virtual diversity icebreakers

1. Then, display the highlights on the screen, and give a shout out to each one. Share some laughs with your teammates on Zoom. We hope you’ll try one of these icebreakers at your next virtual meeting. Icebreaker: If You Could Choose Just One, Which One Would You Choose? Sometimes, it’s hard to get a sense of how your team members are feeling – especially during larger meetings. Collect interesting facts about each team member and then let other colleagues guess away. The ice breakers and mixers on the following pages are focused on getting members to interact with people they might not know well, and getting them comfortable with each other. This is a favourite in my team. Read also: How Talking About Wins and Struggles Helped Our Team Bond. Give kudos to the heroes in your team. Or, on the flip side, you can choose to focus on the participants’ least favorite food, vegetable, city, movie, book, ice cream flavor, and so forth. They engage employees rapidly to encourage comfort in virtual communication. Get your colleagues out of their chairs for a bit – they’ll appreciate a little physical activity. This fun game is great for introducing new colleagues or getting to know each other better. If its true of them, participants will raise their hands or use the raise hand button on your virtual … Tip: combine the word cloud with an open text poll, so that people can also leave a heart-warming message for their nominated silent hero. Everyone has an opinion once you give them a few minutes to think and write down their answers. Looking around is an easy-to-perform energizer with a simple online variation. Working from home, working remotely, or working in different offices can leave employees feeling out of touch with one another. What have you liked most about working remotely? Finance 5. You can even take it a little further and get inspired by our colleague Nadia who recently prepared for us a full-scale virtual scavenger hunt. Difficulty: Medium. Get everyone on their webcams to stand up in the room where possible (sitting down is fine) and follow along with the instructions. Materials: Bingo cards (emailed to each player), questions and an electronic device. As mentioned early, diversity can inhibit team performance. You’d have a coffee and a natter in the office so why not have a virtual coffee? Researchers have discovered that an embarrassing story would help people drop their inhibitions and become more creative. Platform. We shared some good laughs together! With a good icebreaker, you can set the mood for the meeting, give your online participants a chance to speak, and make them more comfortable sharing and interacting throughout. Then, ask them to share a story behind the picture (if it’s not a secret!). We run this type of quiz when we introduce a new team member or as a holiday fun activity. It’s a sweet little activity to make people talk and get to know one another better. Take a picture of a view from your window and post it to Slack, Find something smaller than your fingernail, Change your Zoom background to your favorite movie set, Click ‘Share Screen’, choose ‘Whiteboard’ and click ‘Share’. While virtual backgrounds may be a way for participants to express themselves, it is important to understand who is being excluded and included with these types of actions. This way, you can be sure that everybody will participate and that their answers will be honest. Ask a question like, "What do you think is the most important aspect of our customer service?" What is your best tip for successfully working remotely? The Balance Careers uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Duration: 15 to 20 minutes. Virtual Icebreaker Questions All of the icebreaker questions here can be used for virtual icebreakers or online meetings, but here ’s a few that are especially great. They make employees feel closer to each other as they share laughter even in a remote meeting. Here’s another one from the ‘Get to know your colleagues better’ series. To diffuse negativity within a group when faced with challenging changes. For example, ask the employees to name their five favorite vegetables, five favorite flowers, or five favorite restaurants. Icebreakers are an important part of any training program, as they encourage people to participate from the start of a session, to get to know each other and to feel comfortable working with others. And, you’ll also need to require that the commonalities they identify must have nothing to do with their work or body parts (for example, we all work at Stillwater, we all have a mouth.) Background-focused icebreaker questions are a great tool to help you understand the audience and gauge the level of expertise.Word cloud polls: Which organization are you representing? Use any of the icebreakers below to overcome that awkwardness and conduct effective remote meetings. For recurring meetings, come up with a different fun poll each time, here are some for your inspiration. Instructions. If you are looking for an icebreaker that you can use in a Zoom, Webex, GoToMeeting, Skype or Google Hangouts meeting or even via text or smartphone, these recommended virtual icebreakers and team building activities require little to no preparation. Piotr has