There are many benefits to working remotely and it is becoming more and more the norm among companies, especially those with a distributed talent pool. However, if not made a priority, remote teams can sometimes know little about one another beyond names and responsibilities. Tom in Denver might be fully aware that Mary in Clevland reviews his data entry, but beyond that, they may not know a single thing about each other outside these professional exchanges.
If this has happened in your team, it’s time to remedy that! Invite your remote team onto a virtual team building service like TriviaHub and finally get to know each other. But wait: what do you do about awkward silences and the occasional stifled cough? Break the ice! Here are 12 icebreaker activities for adults that are effective, fun, and popular in 2021.
The Activities
1. I’m Dave and I Live in Detroit
Some people aren’t “talkers” unless you urge them to speak out. The first and best icebreaker is the one that gives every team member equal speaking time. As the host, start by introducing yourself. Give the room your name and a few basic facts about yourself, including your role in the company and where you live. Let everyone take turns.
You’re unlikely to find people rolling on the floor laughing during this game, but all interpersonal relationships start with a solid introduction. This icebreaker urges people to introduce themselves to the group and share basic biographical details.
2. The Worst Gift Question
Now it’s time to break the tension with some laughs. Let everyone take turns sharing the worst gift they’ve ever received. Was it a sock without a pair, or maybe a set of off-brand headphones that never turned on?
You can get surprisingly personal with this icebreaker. People may find themselves sharing details about where they grew up, what their childhood is like, and facts about their current relationships.
3. Raise Your Hand
This is a good icebreaker because it feels like a game, even though the real object is to learn facts about your teammates. As the host, tell everyone to raise their hand if they fulfill certain qualities. Who has traveled out of the country? Who can write with both hands?
You can even turn this icebreaker into a game and reward the person with the most “points”, or hand raises. However, most popular icebreakers intentionally don’t have a clear winner because the conversation itself is the aim of the game.
4. Favorite Movie
It’s time to ask everyone’s favorite movie. This may seem like a simple question, but it says a great deal about each individual. A person’s favorite movie reveals their interests, if they follow a certain “fandom”, or if they’re a cinephile.
Did a person love a recent release? Chat about it! Discussing current pop culture is a cardinal rule of icebreakers, especially if someone is a stranger to you.
5. One Word Answers
Ask icebreaker questions that only require one-word answers. Describe your hometown in one word, or describe the person to your left (compliments only). You can even ask someone to describe something semi-controversial. What does everyone think of anchovies, pineapples on pizza, or sushi?
6. Build a Fantasy House
This icebreaker question reveals more about a person than you might think. Ask every team member what their extreme “fantasy house” looks like. Fantasy houses have no financial limits and can be as weird as they want.
More extroverted players may jump into this game with more spontaneity, so feel free to urge every player to contribute. As the game progresses, people may start to add more hilarious oddities to their fantasy homes.
7. Tell a Story
This is another icebreaker that’s sure to get everyone laughing, and laughter is the best way to break professional tension. Everyone takes turns adding one sentence to a story. How wild will the situation get? Who gets to resolve the story?
Team leaders should monitor the game and feel free to interrupt if the story goes in an unprofessional direction. However, this is a delightful icebreaker that’s certain to warm up the team for a meeting.
8. Daring Exploits
Even the most seemingly reserved person has likely sought out an adrenaline rush. What’s the most daring thing every remote team member has ever done? Skydive? Drive an ATV? If someone is sheepish and doesn’t have an answer, ask them to list something that they’ve always wanted to try once, like jet ski or hike up a mountain.
9. Least Favorite Celebrity
Ask everyone to name their least favorite celebrity and why. Who gets under your skin? What is it about them? Does anyone disagree?
This one can be controversial, but it’s certain to cause a spike in conversation. No politics allowed, seriously.
10. Would You Rather?
Some icebreaker activities are sillier than others, but if you feel your team would be willing, ask them where they’d fall in a “Would You Rather” scenario. Example: Would you rather own 5 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?
You don’t have to do all the asking, either. Invite someone else to offer their own question to the crowd. Team members’ answers may surprise you!
11. What’s Next?
Icebreakers don’t have to go at the beginning of a team building meeting. Feel free to end with an activity, too. Ask everyone what they’ll do as soon as the meeting is over. Who’s going for lunch? What are some favorite spots in their city?
As with other icebreakers, more reserved team members may be hesitant to speak up. As the team leader, feel free to require participation. Before you start any icebreaker it may be a good idea to write down a list of team members. Go down the list to make sure everyone plays along.
12. The Last Thing You Read
Finally, this is a great way to start conversations with teammates, especially in intellectual fields. Ask everyone about the last thing they read, whether it was a novel, biography, fascinating article, or even a magazine. Hopefully, everyone has an answer to contribute.
In Conclusion
These icebreaker activities can break through the detached professionalism of “work talk” and encourage your entire remote team to bond. Book an event with TriviaHub today to virtually connect with your remote team, and help them connect with each other, all on one fun, easy-to-use solution.