What is an icebreaker? Definition and examples for meetings
An icebreaker is a short question or activity at the start of a meeting, workshop or event that gets people talking and makes the room feel less stiff. A good one takes 15 to 60 seconds per person, is easy for everyone to answer and doesn't push anyone to share something personal.
Example icebreaker questions
For team meetings (a quick round, 15–30 seconds each)
- "What's one thing that went well for you this week?"
- "What are you most looking forward to this month, at work or not?"
- "One word for how this week is going?"
For workshops and training
- "What's one thing you'd like to be able to do by the end of today?"
- "What's the most useful tip anyone ever gave you about this topic?"
- "Where are you on this, from 'never done it' to 'could teach it'?"
For events and networking
- "What brought you here today?"
- "Which session are you most curious about?"
- "What's something you're working on that you'd like advice on?"
For video calls
- "Where are you dialling in from today?"
- "What's one thing within arm's reach that has a story?"
What works and what falls flat
| Works | Falls flat |
|---|---|
| A question anyone can answer in a sentence | "Tell us your most embarrassing moment" |
| Linked to the meeting's purpose | Forced fun unrelated to why people came |
| Short: 20 people × 30 seconds is 10 minutes | A full minute each in a large group |
| The host answers first, to set the length | Asking the quietest person to go first |
| An easy option to pass | Making everyone stand up and perform |
Icebreaker or icebreaker speech?
In Toastmasters, the first prepared speech a new member gives is called the Ice Breaker: a short talk introducing yourself. That's a different thing; see how to give your Ice Breaker speech.
Questions people ask
What is a good icebreaker question for work?
One that's quick, positive and not too personal, such as "What's one thing that went well for you this week?"
How long should an icebreaker take?
For a regular meeting, five minutes or less in total. For a full-day workshop, 10 to 15 minutes is reasonable.
Do people actually like icebreakers?
Many don't like long or personal ones. Short, relevant questions with a way to pass tend to land better.
What is a quick icebreaker for a large group?
Ask a show-of-hands question, or have people answer in pairs for two minutes instead of going round the whole room.