Start off with an icebreaker.

I love an icebreaker – anyone who’s worked with me will know! – and usually, the less work-related, the better. But sometimes if you’re in a more corporate setting, or working with people you don’t know that well, it can feel a bit strange to ask them wacky questions.

If you find yourself needing to break some ice, but want something on the more conservative side, these work icebreakers are for you!

📝 What’s one thing you want to get out of this meeting?

Go around the circle, and everyone can share one thing they want as a result of the meeting – that could be clarity on next steps, a decision, or something else. It can really help to set up the meeting because it aligns everyone on expectations, and it can help a facilitator to make sure everyone gets what they need.

⭐️ Imagine we’ve delivered this project. What are you most proud of?

This is great for kick-offs for major projects, especially ones where you’re bringing together a new cross-functional group. It can be a really quick way to see what matters to your new teammates, and you also start off imagining success!

🧘‍♀️ What’s something you’re grateful for today?

Best for a team that already knows each other, this is a nice and grounding one. It’s not exactly work-related, but it can be. You can also swap it out for who if you want to build a culture of celebration.

You can also experiment with new types of icebreakers! Are you going to try any of these? Or are you going to wait until the inevitable fun icebreakers post? ❄️