15 April 2020

Ice-Breaker Questions for Adults

Ice-breakers sometimes earn a groan but they don’t have to. It’s a good idea to get to know the people you’re going to be working with or seeing and ice-breakers are good for building trust. These funny icebreaker questions for adults work well for meetings, workshops, training seminars, parties and even dates! Check out our fun icebreaker questions below and pick your favourite.

If you could… ice-breaker questions for adults

If you could become an expert in something instantly, what would it be?

This question is great for getting to know someone’s ambitions and dreams. Maybe day to day they work as an accountant but if they could be an expert right now, they’d become a trapeze artist. They can always go back to being an accountant later, if they fancy it. You may even unlock some frustration that they are having with a process at work.

If you could live in any time period, when would it be and why?

This may reveal some love for the Industrial Revolution, the Bronze Age or even a more recent decade. The answer may help to show some common feelings or give you a good chance to discuss your differing opinions.

If you could live in a sit-com, what would it be and why?

Not only will this reveal some of their preferences for TV, cartoon characters or talk show guilty pleasures but it will also show what sort of environment they would find comfortable. For a bonus question, you could ask them if they would want to live as one of the characters. Perhaps they would like the job of one, the home of another and the partner of a third.

If you could remove one chore, what would it be and why?

This question might not reveal too much but you may be able to find some common ground and the reason behind the removal would show if it’s because it is repetitive or long.

Experience ice-breaker questions

What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done for fun?

Adding for fun probably saves people form reliving anything too dramatic but will enable them to share some experiences. Follow up with whether or not they would do it again. Even if they wouldn’t want to repeat it, there’s a chance it could be something they would recommend.

What are you the most proud of?

This could be an award, something they have done, ticked off a bucket list, or a skill they have mastered. It doesn’t have to be something that they would put on a wall but it could be a ‘who’, such as their child or partner who has some special achievement. Don’t forget, even if they say something small, that doesn’t mean they haven’t done other things that you would appreciate. It’s just their perspective.

What is the most rewarding experience you’ve ever had?

The answers to this question are various. It could be a job role, becoming a parent or even when they have done something for someone else. Find out what made it so rewarding for them and how it changed their life.

Personality-based get to know you questions

If you were named like the seven dwarves were, what would your name be?

For this question, you can still take one of the original names (e.g. Sleepy, Grumpy, Happy etc.) but it will show a lot about a person when they pick one word. It’s often hard to sum someone up like that, especially with the different aspects of our lives so think hard if you have to answer it! You could break it down if it’s too hard, so one answer for at home (e.g. Cleany or Lazy), one for leisure time (e.g. Funny or Friendly) and one for work time (e.g. Brainy or Noisy).

Would you rather be known for your intelligence or your looks?

This question is quite basic in its essence but will reveal a lot about what is important to them, as well as how they feel about themselves. You may find that it leads to a good debate that helps to break awkward silences.

What’s the first word that pops into your head?

It could be an inappropriate word so just be careful but the first word will tell you a lot. You could even give a word prompt first to take it in a particular direction.

Hypothetical apocalypse questions to get to know other people

The apocalypse is here, who are the three people you want with you on your team?

As this is an ice breaker, you’re unlikely to make their team but it’s a good way to know what and who they value. If you’d like to make their team, maybe tell them about your archery awards, martial arts black belt or the awesome DIY skills you have.

You are at home and you have 30 minutes. What are you going to pack? Will you stay home instead?

Here people will show their practical and sentimental sides. Do they pack the stuffed bear they got at age three or will they pack an axe and crowbar? Maybe all three, why not? You’ll learn a lot about each other and how you think about this one. If the person answering lives on their own deserted island or a fort (or has a moat) they may be better off staying.

Would you be the leader of your gang? The strong but silent second in command or a minion?

It’s an odd question and will always depend on the group you’re stuck with but will still tell you a lot about someone. Just remember that everyone would have an important role to play so being the minion or the leader isn’t a bad thing.

Would you rather face the apocalypse alone or with your worst enemy?

There’s a good chance that the intention isn’t to use them as bait or to trip them so you can get away. You’d actually have to be near them for the foreseeable future. If this question comes up, think hard an answer honestly. There are many more ice-breaking questions for adults out there so don’t be afraid to find or create your own.

The first meeting with a new person doesn’t have be awkward or even boring, as we’ve seen with our ice-breaking questions for adults. Which ones will you try and what other icebreaker games for meetings or events have you found to work in the past? If you need a venue to try your ice breakers at, book your event at Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes, where we can host between six and 600 people in our 70 function rooms. View our meeting rooms in Milton Keynes.