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August 21, 2022

29 Amusing Ice Breakers for Virtual Meetings

Are you looking to spice up your company’s online meetings but don’t know where to start? These 29 virtual ice breakers will leave you and your employees in stitches.

Our Top Pick

That’s right, we’re calling in the big guns. The best ice breaker for meetings out there.

1. Solve a Murder Mystery

Through Amphy, you can sign up for interactive group exercises run by trained professionals. Our favorite so far is the “Murder Mystery Comedy Magic Show“. All you know is that there’s been a terrible crime, and Lord Falconer has been shot . . . can you and your team determine the killer?

Best Icebreaker Questions for in a Pinch

If you’re holding a quick meeting but want to get to know everyone, try these quick ice breakers that take under five minutes.

2. First job/worst job

Have everyone on the call go around and say what their first job was or what their worst job was. It can be fun to remember where you started, and you may find that colleagues have worked together in the past and never knew it.

3. Item on Your Desk

No matter where your employee is taking the call, have everyone choose one item from their desk to share with the group. It could be a favorite pen, a photo of loved ones, or maybe a cool paperclip they found in the back of a drawer.

4. Say Your Name Backwards

It isn’t as entertaining for coworkers with names like Bob or Dan. But have you ever thought about what Geoffrey sounds like backward? If everyone has a great time, consider using the names for the rest of the call. It’ll be your inside joke.

5. Bad Joke Contest

Got any dad jokes you’ve been dying to try out? If not, here’s one to get you started: Did you know there are more airplanes crashed at the bottom of the ocean than submarines at the top of the sky? That one always makes our friends groan.

6. What’s Your Star Sign?

This question can be met with two different attitudes. The “I know everything about this and the moon phase tomorrow” and the “What’s a star sign.” Be prepared for both.

7. Would You Rather

Keeping it safe for work, this question can be great if you need to know if the one guy in the office who always orders a Frappuccino would be willing to either drink black coffee forever or no coffee at all.

8. Bucket List

Have everyone go around and say one or two things from their bucket list. It doesn’t need to be very long.

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Sometimes, you need a good old-fashioned ice breaker that everyone already knows

Best Virtual Icebreaker Activities

Did you know that learning to bake a cake over a Teams call is a great team-building activity? It can also be a funny ice breaker. Check out our top picks for virtual ice breaker activities.

9. Homemade Mad Libs

This takes a little prep on the boss’ part. Try and create a story about your office using a mad libs template and ask everyone for nouns, adjectives, and verbs. The result can be hilarious.

10. Show and Tell: Pet/Child/Spouse Edition

Who doesn’t love to take 30 seconds and brag about their new puppy?

11. One Word Story

In this ice breaker, everyone goes around in a circle/numbered order and says one word to try and tell a story. For example, Sue could start and say, “Yesterday,” and then Tom would continue with “I,” and then Amy would say, “went,” and so forth.

12. Two Truths and a Lie

Around thirty minutes before the meeting, send out an email asking for two truths and one lie written down on a piece of paper. Then, everyone gets to guess which statement is the lie.

13. Hometown Stories

This gives employees an excellent opportunity to brag about the crazy thing some kid did in their high school or how the little bakery on the corner had the best donuts.

14. Guess That Kiddo

Have employees (and you!) submit photos of themselves as children. Then, everyone tries to guess which kid is who.

15. Learn My Hobby

We usually do this at the end of the week. One team member takes about 20 to 30 minutes and explains their favorite hobby and how to do it.

Best Visually Stimulating Icebreakers

Now for some icebreakers that involve off-screen time.

16. Draw What You See

Everyone needs crayons for this, and the goal is to draw exactly what’s in front of them (minus the computer, of course).

17. View From My Office

If the office or room has a window, consider sharing photos of what your outside world looks like.

18. Stretch Break

Once a meeting, have a quick 5-minute stretch break where people can look away from the screen, get up, and refresh. This is great for longer sessions or more stressful conversations.

19. I Spy

The goal is to spy something on someone else’s camera. Then, everyone has to try and find it!

20. Guess That Drawing

Have people sketch drawings, and whoever guesses first wins a point.

21. Origami

We’d recommend starting easy with a snake or an airplane. Frogs are fun to learn once you’re better at it!

22. Scavenger Hunt

This one has to be done with accessible objects that can be found around any house or office. Pencils, stapler, coffee mug, etc.

Best Icebreakers for Everyday

Sometimes, you need a good old-fashioned ice breaker that everyone already knows. Here are the best ice breakers you probably did at camp when you were thirteen.

23. “Tell Us Something Good”

We need good things in this world. Have everyone say something good in their lives at the beginning of every meeting.

24. Word Association

Start with a word and see who says what next! It can end with you in stitches when “Texas” goes to “Llama” and then “Emperor’s New Groove.”

25. Rose, Thorn, Bud

The rose is a good thing that has happened to the employee. The thorn is a problem they’re encountering. The bud is a goal they want to see come to fruition.

26. What’s Your Favorite?

Pick a category, any category! What’s your favorite condiment? Rock? Planet? Sport’s team?

27. One Word Check-Ins

If everyone feels a bit off, have everyone go around and give one word to describe their feelings. It can be less overwhelming than trying to explain.

28. Emoji Story

Let one person tell a story only using emojis if you have a text feature. Then, everyone has to guess what the story is.

29. Waffles vs. Pancakes

Start with the question “Waffles vs. Pancakes.” Then, have the next person discard one of those and add something else. Someone could say, “I get rid of pancakes and nominate kittens.” Then, it would be “Waffles vs. Kittens” and so on.

Conclusion

Funny ice breakers are a great way to start every meeting, whether there are new team members or not. They relax the atmosphere, have people laughing, and build a sense of camaraderie. Try one of these the next time you need to break the ice!