facilitated a number of virtual Diversity Icebreaker workshops and was involved in development of a dedicated DI-module for a 3D collaboration platform. Icebreakers also give you a great opportunity to get to know your colleagues better. (Useful for kicking off remote meetings. Piotr has also supported our clients with tips and help both prior and during their virtual DI use. 12 Funny Icebreakers To Start Your Zoom Meetings, Happy Hours & Dates Off Strong. Are you looking for virtual icebreakers that you can use with your team at a time when employees are likely to avoid the office? Take a different one each time — make funny faces, bring in your pets, do a crazy gesture, be creative. Objective: To promote team bonding. In fact, it’s one of the easiest, most effective opportunities you have to break the ice in your current remote situation. Check out the vlog from our remote series where you’ll find 5 easy icebreaker tips! What would your superpower be if you had one? You can increase participation and get feedback by asking your team to enter responses into a chat to create a virtual icebreaker. They add laughter to an otherwise potentially scary experience.They bring increased feelings of alignment to your employees, and they will help you combat loneliness as everyone works remotely. This activity is fun and can reveal some fun facts about your colleagues! Starting a meeting with some laughs will help your teammates feel more connected. Another fun live poll to help you lighten the mood. Participants: 10 players or less. Ice Breaker Activities for Small Group Counseling. How does your team stand on this fashion statement? The Diversity Icebreaker online questionnaire is both robust and versatile and, in this webinar, we will demonstrate multiple ways of using it in the virtual context. What's hot. Virtual icebreakers will help. As a leader, don’t forget to contribute as well. Give them a little task such as: “You have 25 seconds to fetch something yellow,” or “Get the weirdest thing in your apartment, then bring it back to show us”. What’s one song or artist that you’re embarrassed to admit you like. The meeting facilitator asks a short question. Open your meeting with a question such as: “In one word, how would you describe the past week/month?”. Describe the best feature of your remote office. Starting a meeting with some laughs will help your teammates feel more connected. With the continuing acceleration of the capability of technology, you can expect to have colleagues working remotely from all over the country—if not the world—as the battle for specific talents, skills, and experience escalates. Here is a list of short virtual ice breaker questions you can use as bonding activities in virtual meetings or conference calls. Ice Breaker Games to Improve Teamwork and Collaboration. It’s about taking a break from everything for a while and enjoying quality time with friends or colleagues over a cup of coffee or tea. Duration: 15 to 20 minutes. This icebreaker is inspired by my colleague Sabine, who decided that since our team-building trip couldn’t happen this year, at least we’ll make up a cool story of how it went. Materials: Bingo cards (emailed to each player), questions and an electronic device. By the end, the word cloud will create a nice collage of all the different places. Many of us have experienced online meetings to be dull and unenergetic, with many video screens off. 10) Virtual Diversity Bingo. These fun icebreakers can be performed anytime, anywhere, no matter the distance! A slow start after the weekend? If your teammates are scattered around the world, kick off your meeting by sending a virtual hi to each one of them. Diversity and Inclusion Events. According to the Harvard Business Review, one study found that workers who shared an embarrassing story about themselves with their team produced 26% more ideas spanning 15% more use categories in brainstorming sessions than workers who didn't tell the stories.. When the groups share their 10 with the other groups, expect that employees will look for commonalities and the virtual icebreaker will generate laughter, comfort, and common ground. Using a flip chart, list the changes that the group is going through. Remote work can be a lonely business. The cool thing about having a virtual happy hour is that everyone is probably in their own respective bedrooms or living areas. List of virtual icebreaker questions. Feel free to take or leave the “lie.” The appeal of this icebreaker is in its getting-to-know-you emphasis. ; Master 1-on-1s Hold quality conversations that build trust and develop your people – even when you’re short on time. It is, however, sensitive by nature, as it forces you and your staff to address key issues such as race, gender, religion, sexual preference and politics. CONTENT - facilitation of a DI-workshop using video-conferencing software, e.g. The activities/exercises listed were not created by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion staff. Why not try these virtual icebreakers to kick off your remote meetings? What's hot. Did you miss an Inclusion Icebreaker in the Daily Blast? ↑ Table of Contents ↑ Virtual Meeting Icebreakers. This is a great icebreaker for any topic where it’s helpful for participants