If we all learned one thing from Covid-19 and working from home, it is that video calls are essential in a day’s work. Without them, we would be unable to communicate effectively with our teams, assign tasks and priorities, and get status updates when needed.
A trend that has emerged in the video conferencing world and as organisations turn virtual is forced fun. It’s not as bad as it sounds. It is essentially having fun in video calls on company time. This is important for team building, morale, and company culture.
So, how can managers make forced fun real fun? With icebreakers. Icebreakers are a great way to start video calls and make everyone feel more comfortable. If you are wondering how to develop your team, this is the first step in getting it right. Keep reading for our top video icebreaker ideas.
Icebreaker #1: Fetch something with a story behind it
This icebreaker is designed to get people moving and maybe even a little more engaged. The idea is for you to ask everyone on the call to get up and fetch something in their homes that starts with a specific letter of the alphabet. The item they choose must have a story behind it that they can tell.
You can let everyone turn their cameras off while they hunt for this item if that would make them feel more comfortable.
Once everyone returns, have them turn their cameras back on and present their item and the story behind it.
Icebreaker #2: Two truths and a lie
In this case, you will need to do a little preparation to pull your icebreaker off effectively, but it is well worth the effort. Approach a few team members ahead of the call and ask them to think of two truths and one lie about themselves. Then, when you have the call, ask these people to share their two truths and their lie. Everyone in the meeting then guesses what the lie is.
The great thing about this exercise is that it allows your staff to get to know one another better. You will learn interesting facts about their lives, which can open the floor for interesting discussions.
Icebreaker #3: Sharing life hacks
When icebreakers can lead to organic conversations, you know you have got yourself a winner. This icebreaker is aimed at being a catalyst of genuine engagement.
Ask your team to share one life hack that works best for them when they are stressed, hit a creative block, or are overwhelmed with deadlines. You will be surprised at the interesting things people share besides drinking coffee and pumping good tunes.
Icebreaker #5: Things you did not know about me
This is another guessing game that can be instrumental in your team getting to know one another on a deeper level. You will need to prepare for this one but, again, it will be worth it.
Before your video call, approach a few team members and ask them to share an interesting fact with you – something that people would not guess off the bat.
In the meeting, share the fact and ask everyone to guess who the fun fact belongs to. You can even ask the person to share more information once everyone has guessed who they are.
An icebreaker is an effective way to get things started when it comes to video calls with your team. It breaks the ice, gets everyone settled in, and is an opportunity for team development. Stay tuned to our blog for more advice for managers and leaders.