Organizational Wellness

Breaking the Ice: 20 Get-to-Know-You Questions for Work

Last Updated Nov 8, 2024

Time to read: 6 minutes

Ever been in an awkward elevator ride with a coworker, scrambling for something to say other than the weather? If so, it’s time to upgrade your icebreakers. Get-to-know-you questions do more than just fill the silence—they help you truly connect with your team.

As an HR leader, you’re in a prime position to foster these connections. Stronger bonds among employees boost retention and productivity. In fact, employees without work friends are 313% more likely to leave, and 60% of all full-time employees say they’re less productive when feeling lonely.

Icebreakers are a simple but powerful tool to build those connections. Whether it’s before a meeting or during a quick office chat, these 20 questions will help you spark meaningful conversations and strengthen your team’s sense of community.

The Value of Knowing Your Team

Icebreaker questions aren’t just conversation starters. When used correctly, they’re a powerful way to get to know your employees and build stronger connections within your team. When used regularly, they can lead to significant benefits like:

Fuel Collaboration: When trust is high, collaboration thrives. Teams that feel comfortable with one another are more likely to share ideas, innovate, and solve problems together.
Supercharge Productivity: Employees with a work bestie are more productive, according to Gallup. When your team feels connected, they’re energized and laser-focused on their goals.
Elevate Morale: Strong relationships create a workplace where people actually enjoy showing up. That energy is contagious and lifts the entire team’s spirit.
Boost Wellbeing: Ninety-nine percent of workers say their relationships at work are key to their wellbeing. When employees feel supported, they bring their best selves to the table, every day.

These connections more than improve your workplace—they make a lasting impact on employee satisfaction and success.

Crafting the Perfect Get-to-Know-You Questions

Not all icebreakers are created equal, and some can fall flat. To maximize the benefits of team-building questions, aim for engaging, thoughtful prompts. Make the most of yous by:

Keeping it Light but Meaningful: Strike the right balance between fun and thought-provoking. Questions like, “What’s a new recipe you’ve picked up recently?” or “What’s a hidden talent you have?” encourage sharing without feeling too personal.

Encouraging Storytelling: Questions that invite storytelling help team members open up and build connections. Try prompts like, “What’s the most exciting trip you’ve ever taken?” or “What’s a memorable challenge you’ve overcome?”

Highlighting Common Ground: Craft questions that help your team discover shared interests. For example, “What’s your go-to comfort food?” or “What’s a TV show or book you’re currently hooked on?” can spark conversations and friendships.

Sparking Laughter: Laughter is one of the quickest ways to create bonds. Use lighthearted questions like, “If you could have any superpower, what would it be?” or “What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you at work?” to boost energy and engagement.

Making It Inclusive: Ensure your questions are suitable for everyone on the team, regardless of background or experience. Keep the topics broad and avoid overly specific or niche prompts that might exclude someone, such as “What’s your favorite Star Wars movie?” (Not being a fan doesn’t mean you’re on the Dark Side, after all!)

With the right mix of questions, your icebreakers will go from awkward to awesome, helping your team build stronger relationships and a more collaborative culture. Additional questions that start to dig deeper include:

Starting with the Basics

What’s your favorite part of working here?
What book(s), if any, are you reading right now?
Do you have any hobbies you’re really interested in right now?
What’s something you saw recently that made you smile?
What’s your most-used productivity hack?

Delving Deeper

These questions are designed to help coworkers share more about their goals and experiences:

What aspect of your work brings you the most fulfillment and why?
What’s a significant life experience that has shaped who you are today?
What are some of your long-term professional goals, and how do you plan to achieve them?
If you could have a conversation with your younger self, what advice or wisdom would you share?
How do you navigate and overcome challenges, whether in your personal life or your career?

Fun Get-to-Know-You Questions for Work

Having fun at work can positively impact employee engagement, so don’t be afraid to incorporate some lighthearted questions. You might consider adding energy and humor to your team with some get-to-know-you questions such as:

What’s your go-to karaoke song, and why do you love singing it?
It’s 10 p.m. on a Friday night. What are you doing?
If your life was a famous meme, which one would it be?
What three items would you want with you in the zombie apocalypse?
If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be and how would you use it?

Getting-to-Know-You Questions for Work: Virtual Teams Edition

With 14% of employees working fully remotely and 41% in hybrid environments, fostering connection among virtual teams is crucial. Try these questions to build relationships in a remote setting:

What’s the best part of working remotely?
Where’s the coolest place you’ve ever worked remotely?
Which movie best describes your life?
In your career, is there a particular achievement or project that you're most proud of, and why?
What aspect of your work brings you the most fulfillment, and why?

Tips for Facilitating Get-to-Know-You Sessions

Whether you’re holding an onboarding session or having your weekly meeting, these tips can enhance your team-building efforts:

Have workers all answer. Ultimately, to help people build connections, they will all need to participate. You might have everyone in the room answer the question in a circle, so no one feels pressured to volunteer.
Create an easy way to pass on a question. Even though it’s ideal if everyone answers, sometimes people won’t be comfortable doing so. To handle this, allow people to say “pass” if they aren’t comfortable answering.
Model openness. To help show that these questions matter, consider answering them yourself. This lets your team members learn more about you and allows you to build relationships with your team.

Beyond the Questions – Building Lasting Connections

Asking get-to-know-you questions is just the beginning of your new relationships with coworkers. To continue creating friendships, try to:

Follow-up. After learning more about somebody, you can show you care by following up on things you learned. If a coworker recommends a book, consider reading it and discussing it later. If they mention their favorite candy, surprise them with one the next time you see them.
Hold team-building activities. Having events can help everyone deepen relationships. Consider activities like scavenger hunts, virtual happy hours, or yoga classes to help facilitate an environment for employees to connect.
Ask questions often. Following a good team-building session, continue asking your team members questions. As you do so, you can build stronger relationships and develop more trust.

Building Relationships and Employee Wellbeing

Building connections with your coworkers enhances social wellbeing, an important part of overall wellness. To take it further, consider implementing a wellness program that supports your team’s holistic wellbeing. These programs have a proven impact—99% of HR leaders say their wellness programs boost productivity, and 98% report a reduction in turnover.

Ready to support your team’s wellbeing and strengthen their relationships? Speak with a Wellhub Wellbeing Specialist today!