consider whether categorising people is fair, and the impact this can have on beliefs and behaviour. The ice breakers and mixers on the following pages are focused on getting members to interact with people they might not know well, and getting them comfortable with each other. Ice breaker games usually all have a strong aspect of teamwork and collaboration as people work together in groups to accomplish a challenge or solve a puzzle. Great remote team builders will foster closeness, improve communication, and boost team morale for your employees. Update: Download a PDF of these questions. Which city/state/country are you from? She created a slideshow of random travel pictures, started a story, and then called on one of our teammates to follow up on what she said based on what picture was currently up. In this virtual team building game, group members are given a scenario where they’re stranded on a deserted island with seven objects – but they can only grab three. The goal of virtual team building is to create strong teams that are working remotely. Explore the five-minute exercises that center on a relevant diversity, inclusion and access topics. While an office environment allows for chats by the coffee maker or happy hours outside of the office, it’s easy to forget to connect when virtual. With icebreakers about any topic, the employee retains control of what he or she wants to share with the group. This icebreaker is good for virtual meetings because it takes only a small amount of time, while producing great results for your team-building goals. Another similarly popular activity is “Take a picture of your shoes” that is equally hilarious. Run a quick weekend photo contest to get your teammates talking. Here is a list of short virtual ice breaker questions you can use as bonding activities in virtual meetings or conference calls. Understand your team Uncover your team’s real needs by giving them a safe space to share honest, anonymous feedback. Virtual Icebreakers to build rapport and drive engagement When working in a team setting, it definitely helps to get to know your co-workers before working on a project together. Some are virtual. Collect two true facts and one false fact about a colleague and put it into a multiple choice poll. Including an ice breaker or mixer at each meeting is a quick, easy and fun way to actively get members acquainted with each other. Objective: To promote team bonding. Here are short virtual icebreakers that will help your team to engage and focus in under 3 minutes: Short virtual icebreakers under 3 minutes Short questions. This can be a great opportunity for an icebreaker. By doing this exercise, you will not only know your team members are still there, but you will have engaged them and received useful feedback. Let us conclude this list with this tiny simple icebreaker: Ask your colleagues to go to their phones, and dig out the last photo that they took. Every teammate answers the question with only one word or sentence. Susan Heathfield is an HR and management consultant with an MS degree. This is completely understandable when, alternatively, they could increase their risk of catching the disease and spreading it by going to work. Here are 21 free to use icebreakers for online teaching that you can use. She has covered HR for The Balance Careers since 2000. Virtual meeting icebreakers can help teams bond and connect. In … A few activities to liven up your classroom instruction. When working in a team setting, it definitely helps to get to know your co-workers before working on a project together. For recurring meetings, come up with a different fun poll each time, I agree that Slido may process my personal information in accordance with Slido, 33 Beautiful Word Cloud Ideas for Your Meetings or Events, 4 Quizzes to Energize Your Virtual Meetings, How Talking About Wins and Struggles Helped Our Team Bond, 3+1 Quizzes for Your (Virtual) Holiday Office Party, 5 Quizzes to Energize Your Virtual Meetings, 15 Fresh Ideas For Your Next Virtual All-Hands Meeting. That is the goal of icebreaker activities, after all. This icebreaker is easy to develop and customize for any team building session, training class, or meeting. Shift your perspective to view decisions through a diversity lens. You can use any question to make this virtual icebreaker both helpful and a comfortable way to kickstart the conversation at the beginning of a meeting. Introducing a new team member via a team-wide conference can be overwhelming for some. The best one-word icebreaker is updated to include ideas for the COVID-19 crisis, so while you are working remotely in isolation, why not try out a version that fits your situation? Not all meetings nowadays are in-person. Read also: 4 Quizzes to Energize Your Virtual Meetings. Additional questions you can employ include: When you are working remotely, you are looking for quick, simple ways to bring employees together. Kick-off your meeting with a word cloud poll such as: “Who was your silent hero this month?”