MCO Zoom Meeting Virtual Ice Breaker

https://blog.flock.com/5-virtual-meeting-icebreakers

1. Two Truths and One Lie
2. Sharing Three Feelings
3. Six-Word Memoirs
4. Show Us Your “X”
5. Question of the Week

https://miro.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Chapter_3.pdf

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/virtual-ice-breakers.htm

Take a Picture of Your Shoes

The idea for this ice breaker comes from the online meeting service Lucid Meetings.

Ask team members to take a picture of their shoes and upload it ahead of the meeting. This activity is best for videoconferences, but it can work on teleconference calls if everyone has access to a screen.

Then, at the start of the meeting, ask each participant to discuss his choice of shoe, and any "story" behind it. For example, one person might be wearing running shoes – and this might lead to a discussion about his hobbies – or sandals, flip-flops or sneakers.

Vary the exercise by asking team members to take a picture of an object on their desks, and getting them to talk about it.

The Social Question

The idea for this ice breaker comes from the online training service Guided Insights.

Ask each participant a "social" question. So, you could find out what someone enjoys doing outside of work, or ask if she has a funny story she can share about something that happened to her recently, and so on. Ask everyone the same question, or different ones if you want more variety in the responses.

Here are some more examples of what you might ask:

• Give an example of something you've done this week that you feel proud of.
• If you weren't on this call, what would you like to be doing?
• If you could eat any dish right now, what would it be?
• If money and time were no object, where would you most like to go on vacation?

The Time Machine

The idea for this ice breaker comes from the About Continuing Education website, which provides resources for students, teachers and parents.

Ask the following question, to one participant at a time: "If you were able to travel through time, either forward or backward... :

• Where would you go?
• If backward, to which time period? Why?
• If there was a person you could go back in time and meet, who would it be, and why?
• Would you just want to visit and come back, or would you stay?"

Two Lies and a Truth

The idea for this ice breaker was developed by new media consultant Joitske Hulsebosch.

Ask each team member to prepare a list of three interesting "facts" about themselves, two of which must be made up. These could comprise anything, from a pet they own or a hobby they love to a famous person they say they've met, and so on.

Then, get other team members to decide on the facts they think are true. The team member who receives the most incorrect votes "wins."

Key Points

Virtual ice breakers can help remote team members improve their relationships with one another, and they can promote creativity and problem solving within the group.

Consider whether a virtual ice breaker is appropriate for your meeting, organization or participants. Think hard about your goals and objectives before you design or choose it. You'll also need to take into account the functionality of your participants' technology, as well as any differences in time zones and culture.