Getting your employees fired up for a meeting—online or in-person—is about as easy as getting a dog excited for a bath.

Meeting in the morning?

Hello, half-asleep zombies…

Meeting in the afternoon?

Welcome, screen-fatigued daydreamers…

The atmosphere at the start of most meetings, put simply, isn’t great.

But starting a meeting with an icebreaker can change this. 

In fact, they are a great way of easing pre-existing tensions and interrupting the monotony of the daily grind.

Once you start using icebreakers at the start of your meetings, you’ll find your employees are much more engaged and eager to contribute.

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Icebreakers perfect for kickstarting meetings

Starting off our collection are icebreakers suited to traditional, on-site meetings. These activities brighten up the start of an ideation session or a team briefing

1. Blind artistry

Our first activity is a creative way to bring players together. Members will flex their artistic muscles and draw against the clock. To get started, you’ll need a whiteboard, some markers, and a clear timer. You’ll also need to have some creative examples ready to put into a sketchbook.

Create 2 teams. One person from each team is the “artist.” The artist leaves the room for a moment, while you scribble a fun doodle into your sketchbook, showing everyone else in the room. When the artists re-enter, they need to replicate your hidden drawing, replicating the original as best they can. The artist’s teammates describe what’s needed to make the drawing the same as yours, all while the clock keeps ticking. Great icebreaking fun to get teams talking!

2. Blast from the past, who am I?

A throwback to photos from childhood is a great way to start fun conversations. People love using memories and photos from yesteryear to find things in common and learn more about one another.

Before the meeting, ask everyone to bring in a childhood photo. Collect them all and keep things anonymous. During the game, share each photo and let the group guess who’s who. It’s a light-hearted way to connect and share a few laughs!

3. Towering questions

Everybody loves Jenga! It’s a classic crowd-pleaser, perfect for an easygoing icebreaker session. Anyone can jump in, and adding questions to each block elevates the fun. Just clear the arena for tumbling bricks!

Create an imposing tower of Jenga blocks. As players pull each block, they read icebreaker questions written on the blocks and answer before placing it on top (no doubt you have your own Jenga rules in place). You’ll get conversations going on everything from hobbies to career goals. Traditional games with a fresh spin like this are great for breaking the ice and instigating a friendly atmosphere.

4. Who said that quote?

“Who said that quote?” is a quick icebreaker that gets everyone thinking and connecting over inspiring words. It’s fast-paced and perfect for the more intellectually-minded among your teams.

Prepare inspirational quotes on slips of paper and place them in the central hub of the group. Write the list of the famous people who said each quote, but don’t reveal who said each one. Then players pick a slip, read it out loud, and try to guess who said it from the names on the board. Keep tabs on scores and reveal your mastermind winners.

We really like “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” Oscar Wilde was behind that one!

5. Find your pairing

Here’s a lively way to get the ball rolling for fun conversations. “Find Your Pairing” naturally leads people to get to know one another, great for newcomers who might feel some first-day jitters.

Prepare word pairs, like salt and pepper or ebony and ivory. Tape one-half of each pair to a participant’s back. Everyone walks around asking yes-or-no questions to figure out their word, then finds their matching pair. Once paired up, they can ask open or closed questions to learn three new things about each other. It’s a match made in team-building heaven!

6. Highlight of the month

Highlight of the Month is a simple way to celebrate recent team wins and recognize everyone’s hard work. A little recognition goes a long way, setting the right atmosphere for icebreaking with new employees.

Ask each person in attendance to share a personal or team achievement in the past month. Project success, weight loss achievements, or just a small personal “win,” encourage everyone to share. It’s a great way to shine a light on success and keep motivation high! 

7. Unsung heroes

How many times do you think great work goes unrecognized in the office? More than it should, right? “Unsung heroes” dedicate time to recognition and appreciation, doubling up as a great icebreaker for any newbies in the office.

Start with a word cloud poll asking, “Who was your silent office here this month?” Share the poll loudly and proudly on the big screen. Our top tip is to combine the world cloud with an open text poll, so people can leave a heartfelt shoutout for their silent hero too.

