A virtual icebreaker is a fun activity, game, or question that helps remote teams get to know one another and develop a sense of community and camaraderie. In the absence of face-to-face interaction, virtual icebreakers replicate a similar social experience but online. Like sitting at a round table sharing interesting personal facts or playing team-building games, introducing cool virtual team icebreaker ideas to an online meeting can encourage the same genuine connection and familiarity.
Virtual ice breakers provide a major benefit when it comes to remote and hybrid team bonding; they have universal appeal. People from all cultures and walks of life can participate no matter where they are. Virtual icebreakers help ease tension and create a more light-hearted and inclusive online atmosphere. This is especially useful when bringing in newer team members who might be shy or anxious.
Start a virtual meeting with a short icebreaker that's quick and easy, allowing remote team members to learn about one another before the hard work begins. They might even discover common interests and form personal bonds. For longer meetings, having a few icebreakers in between can relieve stress and give team members a break from the monotony. Boosting morale and promoting a healthy and positive team company culture are hallmarks of why icebreakers benefit virtual teams.
Virtual ice breakers are a fun way to encourage team building and keep employees motivated until the next virtual meeting. Most online icebreakers don't last very long, making them highly accessible in a fast-paced work environment. Based on popularity and ease of participation, here are the top 19 best virtual icebreaker ideas we think you and your team might like:
One at a time, have everyone name their favorite movie, television series, or book. They can answer any of them and briefly explain why it is their favorite. Due to being such an open-ended question, it is the perfect virtual team icebreaker.
One person says three interesting facts about themselves, with two of them being true and one of them being false. Everyone has a few minutes to consider the options and guess which one is false.
Almost everyone has a favorite food, and there are many to choose from, so try and have attendees limit their answers to one food option. For smaller groups, each person can name two or two.
You present two opposing questions in this activity, but both are equally bad or equally good. Then members of your team have to decide which option they would prefer. This game is popular among younger adults.
The "which superpower would you choose" question is always fun and popular because it stirs an individual's creativity and imagination. It can even help them feel more powerful in completing their daily tasks.
Virtual Bingo is a popular and excellent opportunity to encourage friendly competition. As the facilitator, using simple prompts for the bingo boards helps the game go by faster.
Answers to this question can be as impractical or realistic as your team members want them to be. Have each person describe the item they would bring and why they think it's a good choice for them.
This question is a fun way to learn a little about someone's backstory and work history. But if someone can't remember their first job, have them describe their favorite or second job instead.
To begin this game, call out an item or list of objects, like "favorite book" or "something green." Then, everyone should search their home to present an item(s) that matches the prompts you gave. The first person to show all the suitable objects wins.
Give everyone a few moments to think of a song they would sing at a karaoke bar. If someone needs help thinking of a go-to karaoke song, they can share their favorite musician or song instead.
For this virtual team building exercise, have everyone introduce themselves in one minute, with no limit on what they can say. Set a timer for each person to ensure no one goes over.
Many people have a celebrity crush at some point, but not always. People who don't have a celebrity crush can describe a person they like, respect, or admire instead.
Have each team member take turns briefly describing a really embarrassing moment in their life. While this activity is comedic in nature, some teammates might not be comfortable sharing, and that's okay.
Your team members can answer one or both questions if applicable. A short demonstration or show-and-tell of their hobby or/and talent is also an option if it's something they can show in a virtual environment.
Have everyone show an old photograph and then explain how old they were and what they were doing in the photo at the time. This nostalgic activity is great for personal bonding.
"Favorite" questions are popular in small and large groups because it's a chance for everyone to share a fun little detail about themselves. It's also a question you can breeze through in under 10 minutes, depending on your team size.
Trivia can be about any topic, but starting with pop culture questions is usually the best option because they're easier for people to answer. The person who answers the most questions correctly wins.
After each person shares their dream vacation destination, if money wasn't a factor, have them briefly explain why that is. All answers are valid, whether they want to go somewhere distant or closer to him.
This wholesome question encourages a virtual space filled with gratitude and positivity. There's no right or wrong answer here, but set a time limit for answers, so everyone gets a fair turn to share what they're thankful for.
Though there are no metrics or key performance indicators (KPIs) to tell you if an icebreaker was successful, follow these tips to help ensure they're more enjoyable and "not awkward" for your participants:
A virtual icebreaker is a fun question, activity, or game that remote and hybrid teams can play to foster a more energized, friendly, and collaborative workspace when they interact virtually.
Running a successful virtual meeting can be challenging, but icebreakers can help foster memorable experiences for everyone. Here are some suggestions on how to include virtual icebreakers into your team meetings like a pro:
The most popular remote team icebreaker activities and questions are:
While there is no set number of times to use virtual icebreakers, once a week is a great way to start. Opening each week with a fun icebreaker helps create a positive atmosphere, so everyone is in a good mood to work.
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