How to Break the Ice on Zoom Without Being Silly

Anyone who has had the pleasure of attending a virtual meeting will no doubt understand the awkwardness that can ensue. And, with the Covid-19 pandemic locking so many of us in our homes, the number of us that have this experience has grown dramatically.

Some good ice breakers to kick off your virtual meeting that aren’t cheesy are the classics of small talk. Where is everyone calling in from today? What’s it like where you are today? Does anyone need a minute to grab water or a coffee? What’s the most interesting bit of news you’ve heard this week? Keep it to universal topics unless you want part of the team to glaze over and tune out when you start on specific sports or TV shows.

Unfortunately, even as we ease ourselves out of the grip of coronavirus, virtual meetings look set to become an increasingly significant part of our professional lives. On the other hand, we don’t need to be condemned to awkward introductions, stilted conversation, and all the other cringe-inducing happenings that are fast becoming synonymous with virtual meetings across the globe.

If you’re looking for a way to break the ice and get your meetings off to a good start without feeling the red-hot flush of embarrassment, keep reading for some virtual meeting ice breakers!

Why are Virtual Meetings So Stuffy?

One of the first things that often happens when you dive into a video meeting is catching sight of a colleague who is looking a little less than their best. Oftentimes this is due to the camera placement, lighting, or both (it may also be because they are just not at their best). This might make you wonder if your video is similarly unflattering.

Add to that the inconvenience of scratchy audio, stuttering internet connections, lag causing people to inadvertently talk over each other, and repetitive and distracting noises from other participants. Then throw in a general lack of familiarity with this mode of communication for many or all members and a number of people who don’t know each other, and you have a recipe for an extremely awkward virtual meeting.

Why is it Bad if You Can’t Break the Ice?

It is not impossible to turn a meeting around once it has got off to a rocky start, but it’s a bit like asking if you could win a boxing match with one hand behind your back. You _could_, but why would you want to try when it’s so much easier with two hands?

Breaking the ice is important because it sets everyone at ease. It lets the other members of the meeting know that they’re not alone in feeling a bit uncomfortable with the whole situation, and that, in turn, makes them feel a bit more comfortable.

What’s Wrong With Cheesy Awkward Ice Breakers?

To counter this quiet discomfort, the more extraverted and gregarious people may think “I know! Let’s play a game! A bit of fun will loosen everyone up!” If this is you, be warned: at least half of your team is likely to hate the idea. You might find it fun, others will think cheesy, and still others will be honestly and intensely uncomfortable. Don’t ask how I know that. Regardless, you may think cheesy ice breakers can be endearing, and they can, in the right crowd. Unfortunately, a meeting with colleagues—be it virtual or not—is rarely the right crowd. A large part of that is likely that everyone there has no choice in the matter. 

You may have heard comedians say it is very easy to make a good crowd laugh because they came there to do just that; laugh. The problem is, the reverse is also true; the funniest comedian in the world will struggle in the wrong room, and when it comes to jokes, your virtual meeting is a tough room.

What are Some Ice Breakers That Your Small Team Won’t Hate?

The dynamic of a small team meeting presents challenges and reprieves when compared to larger-scale teams. For one thing members of smaller teams will usually know each other relatively well, making that opening salvo a little less intimidating. On the other hand, any tension in the team will be more apparent, since it is much harder to hide from in a small meeting. Here are some ice breakers to try in this situation.

“How is everyone doing?”

It’s simple, it’s honest (or, at least, I hope it’s honest) and it engages the other members of the meeting. This is the kind of ice breaker that works best with a small team where everyone knows each other, and the question won’t come off as dishonest or trite. Set aside a little time at the start of the meeting to actually talk to each other a little. Simply asking the question, nodding, and moving on will not have the desired effect.

“Where are you in the world?”

On a similar note to the last one, it can help set the meeting at ease to talk about where everyone is signing in from. Not only is it a safe topic in most cases, but it acknowledges the situation and allows people to confront it openly and with the other members of the meeting. Of course, it is important to factor in context—there is no sense in asking this question if you’re on your third virtual meeting of the week with the same people, and they are all in the exact same place they were the last two meetings!

“What’s everyone drinking?”

Another safe question, and one that gives you the opportunity to ask if anyone who isn’t drinking would like a moment to go grab a coffee, water, or whatever their (presumably non-alcoholic) poison is. Not only does this help to avoid interruptions as people realize halfway through the meeting that they’re thirsty, but it also sets a friendly tone from the start.

Game On!

There are so many different options for games that can be played over virtual meetings that it would need a post of its own to cover them all. From quizzes to Zoom background challenges, from scavenger hunts to word games. This is another option that requires good inside knowledge of how your team members will react, since it has the potential to go down poorly with the wrong people. If the members of your meeting are generally quite fun and up for a laugh, kicking things off with an activity can be a great way to put everyone in the mood for a productive meeting. Be wary if you have members who are more reserved or introverted. It’s never a good idea to pressure them if your idea of fun makes them uncomfortable.

Water Cooler Warm Up

In situations where the virtual meeting is through necessity (such as during a pandemic), people can often feel isolated, and even miss their co-workers. Having the call start a little before the meeting itself (or letting everyone know the meeting room will open on the hour but the meeting starts at 5 or 10 minutes after), gives them an opportunity to catch up. The space for casual interaction helps put them at ease before the actual meeting gets underway.

What are Some Ice Breakers That Your Large Team Won’t Hate?

Larger meetings are an entirely different animal. For one thing, it is far more likely to be the case that there are people in the meeting who don’t know each other that well, if at all. Moreover, a large meeting represents a lot more money to the company so activities that could be perceived as wasting time are less likely to be well-received. This more or less rules out fun games as an ice breaker in most cases. Let’s take a look at some options that aren’t ruled out.

Straight to Business

The theme of larger meetings tends to be getting on with things. There will be too many people to socialize—and many people who don’t know each other well enough _to_ socialize—so it is usually better to make short work of the small talk and set a formal tone for the meeting.

Mute All

Persistent noises like sniffling and talking in the background can be a serious distraction in any meeting, but in a large meeting there are far more potential sources of these kinds of noises. Rather than contend with them, cut them out completely by employing a mute all approach and only unmuting people as and when they need to speak. Of course, there may be situations where a mute all approach won’t work, but for most meetings, there only needs to be one person speaking at a time.

Lay Out an Agenda

Organization is key when dealing with a lot of people at one time, and many of those people could have agendas of their own—other meetings they have to attend, projects that need to be finished, etc. Setting out a clear agenda at the outset will settle people who are perhaps a little time-sensitive, as well as bring some much-needed structure to the proceedings.

What’s the Business Benefit of Using Good Ice Breakers in Your Next Virtual Meeting?

The purpose of an ice breaker in any situation is essentially to shortcut any awkward conversation and quickly move the group into more comfortable dialogue. It can be risky if you misjudge the situation, as a failed attempt at an ice breaker can make it even _harder_ to get the conversation underway, but a well-chosen ice breaker not only bypasses that initial awkwardness, but sets a more productive and comfortable tone for the rest of the meeting.