12 Actually Not Awkward Virtual Ice Breakers for Remote Meetings

In a virtual setting, two people start a dialogue (either on-camera or via chat), but the rule is they can only respond with questions. If someone makes a statement or hesitates too long, they’re “out,” and the next person jumps in. Virtual icebreakers can be particularly helpful for new team members who may feel isolated or disconnected in a virtual setting. Here are a few virtual icebreaker ideas that are ideal for welcoming new team members into the fold and to supplement your onboarding efforts. First, invite people to open up the chat in your video conferencing app. Next, ask an icebreaker question, but instruct people not to send their answer until you say so.

It’s the inspiration for fresh, flexible new exercises fewer people roll their eyes at (we’re looking at you, trust falls). But communication and collaboration have taken a real hit on in-person teams, too. Lack of teamwork can be a consequence of tech overload, social and professional divides across roles and departments, or just the mounting stress of busier lives.

Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck? But questions like these get people thinking, talking, and (most importantly) laughing. A fun start to a meeting encourages creative discussions, making it easier to transition into brainstorming and problem-solving. Let’s be really honest here—most team meetings fall somewhere between mildly uninspiring and soul-crushingly dull. The overwhelming urge to check your phone for the tenth time in five minutes.

What video game have you spent hours playing?

I suggest employing employee engagement strategies to keep your team working well together regardless of location. Practices employee engagement best practices and use employee engagement tools to excel. For the best results, consider working with employee engagement survey providers. This is especially important since 2022 Microsoft research shows that only half of remote employees have strong relationships with their teams. On the day of the icebreaker, properly introduce the activity and establish some ground rules.

#15. Weekend photo contest

Charitable efforts can have an even greater impact on hybrid and remote teams than on localized ones. People who know their background and community matter to colleagues far away feel more trust and loyalty. If your virtual happy hours have been a bit awkward or boring, add trivia. Not only does trivia encourage teamwork and collaboration, but it also gives your team a chance to bond over shared knowledge and interests.

He especially enjoys working with young people and empowering others in their creative practice. By using groups of just a few people, you can ensure each person gets space to share and the relationships that are built on this foundation can be meaningful indeed. Short, fun, energizing team activity that helps groups get to know each other better. We accept our feelings, leaving behind what we doesn’t serve us right now. 9 Dimensions is a powerful activity designed to build relationships and trust among team members.

• Sometimes, the purpose of a virtual icebreaker can be as simple as getting people talking or to learn one another’s names before dropping into breakout rooms.
• As a result, you can enjoy effective and productive meetings online.
• Mix in different styles (on-laptop, off-laptop, synchronous, async) and see what sticks.
• After a few minutes of drawing, everyone shares their creations in the virtual meeting, explaining their artwork if they’d like.
• We’ve got no idea how many people have plants, but the number must be sky-high.

It’s guaranteed to bring laughter to your virtual session as everyone expresses their favorite short-form videos. Create an icebreaking session using a “themed outfit day” for some lighthearted fun. Make it part of a weekly routine and rotate each person who shows off a loved one. Encourage a fun fact or short story about them to add a human touch to virtual settings. Once you start using icebreakers at the start of your meetings, you’ll find your employees are much more engaged and eager to contribute.

Is your coworker secretly the second coming of Kelly Clarkson? Karaoke is a great exercise because it can be done virtually, in the office, or out on the town. It’s also easily integrated into company parties and celebrations. MTD Training are a trusted brand, so you’ll be in safe hands.

• They say a picture is worth more than a thousand words, but so do emojis!
• In this activity, you’ll present flashcards with “treasures” written on them.
• Your virtual icebreakers should be short, interactive, memorable, fun, and easy to follow through on.
• This icebreaker activity lets you find out that keen-eyed individual in your team.
• Sometimes a little (unserious) competition can be a great way to build camaraderie — here are a few of our favorite icebreaker games for virtual meetings.

Give participants 15 minutes to draw their ideal selves on a sheet of paper. The drawing gets more collaborative over the course of the ten minutes as the participants run out of drawing real estate. “I like to design MURAL boards where the participants themselves are featured. The participants dress themselves up and then present their clothing choices to the group,” said Jing Foon.

If you have a large group, you can split people into breakouts to tell their stories. To get the creative juices flowing before a bigger activity, roll these virtual story dice, which will randomly generate five images. In this icebreaker, participants have ten minutes to draw a flower with six-to-ten petals.

One Word Icebreaker

From cozy fall vibes to sunny summer escapes, seasons shape how we spend our time—and what we ice breakers for virtual meetings look forward to most. These seasonal questions are perfect for light, fun conversations that reflect the time of year. Simple but revealing, “What’s your favorite” questions are a great way to learn more about someone’s personality, preferences, and quirks. These questions spark easy back-and-forth and often lead to fun follow-up stories.

This not only makes the session more productive but also creates a positive experience for everyone involved. Plus, active listening helps you pick up on subtle cues about how attendees are feeling, making it easier to address any concerns. For example, a virtual scavenger hunt might not be the best choice for a meeting full of strangers. Instead, opt for something like “Two Truths and a Lie” to help people get to know each other in a fun way. On the other hand, for a team meeting where everyone is already acquainted, more interactive activities like scavenger hunts or group tasks can be a hit. Videos of people trying not to laugh while watching hilarious videos go viral all the time.

After a few minutes of drawing, everyone shares their creations in the virtual meeting, explaining their artwork if they’d like. This classic ice breaker game can easily be adapted for a virtual setting. Each participant shares two true statements and one false one about themselves, and the rest of the team tries to guess the lie. This activity encourages participants to share personal anecdotes and learn more about each other, promoting a sense of camaraderie. As the world continues to embrace remote work, the need for effective and engaging virtual meetings has never been more pronounced.

Takeaway: Fun and Exciting Virtual Icebreakers

They are an essential component of successful virtual meetings, contributing significantly to team engagement, productivity, and overall team dynamics. As we continue to navigate the world of remote work, let us not underestimate the power of a well-planned ice breaker to set the stage for a successful virtual meeting. Moreover, ice breakers can help in setting the tone for the meeting.

Describe your favorite movie without naming it

This can lead to a reluctance to engage fully in the meeting. Virtual meetings make those uncomfortable moments feel even more intense, and some attendees may even be hesitant to engage because of it. Discuss what everyone searched for in the toy aisle during their childhoods. Others may have shared the same interests, which leads to team bonding. Everyone can pitch one title and laugh over their shared likes or dislikes. It’s especially interesting if your workplace has people of various ages who can bring different perspectives.

One of the great things about remote teams is getting to know people from other cultures and backgrounds. Discussing things as politics or traditions is fun, but food connects everyone regardless of their beliefs. It’s fun, dynamic, and easy to play with, especially for virtual meetings. In this game, each participant sends a sequence of emojis in the chat and the rest of the team tries to guess the story or phrase it represents. This ice breaker is not only fun but also tests your team’s creativity and interpretative skills.

You might have a glimpse of turquoise waters in the Maldives or rice paddies in the countryside of Vietnam. There are many modes in the game, but the Basic Mode is the most simple and hilarious one. See the unpredictable twists and turns that unfold when the messages pass. Even if drawing isn’t your forte, enjoy some laughs, friendly rivalry, and a fantastic opportunity for team bonding as you try to decipher each other’s doodles.