If you’ve ever walked into a networking event or joined an online community and been met with uncertainty and a loss of words, you’re not alone. This often leads to short, surface level questions and won’t help you integrate with the interesting people around you. Throughout this blog, I will go through 10 icebreakers which go beyond small talk, and some tips along the way.
Why Great Icebreakers Matter
A good icebreaker doesn’t just fill the silence, it can:
- Open the door to personal stories
- Show that you are genuinely interested
- Lead to deeper conversations
By asking thoughtful questions like those about to come up, you can shift the conversation from transactional to relational, making it more likely that you and your new contact will follow-up later.
“What brings you to this event?”
Everyone’s reason for being at a given networking event is different, asking what brought them here is a brilliant way to understand their goals, position in business and might even align with why you went.
“How did you get started in your field?”
Absolutely everyone’s career path is different, learning about other people’s is not only interesting, but encourages storytelling and nostalgia which help the conversation flow and reach different heights.
“What’s the most interesting thing you’ve worked on lately?”
Instead of asking the common “What do you do”, this is an exciting question which forces them to think of something recent, relevant and interesting.
“What’s the most surprising / interesting thing about your industry right now?”
Not only would this question allow you to learn about other people’s fields of work, industry insights can lead to fascinating discussions.
“If you weren’t in your current role, what would you be doing?”
This question sparks creativity and immediately identifies people’s passions. To follow up, you could explore if those interests they had are still there today.
Using Icebreakers Effectively
Be genuinely curious. People can tell when you’re waiting to talk, so listen actively and respond thoughtfully.
Adapt to the context of the conversation. The setting, people, industry and more will all change how you need to word and approach everything you say, so adapt the icebreakers accordingly.
Match their energy. Similarly, match their energy, if they are more reserved, ask lighter questions etc..
Adapting Icebreakers for Digital Networking
In virtual environments, the opening line that you send is just as important as the icebreakers you say in person. Online, people juggle many conversations at once, meaning you have to stand out from the crowd.
To adapt, reference shared connections or interests to quickly find common ground, use specific context and make sure that messages don’t look copy-paste as they feel automated.
Final Thoughts
So, the next time that you enter that space and feel uncertain and at a loss for words, think about these easy-to-use icebreakers and get that conversation flowing.
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