Zoom icebreaker that won’t make us cringe

[Handsnotwands]

I’ve been tasked with the ice breaker for our monthly team meeting next week

We’ve got a good few new team members since lockdown. There’ll be about 25 of us in total so it needs to work for lots of people.

10 mins in total.

Past ones have been wear a hat / scavenger hunt / draw a unknown pic from instructions given verbally etc

I actually hate this stuff but can see that it is a good way to begin a remote meeting

Anyone done one that works well for that many people over zoom?

And that @titchy is exactly what I’m trying to avoid hence the request for help

Also there are too many people to go around each saying something. It’ll take too long and be boring

The goat idea is good. I missed that along the suggestions.

If you have a choice about whether to do this or not OP then don't do it. I thought you had no choice in the matter from your first post I don't know anyone who doesn't think an 'ice-breaker' is a terrible idea.

I think the film idea is probably the safest. Even if you don’t like film chances are you’ve probably heard of one... so can just use that.
I’m sure some people will use it to make sure everyone knows they are really into their art house stuff but it’s the least intrusive.

My friend did a show and tell for hers but it ended up taking forever.

Or invite some llamas

www.nidderdalellamas.org/corporate-llama-alpaca-on-the-agenda/

@VioletParis

I agree.

OP, I get that you are a close team who want to make new members welcome. Can you do this by welcoming them and surely they’ll pick up on how well you all work together by seeing and hearing you interact and by how the meeting is run?

As other posters have said, for many people having to participate in a naff game would be excruciating when you are new.

Everyone introduce themselves and say something about their name eg how they got it or what it means

We played Countdown in our team meeting last week, and we have a weekly quiz using Kahoot as well.

The film idea is ok if it isn’t ‘your favourite’.

Omg i just read up on the Goat thing and it's just hilariously adorable. Who the thinks of these things?

What fresh hell is this??

Thankfully our zoom staff meetings go something like "hi everyone. How are you all doing?". Chit chat for a few minutes, down to business and chit chat at the end.

No hats, no bingo, no baby pics. Honestly, if I suggested it, they'd think I've lost my mind!!

Ok, just saw the post about introducing new staff members. Again, no hats, no bingo, no baby pics.

"Hi everyone, please welcome Johnny who'll be working in Accounts".

What was your first pet and what was it's name, if you have never had a pet is there one that you would have liked to have?

this?

Should have RTFT

You can do polling on zoom, so something simple like "Are your feet dressed for work? Are you wearing--slippers, office shoes, trainers, socks, bare foot". Nothing embarrassing or invasive for anyone.

What's the point of the "What's your favourite x?" because you're not going to have time to talk about it plus no-one else is interested in other people's favourite things.

But, if you have to do a game, do 'Egg or head?' and show part of a picture of various famous bald heads. No, I'm sure HR won't like it either but quite funny.

As a new employee this would mortify me and send my anxiety through the roof. I think it's downright cruel! As an existing employee I'd tell them to fuck off and unfortunately have "connection issues" at the same time as the call.

Just say "I've decided not to bother with ice-breakers today. Let's all just introduce ourselves for the benefit of anyone new and then get stuck in."

Everyone will love you for it.

If you’ve all got zoom fatigue and the sole purpose of this is to meet new members then why not just say “have the time off, we’ll introduce new members when we meet in person” and just not bother?

For those who would inflict icebreakers etc, does this thread give you pause, at all?

If you’ve all got zoom fatigue and the sole purpose of this is to meet new members then why not just say “have the time off, we’ll introduce new members when we meet in person” and just not bother?

That could easily be months and in the meantime new person finds it really hard to establish themselves. A bit of fun isn’t the end of the world and if people don’t want to take part they don’t have to.

For those who would inflict icebreakers etc, does this thread give you pause, at all?

No and I don’t like them much but they help get people talking much more quickly than anything else. So they serve a useful purpose.

Not everyone finds it fun though. And rarely is this ‘fun’ opt-in...