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Virtual meetings are integral to the future of work. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a lot to learn about how we do them.
The start of a virtual meeting is always awkward. How much small talk do you need to have? Should you just jump right into the conversation? Do people want to share what’s going on, or just get done as soon as possible?
The idea of doing virtual ice breakers may seem strange to you as a digital leader. Is it really necessary?
Let’s look at why ice breakers for virtual meetings are actually one of the best things you can do to lead effective virtual team meetings.
[If you’re looking for the full list of 100+ virtual ice breakers, scroll down to the bottom!]
Why you should take virtual meeting ice breakers seriously
Ice breaker questions set the mood and bring everyone together
While working from home has many benefits, it comes with an entirely new set of challenges. An office has a shared vibe that’s contagious. When meetings are held in a shared physical location, everyone is usually vibing on a similar level and the meeting can begin from the same common point.
On the other hand, people in virtual meetings often begin from different starting points. There’s a story behind every square on the board in your meeting software. It’s possible that one person spilled hot tea on their lap two minutes before they signed on, while another had to deal with their kid falling down the stairs. Some team members may be just starting their day while others are coming off long focused work periods. It’s rare that everyone is vibing on the same level, and that can affect the meeting’s efficiency and effectiveness.
Ice breaker questions bring everyone together and provide a much-needed “reset”
Check-in questions bring everyone onto the same wavelength. They help people relax by turning down the volume from other events that were previously going on, so they can focus on meeting topics and reconnect with their co-workers.
Asking the right questions helps people drop whatever mental and emotional baggage they were carrying so they can start the meeting with a new frame of mind.
Meeting ice breakers provides insight
Asking the right ice breaker questions during a virtual meeting gives the leader some additional signals. Meetings often involve assigning work, delegating responsibility, and sharing information. If the check-in questions reveal that someone is carrying a heavy workload, meeting organizers can pivot and assign tasks and assignments to other people that can take them on.
Ice breaker questions can improve workflow and facilitate collaboration
Some check-in questions can reveal new techniques people are using to make their workflow faster and more efficient. Questions about recent articles, podcasts, or videos can give insight into the unique skills people are learning, and that can improve collaboration by bringing new ideas to the table.
Check-in questions let everyone participate
Everyone has a unique set of skills that they can bring to the team. Some people are extroverted, others are introverted, and most are somewhere in between. No matter where they are on the scale, ice breaker questions give everyone a chance to participate on some level, and that can improve cohesion across the entire team.
Ice breaker questions remind us we are human
Working alone from home in front of a machine all day may create feelings of isolation for some people. Non-work-related questions like “what was the latest book you read?” help remind us that our coworkers are multi-dimensional human beings that have a lot to share beyond the workplace.
Choosing the right ice breaker questions
Not all virtual icebreakers are created equal. You probably don’t want to start off asking about political leanings. While that may be an extreme example, it illustrates the need to ask general questions while staying away from politics, family situations, and other personal matters.
Questions should be light, fun, and easy to answer. Some ideas include:
- How is your day so far on a scale of 1-5?
- Have you discovered any new podcasts?
- What was the latest app you downloaded?
- What’s your favorite way to relax?
- Do you have a productivity tip to share with everyone?
The best questions from our experience are easy to answer and inclusive while revealing new information.
Use our complete done-for-you verified virtual ice breakers list!
We’ve compiled a list of effective questions to ask during our meetings and on our podcast – and we can verify that they help set the mood and get the conversation flowing.
Want to give them a try? Click the link below to access the Google Drive file:
The Digital Workplace Official Check-In Questions List
Be sure to check back for new questions because we are updating the list all the time. Some questions work better than others, so this list is a constant work in progress.
So now it’s your turn! Do you have any questions you usually ask? Which ones have worked? Have any bombed? Join us on LinkedIn and Twitter – we love hearing your stories, and the best ones will get a shoutout on The Digital Workplace Podcast.
