It’s no secret. Virtual events can be awkward, very awkward. We don’t feel the tension or the same pressure as if we were face-to-face. In this article, we will give you some great virtual icebreakers to change this. You might think that an icebreaker is just a tool to break the ice, but actually, they are a very important tool to help participants warm up and settle in.
Here are some of the best ways that you can turn an awkward virtual event into a great one
Why Do You Need Icebreakers?
Virtual events can be very awkward. We know you’ve been to some. We’ve been to them, too. There are the awkward greetings, the introductions, the small talk…and then there are the silences. This is why you need icebreakers. Icebreakers are a great way to get a group of people to get to know each other and to feel comfortable with each other, which is important when everyone is gathered in a virtual space.
Icebreakers are short and fun activities that help people get to know one another and break the ice. They can help to build a stronger connection with your audience, help you to engage with them, and get them involved in the event.
The 21 Icebreakers
1. If you could be anywhere in the world at this moment, where would you be?
2. What advice would you give to your 12 year old self?
3. What would you do if someone handed you 1 million dollars?
4. “What brought you here today?”
5. If you had a time machine, to what year would you travel and why?
6. “What would you like to cover?”
7. “What do you think about…”
8. What’s the most interesting place you have been to?
9. “What do you like to do in your spare time?”
10. “Take a picture of yourself with the event hashtag…”
11. “If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be?”
12. “What was your favorite photo you took today?”
13. “What’s something that makes you happy?”
14. “How often do you go on vacation?”
15. “What is the most important lesson you learned from this experience?”
16. “What are some things you want to learn more about?”
17. “Who has inspired you and why?”
18. “What advice can you give us?”
19. What is the most exciting thing that you have crossed off of your bucket list?
20. “What do you hope to gain from participating in this event?”
21. What historical figure do you most want to meet?
Virtual Event Icebreaker’s FAQs
What’s one icebreaker you should never use?
One virtual event icebreaker you should never use is: “What is your name and what do you do?” There are two reasons to never ask this question. First, asking anyone this question is a violation of their privacy. Second, the question itself is boring.
Also, don’t strike up a conversation with someone by saying, ” I feel like I know you, because I’ve seen you online so much. ” Remember, these are real people! They don’t want to be boiled down to the number of times they’ve posted something to a virtual community.
How do virtual event icebreakers compare with ones in person?
Virtual events are excellent for icebreakers. The reason is that people can be themselves with virtual communication in a way that they can’t always be in person. This is one reason why you are very likely to find that people you meet online at virtual events are generally happier and more interesting than ones you meet at in person events.
Since you can’t see the people in the other end, you can’t judge them by their appearance and you start conversing with them based on the way they express themselves. So you can begin talking to someone without any inhibitions.
What type of icebreakers do you use for groups?
You start with a good opening line and then you involve the group. If you are with a group of strangers, you start with an interesting question that everybody around you can relate to or like to hear being asked. Everybody will then put in their opinion and the group will take off from there.
Conclusion with Virtual Icebreakers
We hope that you enjoyed this blog. We know that it can be difficult to engage a room of people at a video meeting. The best way to engage is to have a friendly and welcoming environment and using icebreaker questions is a great way to do this. We hope that you can use this information to help you work more efficiently with the people you work with in your company.
