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Icebreaker questionsVirtual meetings

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Virtual meeting icebreaker questions.

48 icebreakers for video calls and remote teams, sorted into camera questions, chat questions and quick polls. Pick one yourself, or let the picker choose.

Sample

Talk it through

Show us one object within arm’s reach and tell us its story.

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

All 48 questions

On camera

  1. Show us one object within arm’s reach and tell us its story.Talk it through
  2. Describe the view from your window in three words.Word cloudTop word cloud pick
  3. What’s the weather like where you are, in one word?Word cloudTop word cloud pick
  4. Your workspace today:PollAnswers: Kitchen table · A spare room · The office · Somewhere new
  5. If you could swap your background for any real place, where would it be?Word cloud
  6. Hold up your mug or water bottle. Is there a story behind it?Talk it through
  7. What’s the best thing about where you’re working today?Talk it throughAs a word cloud: The best thing about your workspace, in one word.
  8. Give us a 30-second tour of your desk.Talk it through
  9. What’s most likely to interrupt this call?PollAnswers: A pet · A delivery · Someone at the door · My own notifications
  10. Show us your favorite pen, notebook or gadget.Talk it through

In the chat

  1. Where are you joining from today? City or region.Word cloudTop word cloud pick
  2. Drop one word that sums up your morning.Word cloud
  3. Name a show you’d recommend to this group.Word cloud
  4. What’s one thing you’re looking forward to this week?Word cloudTop word cloud pick
  5. How awake do you feel right now?PollAnswers: 1 to 3 · 4 to 6 · 7 or 8 · 9 or 10
  6. Name a snack you’d bring if we met in person.Word cloud
  7. Name a word you overuse in meetings.Word cloudTop word cloud pick
  8. What would your out-of-office message say today?Talk it through
  9. Which skill could you teach this group in five minutes?Word cloud
  10. What’s your most-used keyboard shortcut?Word cloud
  11. What’s the best name for a chat channel you’ve ever seen?Talk it through

Remote life

  1. What’s the strangest place you’ve taken a work call?Talk it throughAs a word cloud: The strangest place you’ve taken a call.
  2. What’s your end-of-workday ritual?Talk it throughAs a word cloud: Your end-of-day ritual, in one word.
  3. What’s the best remote-work tip you’ve picked up?Talk it through
  4. How long was your commute today?PollAnswers: Bed to desk · Kitchen to desk · A real commute · I’m at a café
  5. What’s on your feet right now?PollAnswers: Slippers · Socks · Shoes · Nothing
  6. Do you ever take calls while walking?PollAnswers: Often · Sometimes · Never · I’m doing it now
  7. What do you miss about working in an office, if anything?Talk it through
  8. What’s one change to your setup that made remote work better?Talk it throughAs a word cloud: The best change to your setup, in a word or two.
  9. Noise-canceling headphones are:PollAnswers: Essential · Nice to have · Never used them
  10. What do you call the spot where you work?Word cloud
  11. Which do you prefer for status updates?PollAnswers: Written updates · A quick live stand-up · A mix of both
  12. What’s the first thing you do after a long day of calls?Talk it throughAs a word cloud: After a day of calls, you…

Quick polls

  1. Cameras in internal meetings:PollAnswers: Always on · On for small calls · Off unless asked · Depends on the day
  2. How many meetings do you have today?PollAnswers: 0 to 2 · 3 or 4 · 5 or 6 · 7 or more
  3. The best length for a team call:PollAnswers: 15 minutes · 25 minutes · 45 minutes · Whatever the agenda needs
  4. When you want to speak, you:PollAnswers: Raise your hand · Just unmute · Type in the chat
  5. The best way to end a call:PollAnswers: A clear next step · A quick round of thanks · Ending on time · A funny GIF
  6. The most familiar video call moment:PollAnswers: “You’re on mute” · A frozen screen · An echo · Two people talking at once
  7. The best time for a virtual coffee chat:PollAnswers: Morning · Lunchtime · Mid-afternoon · End of day
  8. Chat messages during a presentation are:PollAnswers: Great · Distracting · Fine for questions only
  9. Which remote team activity would you pick?PollAnswers: A team quiz · Show and tell · A walking call · None, let’s just work
  10. Your default meeting reaction:PollAnswers: Thumbs up · Clap · Heart · Laugh
  11. How often should a remote team meet in person?PollAnswers: Monthly · Every quarter · Once a year · It’s not needed
  12. Three words for how this team works together.Word cloud
  13. If this meeting had a theme song, what would it be?Word cloud
  14. What’s your best tip for staying focused on a long call?Talk it through
  15. Which time zone do you wish the whole team worked in?Word cloud

Running an icebreaker on a video call

On a call, going round the grid one face at a time takes too long. Ask everyone to answer at the same moment, in the chat or in a live poll, then read a few answers out loud.

Camera questions work best in small calls of up to eight people. In bigger calls, use a word cloud or a poll so people can answer without unmuting.

Some people would rather not perform on camera. Our post on introvert-friendly icebreakers shows how to warm up a call without putting anyone on the spot.