Icebreakers for remote teams that work on a video call
Most icebreakers were invented for a room. On a video call they fall apart in predictable ways: two people talk at once, the one with the bad connection is always last, and anything that needs a show of hands turns into a slow roll-call.
The ones that work on a call either go one person at a time, on purpose, or let everyone play at once on their own device. Here are both kinds.
Everyone at once
1.A picture quiz on their own screens
Share the host screen and everyone joins from their phone with a four-letter code. depixelate draws each picture on every player’s own device against the server clock, so call lag does not cost anyone points. A round takes a few minutes. How it works for remote teams.
2.Chat waterfall
Ask a question — what did you have for breakfast? — and everyone types their answer in the chat but does not send it until you say go. Then they all land at once.
3.Emoji check-in
Everyone reacts with one emoji for how their week is going. It is quicker than a round of updates and more honest.
One at a time, on purpose
4.Show and tell
Everyone brings one object from within arm’s reach and has thirty seconds to explain it. The best objects are never the ones people plan.
5.Two truths and a lie
Works on a call as well as in a room. Put the votes in the chat or a poll so nobody has to unmute.
6.Guess the background
Ask for a photo of the view from each person’s desk and guess whose is whose. Or turn it into a quiz: make a pack from the photos with four names to choose from.
For hybrid meetings
The room and the call should play the same game. Anything that relies on the room’s whiteboard or a show of hands leaves the remote half watching.
A quiz answered from phones handles both: the room sees the host screen on its TV, the call sees it shared, and everyone answers on their own device.