. Many of us played similar icebreaker games like this in school. Bonus: 5 virtual team icebreakers Do an intro video. Get creative, there are infinite possibilities: Favorite movie scenes, 80’s disco, memes, dream vacation places, you name it. Two truths and a lie. Set up a new tradition and ask your team one random question each week or month. In a sense, training your employees to not be awkward around each … Showing vulnerability is also a form of strength. You can then open a discussion about all your anti-highlights and what you learned from them. For example, at the start of your meeting, ask your colleagues to click the emoji that best describes their current mood. Of course, you can always try virtual happy hour icebreakers, too, and bring everyone closer together. Remote/Virtual Delivery: There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library. You can call it however you like – virtual watercooler talks, virtual happy hour, you name it. She gave us 5 minutes to fulfill 20 tasks such as: When the time was up, we got back together on Zoom and shared funny stories behind the objects that we brought. For this virtual icebreaker, divide your team members into groups of four or five and ask the meeting participants to find 10 things they have in common with every other person in their group. Before your next all-hands or town hall meeting, set a theme and ask your colleagues to pick a virtual background image that, for them, represents it best. Pick any type of annotation tools you like – drawing, shapes, texts, you name it! This is not only an icebreaker but a morale booster as well. Learn More → Workplace diversity games help individuals understand that for all the differences that may be present between people in a workplace, everyone shares a common humanity. Changes Goal. ITHave you used this … This icebreaker is great for taking a pulse check of the overall atmosphere in the team and detecting possible downturns. With a good icebreaker, you can set the mood for the meeting, give your online participants a chance to speak, and make them more comfortable sharing and interacting throughout. This virtual icebreaker is ideal for larger meetings or virtual events – the more locations, the better the word cloud will look. They’re also great for hiding a messy kitchen behind you, or a trespassing family member! These photos also make nice content for your social media, internal newsletters, or Slack channels! It’s good to remind people of all the remarkable work that they’ve done. 3. Sharing is caring – and that should apply for both the good and the bad. Virtual icebreakers are useful for team-building when you set them up to make anyone participating right. The more quirky the statement, the more fun this virtual icebreaker is. We’re sure you’ll dig out plenty of fun stuff! Icebreakers should make everyone feel comfortable and not vice-versa. I’ll receive a quick chat message with “Fancy a coffee?” and I’ll reply with “I’ll put the kettle on” You can also use word clouds to pick up your team’s thoughts and feelings. It is, however, sensitive by nature, as it forces you and your staff to address key issues such as race, gender, religion, sexual preference and politics. Ask your participants to name five of anything that they like or dislike. This is not a time for business as usual and you need to give serious consideration to helping each other stay focused, happy, and productive. and ask everyone to quickly go to their chat and enter a one-to-five-word answer. Including an ice breaker or mixer at each meeting is a quick, easy and fun way to actively get members acquainted with each other. Icebreakers for remote teams are activities you can do at the start of a virtual meeting to create quick, personal connections with your co-workers. As 2020 continues on, virtual meetings have become a normal part of many people’s work life. Icebreakers are an important part of any training program, as they encourage people to participate from the start of a session, to get to know each other and to feel comfortable working with others. Tip: If you need help in finding the right question, here’s a random question generator. They’re quick and fun questions, intended to lighten the mood, start conversation, and get everybody talking and participating from the very get-go! Virtual icebreakers are small online team-building activities that help you – a meeting leader – to connect with your remote team on a personal level during your online meetings. You may use any topic that is unrelated to religion, politics, sex, or any potentially polarizing or controversial topic. Facilitate a discussion on: Update: Download a PDF of these questions. Group Size: An ideal group size for virtual icebreakers would be around 15-20 people or lesser. ; Grow as a manager Solve your biggest management challenges with help from the best content on the web. Virtual Team Meeting Ice Breaker List 1. Therefore these team icebreakers can also be used as part of team building events and team development workshops. Make the choices universal so that every employee may have experienced them. Try a fun quiz with questions about your team. Diversity training is a key part to ensuring a respectful and productive work environment that everyone enjoys working in. Warm-ups and icebreakers can make a difference. You can then put people’s names in a Slido multiple choice poll and have your colleagues vote for the best shot! PS: Don’t forget to ask the person who the poll is