8. Desert island game

Looking for a quick mental warm-up? The Desert Island Game is a fun icebreaker that reveals team priorities and encourages decision-making.

Prepare a list of eight random items like a shovel, string, canvas bag, flask, comb, and so on. Tell the team to imagine they’re taking a one-way ferry to a deserted island and can only bring three items from the list. After everyone chooses, go around and ask each person to share their picks and reasoning.

9. Jetset dreaming

A person’s wanderlust, as in, where they would love to travel to, can kickstart conversations that bring people together in an icebreaking session. Whether it’s the sandy shores of Bali or a cozy cabin in the Swiss Alps, hearing about each other’s dream travel plans gives a glimpse into their adventurous side.

Have each person in the session mention their top holiday spot, and what draws them there. It’s a great way for people to find things in common and quietly encourages people to reinforce their personal travel goals.

Icebreaker activities for virtual team meetings

More teams than ever carry out their work remotely. A virtual icebreaking session helps teams connect, laugh, and share a little about themselves. They build bridges that cover long-distance working relationships. Here are our top pics:

10. Take a picture of…

Start things off simply with an activity that involves picture sharing. It’s a visual way to bring personality into virtual meetings, especially for budding photographers in your teams. 

Pick a category like “your pet,” “the view from your window,” or “something that brightened your day.” Ask each attendee to share their photo right at the start of your virtual meeting. Make this a weekly routine and presto! You’re building bonds for teams through photos and storytelling.

11. A moment for your mug

As more people work from home, their home comforts become more important to their daily routine. Use a cozy icebreaker that gives everyone a small chance to show their favorite mug. 

Almost everyone enjoys a hot drink first thing in the morning, and a moment to appreciate the small things in life. This activity becomes a small moment for checking in on people, making sure they’re comfortable in their home working environment. 

12. 5 minutes with a family member

Add a genuine personal touch to virtual meetings by letting employees introduce a family member for 5 minutes. Staff members who don’t live with family might have a housemate or a pet to hand the spotlight to.

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.

13. Emoji quizmasters

Create a light-hearted test to shatter ice in a virtual meeting with some emoji-decoding shenanigans. All you need to do beforehand is think of a category, like “films” “song names” or “famous phrases,” and visually represent them using only emojis.

Make it into a quick 5-minute game at the start of an icebreaking session and keep tally on winning guesses. You’ll be bringing people together in a fun way and encouraging them to use their emoji-nation.

14. Guess whose desk?

Most people working remotely need some semblance of order and tidiness in their work area. That’s not everyone, and that’s okay too. Create an icebreaking activity where people need to guess whose desk belongs to who for a lighthearted way of bringing people together.

Just ask all attendees to take a photo of their work setup and send it to you before the session. Keep it anonymous, and encourage everyone to keep their photo authentic. No need to create an ultra-tidy work arena. Let each person guess the photos you show them, and let the fun times roll.

15. Parading pets (or plants!)

Did you know that two-thirds of all US households own a pet? We’ve got no idea how many people have plants, but the number must be sky-high. Take a moment to have your teams parade their pets or plants in a virtual get-together for an immediate morale boost.

People love bonding with animals, and plant-keeping for harmony in the home is also extremely popular. Many people see keeping plants as something to care for and look after, so capitalize on this and show some appreciation with a pet (or plant) parade!

16. Remote team trivia

Using trivia games and quizzes in a remote setting works perfectly for breaking the ice. There are countless trivia games to choose from, like “Virtual Jeopardy,” “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”, and “Kahoot” waiting for your teams to try.

Put general knowledge to the test in a relaxed, virtual setting and keep tabs on the office quizmaster. Remote team trivia is great for sparking friendly competition in the workplace.

17. A (virtual) vacation

For your virtual meetings, how about getting a little funky with backgrounds to reflect the perfect vacation destination? Ask each attendee in your virtual meeting to prepare a background that shows their ideal place for a holiday. 

Help everyone get to grips with Zoom’s “backgrounds and effects” tab where you can use a custom background. Who knows? You might have a glimpse of turquoise waters in the Maldives or rice paddies in the countryside of Vietnam.

