41 Ice Breaker Questions to Make Work Meetings Less Awkward

“What’s something you’re doing today that you couldn’t imagine doing just a few years ago?”

Most people will have to think about this. Still, the answers may surprise you. Everyone’s defied their own expectations in some way, but we’re low on chances to acknowledge that.

Icebreakers open up communication and strengthen connection, whether that’s sharing something funny or something very insightful. Today, we’re sharing more than 40 ice breaker questions for a variety of dynamics and situations.

Why ask ice breaker questions?

The most compelling reason to use ice breakers at work is that they give people a chance to share their thoughts without judgment. They defy company hierarchies and roles, introducing the human element essential to good morale and genuine relationships.

They’re a close relative of check-in questions, with a greater tendency to go off-topic. 

Ice breakers can also offer a change of pace that stimulates thinking. Any workplace that wants to introduce more creativity and camaraderie should give some of the following questions a shot.

Funny ice breaker questions for coworkers

Fill the silence in group chats, during breaks, and on other team activities with funny ice breakers. 

1. "If you could only communicate with animal noises for a day, what animal would you choose to be?"
2. "What's the most awkward text or email you've ever sent to the wrong person?" 
3. "If you could have any ridiculous or useless superpower, what would it be?"
4. "If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, but it couldn't be a normal food, what would it be?"
5. "If your pet could talk, what's the first thing they would say about you?"

Increase engagement with ice breakers for meetings 

You’ve been down the whole agenda and no one has any questions or input. Make sure everyone’s still awake with team meeting ice breakers that make them think. 

6. “If you could instantly become an expert on one topic, what would it be?”
7. “What’s the worst advice you ever received?”
8. “If you could get paid to do anything, what would it be?”
9. “What do you think you’re terrible at?”
10. “If you could add one word to the dictionary, what would it be?”
11. “If you could teleport anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?”

Light, humorous ice breakers for every occasion

These ice breakers seem pretty unassuming but are designed to draw out some really funny answers. 

12. “What’s the worst haircut you ever got?”
13. “If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you get a gold medal in?”
14. “If you could rename yourself, what name would you pick?”
15. “What’s your favorite dad joke?”
16. “What’s the most embarrassing trend you took part in?”
17. “If you were a taco topping, which one would you be?”

Best ice breaker questions for team building events

Take five and tickle the team with random questions that can evoke some truly revealing answers.

18. “If you had to wear a warning label, what would it say?”
19. “What’s the most embarrassing song on your phone?”
20. “If you wrote a tell-all expose about our company, what would the title be?”
21. “What’s your hidden talent or a party trick you can do?”
22. “If you had to make one coworker our new CEO, who would it be?” 
23. “What’s the craziest thing you’ve done on a dare?”

Ridiculous, hilarious ice breaker questions to reduce stress

Sometimes a little nonsense is all it takes to clear out bad vibes. Let your imaginations run wild with these surreal ice breakers. 

24. “If you had to replace your hands with something other than hands, what would you choose?”
25. “If you were a potato, how would you prefer to be eaten–mashed, roasted, or French fried?” 
26. “If you were a ghost, how would you haunt people?”
27. “If you had to fight either an alligator or a kangaroo, which would you choose?”
28. “If you could turn any emotion into a flavor of ice cream, what would it be?”

Fun get to know you questions for new hires

Break up the monotony and put new employees at ease by sprinkling in slightly unserious or off-topic ice breaker questions.

29. “Do you have any unusual fears or phobias?”
30. “What’s the silliest belief you had as a child?”
31. “What fictional character would you most like to have dinner with?”
32. "What's your guilty pleasure TV show?"
33. “How did you meet your best friend?”
34. "What's the strangest reason you’ve had for being late or missing work?"

Question of the day for work 

These ice breaker questions are a good daily exercise for employee walls and stand-ups. Connect with employees by letting them reflect on different aspects of their jobs.

35. “What’s your favorite way to reduce stress at work?”
36. “What’s the best advice you’ve received on the job?”
37. “If there was one part of your job you could do with the wave of a magic wand, what would it be?”
38. “What do you most appreciate about your coworkers?”
39. “What’s one thing about last week you’d go back and do differently?”
40. “What’s the most important thing you’ve accomplished on a team?”
41. “If you could switch roles with anyone else at the company for one day, who would it be?”

BONUS: Ice breaker games for work

These ice-breaking activities make a game of it while promoting teamwork. For more ideas, see our post on team-building activities for remote teams, small groups, and more.

1. Team trivia

Form teams and battle it out as everyone flexes their niche knowledge.

2. Scavenger hunt

At the office or out in the wild, quick thinking and leadership qualities shine through with employee scavenger hunts.

3. Group mural

Come together for a collaborative art piece that serves as a reminder of the creative community your team has grown into.

4. Storytelling contest

Host an informal event inspired by The Moth where team members can volunteer compelling tales that give you a deeper look into their experience.

5. Two truths and a lie

Each team member makes three statements, one true and two not. See if you can guess which is which! We’ll go first:

1) HeyTaco integrates seamlessly with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Chat.

2) Once an employee hits a certain level, HeyTaco automatically orders real tacos to their address.

3) Software review authority G2 recognized HeyTaco in 11 different categories this spring.

Ice breaker questions and HeyTaco: Two solid ways to strengthen team building and engagement in the workplace

People want to engage and interact–they just need an opening. Consistent, bite-sized actions build up to complete a culture of recognition that’s satisfying and motivating for all who work there.

Funny, hypothetical, or thought-provoking ice breakers are an easy way to socialize, share a laugh, and learn more about how someone’s mind works. Combine it with a peer recognition platform like ours and watch as team bonds form naturally.

The best part? It’s free to ask ice breaker questions, and it’s free to try HeyTaco for a full month. 

FAQ about ice breakers

What is a good ice breaker question?

It depends on the audience, but everyone needs to start somewhere. Build rapport and get to know someone a little better by showing interest in their lives. Then you can work your way up to the weirder stuff.

• What do you most enjoy doing outside of work?
• How have you been feeling this week? 
• What is your favorite thing to drink?
• What’s your favorite place you’ve ever traveled to?

What are 5 questions to get to know your team?

This varies depending on your industry and how well you know your employees already, but if you’re looking to check in and see where they’re at on the job, try these:

1. What are your strengths, and how does the company make use of them?
2. How do you resolve disagreements with coworkers?
3. What has been the most useful thing you’ve learned at your job? 
4. Do you have any ideas for how we can improve your role?
5. Do you feel your workload is fair and balanced?

What are the 3 Ps of icebreakers?

The three Ps of icebreaker questions refers to personal, professional, and passion. Sometimes, you can swap out passion for playful. 

Personal questions involve things like someone’s favorite color, food, or childhood memories. Professional pertains to their job role, industry, employer, and coworkers. Passion questions center around their hobbies and interests. Playful icebreakers are the sillier questions we ask just for fun.