like to be living in ten years?Talk it throughMore personal
  3. What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet?Talk it throughAs a word cloud: Something you’ve always wanted to try.
  4. What would you attempt if you knew you couldn’t fail?Talk it through
  5. What’s a question you’d love to know the answer to?Talk it through
  6. What do you want to be remembered for?Talk it through
  7. What’s one thing you’d tell your younger self?Talk it through
  8. If you could master one thing in the next five years, what would it be?Talk it through
  9. What dream project would you start if you had unlimited time?Talk it through
  10. Which habit would you like to build next?Talk it through
  11. Name something small you’d like to do more often.Word cloud
  12. What does a perfect ordinary day look like for you?Talk it through
  13. What’s one thing you hope never changes in your life?Talk it through

How to ask deeper questions

Start with an easy question and move to the thoughtful ones once people are relaxed. These work best in pairs or groups of up to five: mentoring, a new team, or a leadership offsite.

Always let people pass, and answer first yourself so they can see how much to share. Questions tagged More personal are skipped by the picker unless you turn off Work-safe only.

For a group too big to talk it through, use a word cloud question such as “Name one value you try to live by.” In a few seconds the room sees what it has in common.