18. Themed outfit day

Create an icebreaking session using a “themed outfit day” for some lighthearted fun. People often feel much more comfortable wearing something funky while in their own households, so pick a theme like “tropical Tuesday” or “pajama day” to stick a twist on usual routines.

Add a pop of fun and let your teams show off their personality with a themed virtual meeting. Some of the best themes to try are:

• Sports fanatic day
• Decades day (70’s and 80’s)
• Superhero day
• Filmstar day

19. The GIF game

When words just don’t cut it, the GIF game is a great way to smash some ice apart. It’s guaranteed to bring laughter to your virtual session as everyone expresses their favorite short-form videos.

Start off by throwing out a fun statement like “What you’ll find me doing after work on a Friday night.” Each attendee then scours the internet for the best GIF to represent their answer. Choose the best response and let them pick the next prompt. Simple, lively, and fun, try this one out in your next virtual get-together.

20. Caption this!

A contest of captioning images is an effective way of breaking the ice for your teams. Let everyone’s sense of humor come alive with a quickfire game of “caption this!” 

Just search beforehand for some goofy imagery (“awkward family photos” is a fun resource!). Think along the lines of dogs in sunglasses or a vending machine that’s only stocked with one silly item. In your virtual meeting, ask each member to type their caption in the chatbox and have a quick poll for the best response. Fun all round!

21. “Show Us Your Tabs”

Add a bit of humor and curiosity, giving teammates a sneak peek into each other’s remote workday and browsing habits. Ask everyone to share one open tab from their browser that isn’t work-related. A recipe, a news article, a shopping page, or a random Wikipedia rabbit hole, each tab gives a fun glimpse into what everyone’s browsing in their downtime.

Growing closer in meetings with icebreaker questions

Simple, playful questions are an excellent way to bring people together and break the ice. Nothing too heavy, just print some of our recommendations, and you’re all set Here are some top categories to try with your team:

22. This or that questions

This-or-that questions create quick bonds and speed-run your teams to stronger bonds through laughter. Remember, there’s only one outcome to choose from, so choose wisely! Some of the best this-or-that questions to try include:

• Books or movies?
• A Netflix binge or a nature hike?
• City life or the countryside?

23. Would you rather?

Would-you-rather questions are one of the best ways teams can really get to know each other. These are similar to this-or-that questions, but they have a little more room for creative answers if you follow them up with “Explain, why?” (Just remember, it’s not an interrogation!)

• Would you rather be forced to sing or dance along to every single song you hear?
• Would you rather find true love today or win the lottery jackpot 5 years from today?
• Would you rather always have a full battery in your phone or a full tank of gas in your car?

24. Funny teambuilding questions

Sometimes you’ve just got to let loose and ask funny questions with a light-hearted touch. Humorous questions open more doors to bonding conversations than many people realize. Try these out to tickle someone’s funny bone:

• Would you rather have hair down to your ankles or be completely bald?
• Would you rather wear clown shoes or bunny ears every day?
• Would you rather be cursed with hands that never stopped growing or feet that never stopped growing?

‍25. Questions with remote workers in mind

Teambuilding questions on remote topics is a great way to involve your remote and hybrid workers. Questions that help your remote staff unwind get them more engaged as they carry out work off-site. Here are a few to get you started, remote workers need some love too! 

• Can you give us a description of your perfect remote work setup?
• Have you picked up any new skills or hobbies since working from home?
• Where’s the most unusual place you’ve taken a remote meeting?

26. Reflective and learning-from-mistakes questions

Sometimes blending icebreaker questions with lessons learned from previous projects can help teams better understand the way they fit together. Learning from mistakes is often the way real growth happens. Here’s a couple to start you off:

• Ever faced a challenge that ended up bringing unexpected positives?
• What’s one piece of advice you’d give your past self about bouncing back from setbacks?
• What is one thing that glows and one thing that needs to grow from our last project?

