12 work icebreakers people don’t hate

What makes a good icebreaker

Good icebreakers can be answered in a sentence and still say something about the person. Skip anything that puts people on the spot.

For team meetings

1. 1What was your very first job?
2. 2What does your ideal lunch break look like?
3. 3What skill do you have that never shows up at work?
4. 4What’s your desk snack of choice?

For one-to-ones

1. 5What part of your work actually gives you energy?
2. 6Who taught you the most about doing good work?
3. 7What’s a project you’re quietly proud of?
4. 8What would you love to learn this year?

Once there’s trust

1. 9What makes work harder for you that people don’t see?
2. 10What would you do if you weren’t doing this?
3. 11How do you like to receive feedback?
4. 12What’s one thing you’d change about how we work?