Be Passionately
Curious

GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

Get to know your team and let them get to know you. It’s easier said than done. Everyone seems to be busier than ever these days. Making time to get to know people on your team probably sounds like a nice-to-have. But, if you don’t know them, you’ll lose them, or keep them without ever realising their full potential.

Building equity into your culture takes an ongoing conscious effort and can be a daunting task if part of a complete Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy. But, it can also be built up in all of the little things you do. With this tool you can fit it into the busiest schedule.

One of the little things you can do that’s easy and fun is incorporating ice-breaker questions into the start of weekly or monthly meetings.

These little questions, added up over time, can lead to big leaps in team bonding. Each question represents an opportunity to get a glimpse into how someone thinks and learn a little more about them as an individual.

Your questions should be work-appropriate, but can get into their past, fears, and embarrassing moments. These questions will enhance people’s vulnerability and create an opportunity to practice empathy towards others.

The rest of the questions can be fun and light-hearted, from favourite foods to the next place they’d like to visit.

People will share stories about their life, sports, kids, travels, friends and family. Each story will provide a glimpse into the person and begin to shape a clearer picture of who they are and what they need around them to succeed.

The sharing will also build trust, so when an issue arises that causes any anxiety, it is a little more comfortable to talk with someone at work about it and ask for help, because the relationship has developed beyond name and title.

What to do:

❶ Choose the meeting you will kick off with your icebreaker questions.
❷ Subject to the cadence, length of meeting, and number of participants, choose the type of questions that will enable everyone to participate.
❸ You can create the questions yourself or buy a set of icebreaker questions you like.
If your group size is 10 or more, you might have them break into smaller groups or pairs.
❹ Everyone takes a question.
❺ Go around the grouping for each person to share their question and provide an answer out loud.
❻ When everyone has had a turn, put the cards away and continue onto the next item on the agenda.