Make team meetings less painful with these 5 icebreaker questions

Why team meetings are important

The workplace is constantly evolving, and with that, so are the methods for conducting team meetings.

To remain effective, team meetings must be well-organized and properly executed. By hosting regular team meetings, you can ensure that your team is on the same page and working together effectively. Team meetings also promote cohesion by allowing members to get to know one another better. 

They are an invaluable tool for promoting a cohesive and productive workplace. That being said, when team meetings happen (too) often, they can lead to meeting fatigue even in the most close-knit teams.

In such cases, melting down the tension with some fun, safe-for-work, non-cringe questions can give your team the respite they need. I want share some of my team's crowd-favorite icebreaker questions that we use internally - for internal team and cross-department meetings.

Using icebreaker questions in team meetings without being awkward

Icebreaker questions can be used in team meetings to get people talking and thinking about the topic at hand. They can also be used to build team unity and rapport. You can also use them as a way to transition into new topics or reintroduce old topics.

Before we get into the actual questions, it's equally important to focus on HOW and WHEN to use them.

In asking such questions, it's important to choose ones that are relevant to the participants and the topic of the meeting. The goal is to get everyone talking. The last thing you want is to make anyone feel uncomfortable. 

While these questions are great for team cohesion, be mindful of how often you use them. 

If you ask it in every meeting, it will lose its novelty and people might grow bored of it. If you ask too many questions in one meeting, it might take up too much time and you may come across as interrogating.

A good rule of thumb is to ask an icebreaker question when there is a lull in the conversation or when the meeting dynamics seem imbalanced (more passive participants).

5 icebreaker questions to try out in your next team meeting

• What was the most interesting thing you saw/happened to you this week?

• What fictitious character best represents you and why?

• What new hobbies or interests did you pick up recently?

• What's the most interesting part about this project?

• What’s one thing you’re grateful for at work?