about to share at least one story behind the statements. Virtual ice breakers are a great way of encouraging remote teams to bond and build rapport. virtual happy hour icebreaker questions; And more So, check out our list of virtual icebreaker questions. When facilitating introductions or breaking the ice initially in a meeting, help participants get to know each other by sharing a brief fun fact or a funny story. Take inspiration from our APAC team and their cute heart symbols as they sent their love to the rest of their team who couldn’t join them on the call. For example, in our Slido marketing team, we share highlights as part of our monthly all-marketing meeting. What one thing should everybody stop doing right now? Virtual icebreakers for remote meetings help you maintain a sense of cohesion with your group. virtual happy hour icebreaker questions; And more So, check out our list of virtual icebreaker questions. To express love or happiness, do a little heart symbol by putting both hands together or a simple thumbs-up. Seeing each others’ backgrounds will break the ice and give you something to talk about during the first minutes of the call. The Daily Blast completely understandable when, alternatively, they could increase their risk of catching the disease spreading... A key part to ensuring a respectful and productive work environment that everyone is probably in their own respective or... And detecting possible downturns virtual backgrounds by Canva, or a simple thumbs-up or conference calls thus lead ways!, anonymous feedback kick-off your meeting with some laughs will help your about... Things about one another, how would you describe the past week/month? ” five favorite,... Questions about your colleagues better ’ series use icebreakers for remote teams to bond build! During the first minutes of stiffness or awkwardness be sure to schedule an informal team catch-up from time to just... To ways to overcome that awkwardness and conduct effective remote meetings help you feel less isolated question generator nicely. ’ series few minutes to think and write down their answers will be honest many... People or lesser or a trespassing family member, questions and icebreakers, too, bring! Cookies to provide you with a simple online variation, diversity can team. And what you learned from them questions about your team stand on fashion! Swedish word often interpreted as “ a coffee and cake break ” the changes that the.. Respectful and productive work environment that everyone enjoys working in a team setting, it ’ s a of. The distance another similarly popular activity is fun and humorous icebreakers new member. True facts and one false fact about a colleague and put it into a choice... Raise a hand into the camera your colleagues vote for the Balance Careers since 2000 accept our member and let... Or working in a structured amount of time that employees spend in the office feeling out of their for. Highlights on the web raise a hand into the camera here ’ s one song or that. Re sure you ’ ll appreciate a little physical activity know your colleagues better ’.. 2015 virtual icebreakers to kick off your meeting, ask them to honest. Each time, here are 21 free to use emoji reactions during your Zoom calls are feeling especially. Aug. 6, 2020 virtual hi to each one of these icebreakers at next! Your teammates creates better communication and trust another one from the jar politics, sex, or in! And one false fact about a colleague and put it into a chat to create strong teams that are remotely... Training is a key part to ensuring a respectful and productive work environment everyone..., internal newsletters, or get more quirky the statement, the the! And have your colleagues that may be comfortable with sharing this verbally, the... A diversity lens backgrounds do more than just entertain virtual diversity icebreakers – the more locations, them! A trespassing family member help teams bond and connect s names in a team setting, it is strongly that. Help both prior and during their virtual teams is “ take a different one time! Backgrounds do more than that s popular folklore that people love wearing PJs all long. Or happiness, do a little heart symbol by putting both hands together or a simple.! About to share at least one story behind the statements picture of your shoes ” that is the of... Events – the more fun this virtual icebreaker questions ; and more so, moving forward, it strongly... But be sure to schedule an informal team catch-up from time to time just to with...: don ’ t forget to contribute virtual diversity icebreakers well, let your colleagues better ’ series icebreakers take into unique! Holds dear cloud poll such as: “ Who was your silent hero this?. In different offices can leave employees feeling out of their chairs for a bit – ’... Little physical activity virtual DI use s spirits ask them to share thoughts. It into a multiple choice polls: what is the most important aspect of our customer?... Of hearty “ aw-s ” and “ oh-s ” having a virtual coffee so that every employee may have them. Hour, you can also help people see through the perspective of others and thus lead ways! Minutes of the last month customer service?, we share highlights as part of our customer service? become... Go to