27. Rapid-fire questions

Sometimes you might just want to cut through distractions and get rapid-fire questions out. These can actually be a great way to lighten the mood and catch people off guard. Try shouting QUICK QUESTION before a few of these examples to catch someone unaware:

• Perfect holiday: beach, city or mountain?
• Desert Island: which album are you taking?
• Coffee, tea, or something stronger?

28. Strictly-business icebreakers

You might want to hone in on work-related questions to blend teambuilding together with future visions of completed tasks. Getting straight to work goals, skills, and experiences with your questions keeps things focused while teams connect and share their work journey. Try these:

• Since you’ve been here, what’s the project you’re most proud of, and why?
• If you could learn a new skill instantly, what would it be?
• If you could take any role for a day, what would it be and why?

‍29. Super random icebreaker questions

Ever want to just let your hair down and get a bit silly? Making questions on the most random topics brings a touch of mirth and humor to the day. 

• If animals could talk, which one would be the most annoying?
• Would you rather swim in a pool of Nutella or a pool filled with maple syrup?
• You have to choose; a fight with one horse-sized duck or a hundred duck-sized horses? (good luck to you, either way!)

30. Seasonal and festive icebreakers

Lining up some questions based on seasonal preferences and personal holidays is a lovely way to keep things festive. International workers especially enjoy talking about holidays that are a part of their culture, so try out a few of these:

• What’s your go-to holiday movie or TV show?
• Are you more of a baker or decorator when it comes to celebrating holidays?
• Have you ever celebrated a holiday that wasn’t part of your home culture?

 31. Icebreaker questions for culinary delights!

Food certainly is the way to most peoples’ stomachs. Since none of us can go for long without eating, use this as a basis for your teams to get to know each other better. You’ll be spicing up team building with quick icebreaker questions revolving around all things edible. 

These questions slice through the ice like a hot knife through butter! Here are some questions to get you started:

• In a food fight, what would be your go-to food weapon of choice? (ours is spaghetti, for maximum carnage!)
• What’s your guilty pleasure snack you don’t tell everyone about?
• What’s the weirdest food combination that you actually enjoy?

Icebreakers for bigger team meetings

Not every icebreaker can be carried out in a packed-out room with hundreds of attendees. Our next icebreakers are designed with bigger teams in mind, focused on keeping the energy levels up for bigger groups.

32. Beachball bonanza

Our first activity involves a giant inflatable beachball which is perfectly suited for icebreaking in large teams. Beachball Bonanza is a high-energy activity that gets everyone chatting. 

Prepare a massive beachball before the icebreaking session. Write light, friendly icebreaking questions on the ball like “What’s a talent you wish you had?” or “Who’s the best cook in your family?” As the ball is bounced around the room, a person catches it and answers whichever question their right index finger is pointing to. Easy fun!

33. Kram Senoj

We hope we caught your attention with this nonsense name. The basic premise of this activity is for people to introduce themselves by saying their name, backwards! Does the title make sense now? Well, if your name’s Mark Jones, it sure will! Try to encourage everyone to think about how their name sounds backward. It might sound like the name of a Viking warlord, or a French aristocrat. This one’s great for big teams meeting for the first time.

34. Teambuilding on the map!

Very often, the best teams are made up of diverse members with unique insights and perspectives. If your large team has many international members, using “Teambuilding on the map” is a great way to get conversations flowing.

Your map can be physical or digital (like Google Maps). Depending on the amount of international members, set a task where they mark different countries on the map. These could be “Mark the place where you are from,” or “Mark the countries you have been to.” Sharing hometowns and travel experiences always brings teams closer together.

35. Compliment chain reaction

“Compliment chain reaction” uses positive reinforcement as the basis for kickstarting ice-breaking conversations. This one is great for large teams. Start things off by complimenting one team member, then have them pass a compliment to someone else. The chain continues until everyone has both given and received a kind word. It’s a simple way to remind everyone of the strengths they bring to the group.

