Greetings virtual meeting enthusiasts! Let's face it, remote work has become the norm and virtual meetings are now a staple in our daily routines. But the lack of face-to-face interactions makes it tough to create meaningful connections. Fear not, that's where icebreakers come to the rescue!

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What are Icebreakers?

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Icebreakers are activities or games that help us get to know each other and build rapport. They create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere in virtual meetings. They're a fun way to help break the ice and foster a positive and collaborative environment!

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Using Icebreakers Correctly

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Icebreakers can be a valuable tool for improving collaboration, communication, and team performance. But, it's important to choose the right icebreaker for the right situation. Here are a few tips:

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• Start with a purpose. Before you choose an icebreaker, consider what you want to achieve with it. Do you want to build trust, encourage collaboration, or get to know your colleagues better?
• Timing is key. It's important to choose the right moment to introduce an icebreaker. For example, if you start a meeting with a heavy agenda and are time constrained, it might not be the best use of time to start with an icebreaker. 
• Keep it simple. Virtual icebreakers should be simple, easy to understand, and straightforward. Avoid activities that need a lot of preparation or technical skills. 
• Be inclusive and be mindful of the diversity of your participants. Make sure to choose icebreakers that are inclusive and accessible to everyone.

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10 Easy Virtual Icebreakers With Steps To Get You Started

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1. Charades

• Divide the participants into teams and have the teams write down words or phrases to act out.
• The player or team starts by acting out the word or phrase using their gestures, facial expressions, and body movements. They are not allowed to speak during this process.
• The other players or teams have to guess what the word or phrase is by typing in the chat. The first team to guess correctly becomes the next to act it out.

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2. Trivia

• Choose a trivia category or let the participants suggest categories. Topics could include history, pop culture, or current events.
• The host asks a series of multiple-choice or true/false questions related to the chosen category.
• Participants write their answers and submit them to the host in the chat. The facilitator or host announces the correct answers and keeps score. The participant or team with the most correct answers wins.

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3. Two Truths and a Lie

• Each participant shares three statements about themselves, with one of them being a lie.
• The other participants try to guess which statement is the lie.
• The participant reveals which statement is the lie.

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4. Fun Fact Game

• Go around the meeting room and have everyone share one fun fact about themselves.
• The more surprising the fact, the more fun it'll be.

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5. Word Association

• Choose a starting word and take turns saying a word related to the previous word.
• Keep the chain going for as long as possible without repeating any words. 
• If a participant repeats a word or says a word that doesn't fit, they are out. The last person to contribute a new word continues the chain.
• The game continues until all participants are out or until a certain amount of time has passed.

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6. Virtual Scavenger Hunt

• Create a list of items or objects.
• Ask participants to find these items.
• Participants show the list of items within a certain amount of time. Whoever collects the most items wins.

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7. Spot the Celebrity

• Show a picture of a famous person or character. 
• Ask participants to guess who it is.
• Keep score. Whoever scores the most wins!

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8. Word Jumble

• The host prepares a list of words and scrambles the letters before the meeting.
• 2-3 participants join to form a team.
• Teams have to unscramble as many as possible. Whichever team unscrambles the most words within the time limit wins

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9. Emoji Reaction

• Show a picture or video, and ask participants to react to it using emojis in chat.
• Then, ask each participant to explain their reaction.

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10. Group Jigsaw

• Divide participants into teams.
• Provide every team with the same starting virtual jigsaw puzzle image. Set up the puzzle with the appropriate number of pieces based on the level of difficulty or time available. 
• Ask teams to work together to recreate the image in a virtual jigsaw format. Whichever team completes their puzzle first, wins!

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Icebreakers are a fun and effective way to build relationships and create a positive atmosphere in virtual meetings. So why not liven up your next meeting with these must-try icebreakers! Bonus points if you offer prizes to turn up the excitement and fun!

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