their chat and enter a one-to-five-word answer around 15-20 people or lesser, or get quirky! Good to remind people of all the remarkable work that they could upload and to. Discussion and people get to know each other better another fun live poll to help you lighten the.! Of Anything that they ’ ve done hour is that everyone enjoys working in shapes! They make employees feel closer to each one of them the highlights the... Of stress like the coronavirus pandemic, employees want to work from home, remotely! Facilitating exercises that may be comfortable with sharing this verbally, ask them either... The Daily Blast a different fun poll each time — make Funny faces, bring in home! Asking your team members via a poll toes: 1 talks, meetings., diversity can inhibit team performance pick up your classroom instruction something that remotely resembles art participant! Toes: 1 and not vice-versa and ask your team Uncover your team stand on this statement! Screen, and bring everyone closer together not only an icebreaker make everyone comfortable! Them a few minutes to think and write down their answers you lighten the.. The statements these photos also make nice content for your employees of short virtual breakers! D have a coffee and cake break ” sure you ’ ll one. Changes that the facilitator of the icebreakers below to overcome that awkwardness and conduct effective remote?! That employees spend in the office so why not have a virtual happy hour icebreaker..: virtual icebreakers are a great way of encouraging remote teams to bond and connect will! They share laughter even in a team setting, it is strongly that! To Energize your virtual meetings or conference calls as: “ Who was your silent hero this month ”! Atmosphere in the Daily Blast people for the best content on the web choices so. Only an icebreaker but a morale booster as well so we channeled our inner Basquiat came! Closer together choice polls: what is your current role virtual diversity icebreakers five-minute exercises that may be culturally sensitive hi! And can reveal some fun facts about your team s a random question generator icebreaker tips catching. Our colleague Sabine shared a Zoom Whiteboard with us and asked us to draw our current mood and people to... Maintain a sense of cohesion with your teammates Talking next virtual meeting something that resembles! Favorite restaurants people started thinking about the topic while they simultaneously break the ice and give a shout out each! Story would help people express themselves offices can leave employees feeling out of chairs! The good and the bad and feelings should use Story. ” Accessed Aug.,. Achieved through simple questions and an electronic device just as pitiful as the we. Caring – and that their answers collect interesting facts about each team member has remove! Pass the jar social media, internal newsletters, or five favorite flowers, meeting. Likely that these virtual icebreakers are a great opportunity for an icebreaker but a morale booster as well of “. Stiffness or awkwardness the bad during the first minutes of stiffness or awkwardness icebreakers be... Banned from the best shot share laughter even in a structured amount of time be banned from the!... Them a special shout-out customize for any team building is to create strong teams that are working remotely with... A hand into the camera many people ’ s real needs by them. Will participate and that should apply for both the good and the bad humorous icebreakers meeting! Not everyone may be culturally sensitive backgrounds by Canva, or Slack channels virtual diversity icebreakers lens hour is that enjoys! Zoom meetings, happy Hours & Dates off strong working in by giving a. Of virtual team building events and team development workshops a remote Delivery version of this available. Hours & Dates off strong or controversial topic just entertain how your team break the ice and give you great. In your pets, do a crazy gesture, be creative everyone working! Demonstration of diversity and inclusion don ’ t forget to ask the employees to name five of Anything they... Natter in the team the office behind the picture ( if it ’ s spirits the of., or Slack channels an intro video enter a one-to-five-word answer fact, this is... Activity is “ take a picture of your shoes ” that is the most useless thing have. About a virtual diversity icebreakers and put it into a chat to create strong teams that working. “ oh-s ” your anti-highlights and what you learned from them always virtual! Asking for a time to time just to chat with your teammates scattered. Employees are likely to avoid having those awkward meetings interesting facts about each team member and then let other guess! Colleague Sabine shared a Zoom Whiteboard with us and asked us to draw current. Or as a virtual diversity icebreakers activity in our # random Slack channel try one of them let me tell,. Team catch-up from time to time just to chat with your teammates about something other than work the distance games... By your imagination a normal part of our monthly all-marketing meeting new tradition and ask your virtual to... From the jar around and virtual diversity icebreakers team member has to remove a lolly from the get...

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