36. Categories

Categories is a quick-thinking game that’s perfect for large groups and keeps everyone on their toes. The premise is simple; pick a category and go around the room asking each person for an answer. As soon as an answer is repeated, or a person hesitates for too long, they’re out for that round. Start simple, then increase the difficulty with time. Some more challenging examples could be:

• Childhood TV shows
• Jobs that didn’t exist 50 years ago
• Things you can’t do on a Zoom call

37. Around the World in 30 Seconds

This one is perfect for large, diverse teams, encouraging members to share a piece of their background. If your teams aren’t very diverse, use travel experiences instead. 

Give each person 30 seconds to talk about a favorite spot from home, a cool cultural fact, or a memorable place they’ve been to. You could be creating a whirlwind tour around the world, giving everyone a chance to share and learn something new about their colleagues.

Meeting icebreakers with mood in mind

Sometimes, a little thought goes a long way. Using icebreakers that gauge the moods and feelings of participants can really help set a more relaxed tone. These activities are designed to gently lift spirits in your teams, and check in on all members:

38. Draw your mood

Instead of the usual “How’s it going?” to kick things off, ask all participants to draw how they’re feeling instead. At the start of the meeting, ask each person to draw something that represents the mood they’re in. This mindful icebreaker might help people who are better at creating a visual for their mood than using words. 

39. Mood barometer

Mood Barometer is a quick way to check in with the team and get a real sense of how everyone’s feeling. Instead of the usual “How’s it going today gang?” that often falls flat, try running a poll for a fresh approach.

Start with a simple question like “On a scale of 1–7, how’s your energy today?” or “Which emoji best represents your mood right now?” This puts a small spin on standard questions. Open up space for anyone who wants to share. It’s an easy way to take the team’s pulse and set a supportive tone for the meeting.

40. Haiku appreciation

Haiku, a traditional Japanese form of poetry, uses three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable structure to capture moments or feelings in a simple, expressive way. It might sound fancy, but after a while, your teams might learn to really enjoy them.

After sharing some examples, each person writes a haiku that reflects their mood, their life on the outside, or even the meeting’s theme. Trying new forms of expression adds a creative touch and thoughtful tone to an ice-breaking session.

41. Your mood in a movie title

Keep the icebreaking playful and expressive with a bout of “Your mood in a movie title.” The clue is in the name of this activity. Have your group form pairs or teams. They need to share how they’re feeling by picking a movie title.

You might find some funny examples, like Mission Impossible when deadlines are looming, or Home Alone for your remote workers. Hopefully, no one is Lost in Translation when on an international trip. Give your teams the chance to express themselves and unwind.

42. What are you thankful for?

Here’s a thoughtful ice break that can encourage gratitude, even for the smaller things in life. This is an effective technique people practice for mood-boosting and positivity. 

You can make this a recurring monthly activity by creating and encouraging the use of a shared gratuity journal. Have them write down just one or two things they’re grateful for, big or small. It might be their supportive coworker, their family or pets, or even the smell of coffee on their desk. Remind them of the small things in life that bring us joy.

43. Color check-in

This is a really quick, visual way to share how everyone is feeling, without too many words. Using a color-mood chart, encourage all attendees to pick a color that best sums up the way they feel. Give them a chance to explain why, and keenly listen to the results. They might choose blue for calm, yellow for energetic, or gray if they’re feeling low-key. This simple activity helps everyone tune in to their moods.

44. Mindfulness icebreaker

Sometimes it’s clear that icebreaking sessions are slightly more difficult because people come in stressed about something or distracted by an outside event. It happens. So why not create a mindfulness icebreaker that encourages everyone to slow down, and “check-in” with themselves? Press pause on proceedings, and have them write down any worries, energy levels, or anything that’s taking up too much space in their mind. Your teams might really thank you for a mindful moment.

45. A song from the soul

Music is possibly the ultimate soother for the soul. Create an activity that encourages everyone to tap into the calming power of music and melody. Ask each person before the icebreaker event to bring the name of a song that captures their mood and elevates their spirit. Music has a way of universally bringing people together, so it’s a great way of boosting energy in an icebreaking session.

