Running the Perfect Workshop but also any kind of other Meetings often has to do with dealing with an assorted team where not everybody knows each other. For this reason, the usage of Icebreaker Questions used to get “the discussion flow” is a standard step in facilitation skills. In some more complex settings (like a multi-day workshop), other Icebreaker Activities could be also used.
Definition
Icebreaker Questions are normally used at the very beginning of the Workshop or meeting and have the goal to remove the typical tension that happens at the individual level when people don’t know each other.
Usage
Many people hate Icebreakers, often because they seem silly and superficial. They can be when they have little to do with the purpose of the meeting or conversation. The real effectiveness of this tool stems from how much we can use them as connectors between individuals. Of course, their effectiveness depends also on the individual beliefs of participants in the importance and purpose of connecting.
Changing the usage of this tool from a simple fun activity to real connectors is paramount for its success.
Resources
Here are some resources that can be useful in the planning of your workshop.
A curated list of 25 Popular Icebreakers
The 25 most popular icebreaker questions based on four years of data
By far, this question has prompted the most interesting responses for the companies we work with. Employees are always find it hilarious to learn that their boss’ first job was as a pool boy, or find it fascinating that a coworker’s first job was working in her mom’s doctor’s office.
This list by Claire Lew looks at many established questions after many years of experimentation, thus providing an effective list of Icebreakers, already tested and used.
A reasoned list of 250+ Icebreaker Questions
The Only List of Icebreaker Questions You’ll Ever Need – Museum Hack
Corporate January 01, 2020 Awkward silences, tense meetings, busy work days. These are all situations that can benefit from fun icebreaker questions! Designed as simple team building activities to help ease employees or groups into a little team bonding, icebreaker questions don’t need to be as scary – or boring!
Museum Hack has put together a list of questions to be used to start Workshops and meetings, grouped into different subsets. Funny Icebreaker Questions, Meetings etc.
Another list of 200 Icebreakers
200 Icebreaker questions – The only list you’ll need to break the ice.
Here is our list of icebreaker questions that are perfect for getting a conversation going. Have a look through and choose the icebreaker questions that you think will work best for the person or people you are talking to. When someone finds out what you do, or where you are from, what question do they always ask you?
In this list compiled by Conversation Starters, there are more than 200 questions
Conclusion
This is just a quick selection of good resources that I have used in the past. Feel free to suggest any by using the comments box below.
What Icebreaker Question has had the best results for you in your experience?
Cover Photo by Artem Maltsev on Unsplash
Cool post. Thank you for including Museum Hack ☀️
[…] we need to plan some quality time to get the team up and running. In this case, just asking and Icebreaker Questions might not be enough, and we need to plan dedicated […]