Make Powerful Impressions with these Icebreaker Questions
First impressions last a lifetime, so how are you ensuring people leave initial conversations feeling energised and connected? We take a look at icebreaker questions that will leave an impression.
We’ve all been there, that awkward few seconds when you’ve just met someone or been introduced into a group conversation. Your brain is spinning with what to say and all that comes out is “So, what do you do?”. Here are some icebreakers we’d suggest that will be sure to make you stand out as well as spark much more valuable conversations to build more authentic relationships.
Focus on questions that are factual
Talking about facts, rather than subjective content, is a nice way to ease into a conversation. Some questions you can ask are
“Where do you live” and the follow-up “have you been there long”
“How long have you been running your business” and the follow-up “What were you doing before that”
You might find common ground immediately or not, but it is an easy way to break the ice.
Their opinion on a mutual subject
Are you both in the same network, did someone connect you, or have you both attended the same event? If you know there is a mutual topic you can talk about, get the conversation started. You might ask them how they discovered the network, how they know the person who made the introduction or what their key takeaway was from the event. Ask them for their opinion and then share yours to get the conversation going.
Ask a question about their passions
If you have had some time to do some research before the conversation, look out for topics the person talks passionately about. Maybe it’s something they post a lot about on their social media, or they may even note on their Linkedin profile what they are interested in.
We can all talk at length about things we are passionate about, so ask them an open question to get them started. For instance, “I saw you are a biker, how did you get into that?”, or “I see we have a shared passion for making a positive impact when it comes to the environment, what triggered this drive for you?”
Not ‘what’, but ‘why’
If you take away just one suggestion from this article, let it be this one. Try replacing the worn-out “what do you do” to “why do you do what you do”, and watch how the conversation comes to life. Everyone has a ‘why’ and you are more likely to find common ground to spark a conversation when you ask this question, particularly if you’re talking to people in completely different industries from you. Try it out and see what happens.
Having some icebreakers in your back pocket will enable you to jump into and lead conversations so you aren’t left with awkward silences. Asking good questions, that make it easy for others to contribute and spark meaningful conversation, will ensure you are remembered and are more likely to lead to more meaningful relationships.
The Author
Sara is an impact-entrepreneur, good business optimist, and startup mentor, including co-founding The Good Business Club and most recently Second Voice Pro. When she’s not banging the drum for purpose-led business, you can find Sara racing around tracks on a sidecar or breaking the taboo around mental health.
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