46. Weekend report

Most people choose the weekend as their time to unwind and reenergize from a hefty work week. Allow some room for expression on what people got up to over the weekend. Sharing a bit of their personal lives can start icebreaking in a casual way. It’s a good way for people to find common ground, too!

47. Three things we share

Making extra effort to find things in common can raise the spirits of people very quickly. Three Things We Share is an icebreaking activity with thoughtfulness kept in mind. 

Create pairs and encourage each duo to find things they have in common. Help them with cues like hobbies, travel destinations, languages, habits, and hidden talents. Within a few minutes, they’re sure to find something more than “We both work here.” Use the power of connectivity and shared experience to help break the ice for your teams.

Decision-making and problem-solving icebreakers

Icebreakers focused on decision-making and problem-solving can help push the boat out and give a healthy challenge to your teams. They’re useful for getting team members to think on their feet and collaborate under a bit of friendly pressure.

48. Shipwrecked leader

Simulating challenging and slightly scary scenarios is a great way to break ice white getting teams to think on their feet. In Shipwrecked Leader, your teams play out the scenario of being stranded on an island with very limited resources. Nominate 1 leader, who is in charge of rationing supplies, building shelter, and planning how they can return to civilization. This will highlight the importance of teamwork in problem-solving situations.

49. Bridge builder

Another resource management icebreaker comes in the form of Bridge Builder. Teams are tasked with creating the longest and strongest bridge across two platforms. The key factor is; the bridge needs to be able to hold a small weight!

Dish out craft materials your teams can get hands on with, like popsicle sticks, tape and blue tac. Set a timer and let them formulate. When the time is up, try a paperweight to test the structure’s integrity.

50. Budget cut scenario

This problem-solving activity requires you to do a little research into situations where companies face budget cuts. A fictional budget crisis in a company will help teams think laterally, and they can apply lessons learned to real-world companies. They’ll be tackling concepts of resource allocation and sunk costs, helping them learn together over a shared (and thankfully fictional) challenge.

51. Chain reaction brainstorm

Focusing on chain reactions in a company can be useful in an icebreaking session. I mean, all of these new recruits will have a big reaction on your company, right? So hone in and analyse the step-by-step reaction of a fictional event. Say the goal is “Plan an unforgettable office party.” One person will add “send out nicely-designed invites.” The next member can add “Have a taco truck parked outside,” followed by “Hire a DJ who plays 80s hits,” and so on. This is a simple and effective way to encourage spontaneous thinking while breaking ice.

52. Resource scramble

Allocating office supplies and recognizing how to manage them can give new recruits insights into the office while icebreaking. Create teams, and organize office supplies beforehand, like paperclips, rubber bands, sticky notes, and markers. Then craft up an inventive challenge for something they need to create with their resources. These could include:

• A prototype of a new product
• Design a “team mascot”
• Build a "rescue device"

53. Blindfolded obstacle course

The next activity is a little more hectic and physically demanding, but is great for having a laugh while problem-solving. As the name suggests, one team member should be blindfolded and it’s their job to navigate through an obstacle course of your design. If you have enough members, space and obstacles, create a race where two challengers go head-to-head.  Use chairs, cones and mini-steps, just make sure everything is set up safely!

54. The human knot

Here’s a bit of a head scratcher that’s great for icebreaking. Get your teams into a giant circle, and have them reach across and grab a hand from two different people. You’ll end up with a messy “human knot” which needs to be untangled without anyone letting go of a person’s hand. Do this in two teams with a timer for added fun!

55. Moral dilemma discussions

A more thoughtful icebreaker can be a great way to have teams scratching their heads and asking others for their input. This is useful for finding solutions to real-world possibilities. Each person can share their viewpoint and create meaningful conversations. Some example dilemmas could be:

• Shortcut: Save time with a shortcut that may impact quality?
• Friend’s error: Cover for a friend’s costly mistake or let them handle it?
• White lie: Be honest with a client about poor work or soften the feedback?

56. Trading post

Put your employees’ strategy, communication and negotiation skills to the test with a trading activity. Create a “survival kit” for each team, based on a scenario like setting up a new department or sorting out a community event. In each kit, include resources like “budget points,” “volunteer hours,” “advertising space,” and “equipment tokens” (e.g., for things like laptops or projectors). Ask each team to use different combinations of resources to trade and secure what they need to achieve their goal.

