Ice Breaker Questions for Meetings

Tap to Read ➤ Medha Godbole

Ice breaker questions sometimes become essential in meetings where most in the group are meeting for the first time and do not know each other too well.

The word meeting is something which automatically induces a crinkled nose and a 'not again' sigh from people. Nevertheless, you go, reluctantly, (do you have a choice?), and sit there in the conference room, waiting with bated breath for the worst.

To your surprise, your boss is merry and in a good mood, and asks you to chill out, telling you about how well the company is doing, and you are asked to give your inputs on how can things be better. No one speaks anything and there is an awkward silence. At such times, an innovative boss would thrown in a few questions to everyone to break the ice.

What is the one most important skill every person should have? Which person do you think was the most influential in history? What are the three things you can never leave home without? What is the most precious thing to you in your life? Would you like to change anything about your life, and why?

According to you, which is that one subject that should be dropped from the school syllabus? What is the kindest thing you have ever done in your life? What would you name a book that was written about you? What is the one thing that makes you different from everyone else? What is the best thing you like about office? Who is the best boss you ever had?

Do you follow NFL? Who is your favorite player? If you had to call someone to bail you out of trouble, who would it be? If you found a $100 bill on the floor, what would you do with it? What was your favorite cartoon or TV show as a kid? What is your birth order? What is one item that you really should throw away, but probably never will?

What has been your worst dating experience? What are the things you want to do before you die? If you were alone on an island with Brad Pitt (for girls!) and Kristen Stewart or Katy Perry (for guys) what will you do? Your craziest fantasy? As a kid, what did you want to be after you grew up? Do you think you could have won an Oscar if you were into films?

What will you end up doing if you are not required to work? Who do you idolize and why? What do you think you will be doing 20 years from now? What is the one moment in your life that you will remember the most? What do other people think about you? If you had to be a comic character, which one would you be and why?

If you won a lottery ticket and had a million dollars, what would you do with it? If you are given an access to a time machine, where and when would you travel to? Mount Rushmore honors four U.S. Presidents. If you had to add any person to Mount Rushmore, who would you add and why? What award would you love to win and for what achievement?

What have you learned from your past relationships? What is that you have never told anyone? Do you believe in live-in relationships? Do you agree with or are okay with the idea of having sex before marriage? Can a person who is short 'talk down' to a taller person? Before you go west, how far can you go east?

At the end of the day, ice breakers are all about engaging in a good conversation and 'breaking the ice' or the awkwardness and discomfort which looms large in the room. A funny or witty statement or question can immediately brighten up the mood, and make a world of difference to the level of enthusiasm around.