Ice Breakers to get the conversation started

Ice breakers are often a little awkward. You are opening a conversation that has not transitioned smoothly and is typically?an opener to a conversation with someone you don't know like at a conference or an introductory meeting.

Your comfort level will dictate the type of ice breaker that you can handle. The more "off the wall" you are willing to be, the more effective the opening will be since the?question will prompt a more thoughtful?response.?

Here some examples of icebreaker questions that will get you started:

Generic, comfortable:

In person:

1. I just saw <<insert event/speaker/local attraction>> did you happen to check it out recently?
2. I find?these things can be stressful, what do you do to?stay so calm?
3. Do you do/attend a lot of these types of events/meetings?
4. What do you like to do after a tough/long day like today?
5. Use a software tool to scan business cards when exchanging them... it typically prompts a conversation on its own.

Remote/Virtual:

1. Find a local event to them and comment on:?" did you happen to see... (interesting booth/speaker/recent local event)? I thought that would be an interesting thing to see."
2. What is your favourite thing to do locally?
3. What is the weather like there right now? It's ... here at the moment.

More thoughtful/unique:

We were just chatting amongst our team and we had to answer a thought provoking question (pick one):

1. ?What is the most overrated virtue?
2. ?What is your guilty pleasure?
3. ?If you could remove a single task from your daily routine what would it be?
4. ?What is the worst piece of advice you have ever had?
5. ?What did you want to be when you grew up? Is being here or meeting people like this what you expected?

You could also try the riddle route:

?I just came across this riddle and am trying to figure it out (you actually know the answer...)

1. I can be hot, I can be cold, I can run, and I can be still, I can be hard, and I can be soft. What am I? Water.
2. I am a ball that can be rolled but never bounced or thrown. What am I? Eyeball.
3. Why is a manhole cover round? So it doesn't fall through the hole.

?Alternatively you can always choose to avoid overthinking it... Simply say Hey <<first name if you know it>>, I'm <<your name>> and go from there. If you don't know their name, then Hey, I'm <<your name>>, what brings?you here? Or what do you do that?brings you here?

Sometimes a simple introduction is the best way to start.

The BitWide team does this all day and will add more ideas into the comments but please add your ideas in the comments below! What has worked for you before?