Virtual meetings are integral to the future of work. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a lot to learn about how we do them.
The start of a virtual meeting is always awkward. How much small talk do you need to have? Should you just jump right into the conversation? Do people want to share what’s going on, or just get done as soon as possible?
The idea of doing virtual ice breakers may seem strange to you as a digital leader. Is it really necessary?
Let’s look at why ice breakers for virtual meetings are actually one of the best things you can do to lead effective virtual team meetings.
[If you’re looking for the full list of 100+ virtual ice breakers, scroll down to the bottom!]
Why you should take virtual meeting ice breakers seriously
Ice breaker questions set the mood and bring everyone together
While working from home has many benefits, it comes with an entirely new set of challenges. An office has a shared vibe that’s contagious. When meetings are held in a shared physical location, everyone is usually vibing on a similar level and the meeting can begin from the same common point.
On the other hand, people in virtual meetings often begin from different starting points. There’s a story behind every square on the board in your meeting software. It’s possible that one person spilled hot tea on their lap two minutes before they signed on, while another had to deal with their kid falling down the stairs. Some team members may be just starting their day while others are coming off long focused work periods. It’s rare that everyone is vibing on the same level, and that can affect the meeting’s efficiency and effectiveness.
Ice breaker questions bring everyone together and provide a much-needed “reset”
Check-in questions bring everyone onto the same wavelength. They help people relax by turning down the volume from other events that were previously going on, so they can focus on meeting topics and reconnect with their co-workers.
Asking the right questions helps people drop whatever mental and emotional baggage they were carrying so they can start the meeting with a new frame of mind.
Meeting ice breakers provides insight
Asking the right ice breaker questions during a virtual meeting gives the leader some additional signals. Meetings often involve assigning work, delegating responsibility, and sharing information. If the check-in questions reveal that someone is carrying a heavy workload, meeting organizers can pivot and assign tasks and assignments to other people that can take them on.
Ice breaker questions can improve workflow and facilitate collaboration
Some check-in questions can reveal new techniques people are using to make their workflow faster and more efficient. Questions about recent articles, podcasts, or videos can give insight into the unique skills people are learning, and that can improve collaboration by bringing new ideas to the table.
Check-in questions let everyone participate
Everyone has a unique set of skills that they can bring to the team. Some people are extroverted, others are introverted, and most are somewhere in between. No matter where they are on the scale, ice breaker questions give everyone a chance to participate on some level, and that can improve cohesion across the entire team.
Ice breaker questions remind us we are human
Working alone from home in front of a machine all day may create feelings of isolation for some people. Non-work-related questions like “what was the latest book you read?” help remind us that our coworkers are multi-dimensional human beings that have a lot to share beyond the workplace.
Choosing the right ice breaker questions
Not all virtual icebreakers are created equal. You probably don’t want to start off asking about political leanings. While that may be an extreme example, it illustrates the need to ask general questions while staying away from politics, family situations, and other personal matters.
Questions should be light, fun, and easy to answer. Some ideas include:
- How is your day so far on a scale of 1-5?
- Have you discovered any new podcasts?
- What was the latest app you downloaded?
- What’s your favorite way to relax?
- Do you have a productivity tip to share with everyone?
The best questions from our experience are easy to answer and inclusive while revealing new information.
Use our complete done-for-you verified virtual ice breakers list!
We’ve compiled a list of effective questions to ask during our meetings and on our podcast – and we can verify that they help set the mood and get the conversation flowing.
Want to give them a try? Click the link below to access the Google Drive file:
The Digital Workplace Official Check-In Questions List
Be sure to check back for new questions because we are updating the list all the time. Some questions work better than others, so this list is a constant work in progress.
So now it’s your turn! Do you have any questions you usually ask? Which ones have worked? Have any bombed? Join us on LinkedIn and Twitter – we love hearing your stories, and the best ones will get a shoutout on The Digital Workplace Podcast.