57. Egg Drop Challenge

This classic teambuilding activity is as messy as it is fun. The Egg Drop Challenge pits teams against each other to create a container for an egg. The egg gets dropped from a certain height, and hopefully remains intact, all thanks to the design of the container.

Hand out the materials needed to create a sturdy and secure box for the egg. Use cardboard, tape, craft paper and cotton-wool so that teams have enough variety. Watching each team’s approach and the final “egg drop” moment is always fun, there’s always a resulting cheer if it’s intact or a groan if it’s broken. Enjoy!

58. Murder mystery

Unleash the inner detectives in your teams with an icebreaker session dedicated to a murder mystery. Someone in the “team” has met a fictional demise, and it’s up to everyone to find out who’s the guilty culprit. Jazz up the mystery with clues, riddles and fake accents, and they’re in for an icebreaking treat. 

59. Marshmallow spaghetti tower

This is a classic activity that encourages teams to think outside the pasta-box. In Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower, the challenge is to use uncooked spaghetti string and a couple of marshmallows to build the tallest tower possible. It’s a simple, hands-on icebreaker that’s as fun as it is effective!

Icebreakers when time is of the essence!

For groups coming together for the first time, sometimes it’s better to keep icebreaking short and sweet. Your busy workplace might be a little strapped for time, so these activities require next to no preparation, carried out in a matter of minutes.

60. I implore you to watch!...

Did you know Netflix has over 280 million subscribers worldwide as of 2024? Everyone loves staying up-to-date with the latest shows and blockbusters, so why not use this for icebreaking? Have your teams start sentences with “I implore you to watch…” and then add their must-watch show for others to get into. Keep it rapid with a 30-second timer for each person to pitch why it should be watched. 

61. Bucket-list sharing

You create a “bucket list” by writing down all of the things you want to see or do before you pass away. It’s not morbid, many people love opening up and sharing what they hope to experience one day. Hearing someone’s dream of seeing the Northern Lights with their family, or completing a novel, this activity creates boundless conversation starters. Maybe your teams could discover someone with a similar dream. This quick activity holds great potential for personal ambitions.

62. Fast facts

While icebreaking works wonders for new staff, sometimes they do need a little encouragement to step out of their shell. Creating a “fast facts” activity might help to alleviate some of this pressure. Ask your teams to just briefly think about the most interesting or surprising fact about themselves. Maybe they lived for a while in a super-obscure country, or have a surprising passion outside of work. You’re encouraging them to open up and potentially be seen in a new light.

63. Music I’m loving right now

This activity is a quick and easy way to share what’s currently on repeat in the ears of your employees. People love sharing music, and this activity works just as well for remote teams. Ask each person to drop the title of the song they’re currently hooked on, and use this list to curate a group playlist on Spotify. Strike a chord with your staff and create team harmony. Yes, you see what we did there…

64. Team photo

Here’s a really simple activity to capture the moment for your teams to look back on in the future. It can be as simple or extravagant as you like, like a simple group selfie or a full-on photo booth session with silly props and after-effects. Create a memorable group photo opportunity with your teams for a snapshot of team spirit and a shared laugh.

65. Random question of the week

For our last activity, we recommend keeping it simple and creating a “random question of the week” activity. There are actually quite a few really good random question generators online, and having this as a 2 to 5-minute outro activity for your teams can really help with icebreaking. Simple, elegant, and open-ended questions open the door for people to get to know each other. Make it a small weekly ritual.

Escape the office. Have better meetings.

The silly games, the banter, the head-scratching puzzles—using icebreakers before a meeting definitely boosts employee engagement.

But to get the best out of your team, you need more than five-minute energisers. You need to escape the office and head somewhere new—somewhere inspiring.

At Surf Office, we make booking your next company offsite retreat an absolute doddle.

We do the planning, we find the venues and we book the travel, leaving you plenty of time to get the most out of your trip.