Starting a new job can be exciting but also a little nerve-wracking. To ease the transition and foster a more connected team, many companies are turning to creative icebreakers. Among these, "Would You Rather Questions for New Employees" have become a surprisingly effective and popular tool. They offer a lighthearted way to get to know each other beyond job titles and skill sets.
The Power of "Would You Rather" for Onboarding
"Would You Rather Questions for New Employees" are simple, hypothetical scenarios that present two equally appealing or unappealing choices. They aren't meant to be tricky or difficult; rather, they're designed to encourage discussion, reveal personalities, and spark a bit of fun. The popularity of these questions stems from their universality. Everyone can relate to making choices, and the often-humorous nature of the scenarios makes them accessible to all.
These questions are used in various ways during the onboarding process. They can be introduced in team meetings, as part of an icebreaker activity during a social event, or even shared in a dedicated chat channel. Here's a breakdown of how they're typically integrated:
- Informal introductions: Getting to know colleagues on a personal level.
- Team building: Encouraging collaboration and understanding of different perspectives.
- Stress relief: Providing a fun break from more formal onboarding tasks.
The importance of these questions lies in their ability to quickly break down initial barriers and create a sense of camaraderie . They allow new hires to see their colleagues as real people with unique thoughts and preferences, fostering a more welcoming and inclusive environment right from the start.
Here are some common approaches:
| Usage | Description |
|---|---|
| "Two Truths and a Lie" Style | A new employee shares three "Would You Rather" scenarios, and the team guesses which one they'd actually choose. |
| Team Voting | Present a question to the team and see which choice garners the most votes. |
| One-on-One Discussions | New hires can pair up with existing team members and discuss their choices and reasoning. |
Workplace Dilemmas: Navigating the Daily Grind
- Would you rather have every email you send automatically CC'd to your boss, or have every phone call you make recorded and transcribed?
- Would you rather have to work from home with unlimited distractions, or work in the office with a colleague who hums constantly?
- Would you rather always be five minutes late, or always be twenty minutes early?
- Would you rather only be able to communicate through emojis, or only be able to communicate through interpretive dance?
- Would you rather have a personal chef who only cooks bland food, or a personal assistant who constantly gives you unsolicited advice?
- Would you rather have your computer randomly shut down once a day, or your internet connection drop for 15 minutes every hour?
- Would you rather have to wear a full suit every day, or have to wear pajamas every day?
- Would you rather get a flat tire every time you drive to work, or have your printer jam every time you need to print something important?
- Would you rather have to give a presentation every week with no preparation, or have to write a detailed report every day without any research?
- Would you rather have to answer every question with a song lyric, or have to answer every question with a movie quote?
- Would you rather always be slightly too cold, or always be slightly too warm?
- Would you rather have to take the stairs for the rest of your career, or have to use a broken elevator that lurches unpredictably?
- Would you rather have your lunch stolen every day, or have your stapler disappear every day?
- Would you rather have to greet everyone with a handshake, or have to greet everyone with a hug?
- Would you rather have your computer make a loud, obnoxious noise every time you make a mistake, or have your desk vibrate whenever you're idle?
Teamwork & Collaboration: Building Synergies
- Would you rather be the person who always has great ideas but never implements them, or the person who always implements ideas but rarely has them?
- Would you rather be on a team where everyone agrees with you, or a team where everyone challenges you?
- Would you rather have to lead a project you're completely unqualified for, or be a follower on a project you're an expert in?
- Would you rather have a teammate who is brilliant but lazy, or a teammate who is hardworking but mediocre?
- Would you rather be the one who always takes credit for the team's success, or the one who always takes the blame for the team's failures?
- Would you rather have to work on a project with no clear direction, or have to work on a project with constant micromanagement?
- Would you rather be known for your speed and efficiency, or your accuracy and thoroughness?
- Would you rather have a team that communicates exclusively through text, or exclusively through video calls?
- Would you rather be the go-to problem solver for everyone, or the person who delegates all the problems?
- Would you rather have to give honest feedback that might hurt feelings, or avoid feedback to keep everyone happy?
- Would you rather have a teammate who talks too much during meetings, or a teammate who never speaks up?
- Would you rather be responsible for the big picture strategy, or the detailed execution?
- Would you rather have a team that celebrates every small win, or a team that only celebrates major milestones?
- Would you rather have to explain complex ideas using only analogies, or using only technical jargon?
- Would you rather be the person who always asks for help, or the person who is always asked for help?
Personal Quirks & Preferences: Uncovering Individuality
- Would you rather have the superpower to fly, or the superpower to be invisible?
- Would you rather be able to talk to animals, or be able to speak every human language fluently?
- Would you rather be able to time travel to the past, or to the future?
- Would you rather have a photographic memory, or be able to forget anything instantly?
- Would you rather have a full beard for the rest of your life, or no hair on your head for the rest of your life?
- Would you rather be able to control fire, or control water?
- Would you rather be able to teleport anywhere, or be able to read minds?
- Would you rather have a personal robot butler, or a magical creature that grants you three wishes a day?
- Would you rather be able to breathe underwater, or be able to run at super speed?
- Would you rather have to eat the same meal every day for a year, or have to wear the same outfit every day for a year?
- Would you rather be able to control the weather, or be able to control technology?
- Would you rather have a voice that can hypnotize people, or a smile that can charm anyone?
- Would you rather be able to communicate with plants, or understand the thoughts of inanimate objects?
- Would you rather have a pet dragon, or a pet unicorn?
- Would you rather have the ability to never feel pain, or the ability to never feel hunger?
Career Ambitions & Aspirations: Dreaming Big
- Would you rather be the most respected person in your field, or the wealthiest person in your field?
- Would you rather have a job you love but pay less, or a job you dislike but pay more?
- Would you rather be a pioneer in a new industry, or a master in an established one?
- Would you rather have your work be famous but you remain anonymous, or be famous for your work?
- Would you rather have the opportunity to start your own company from scratch, or have the opportunity to lead a major division of a Fortune 500 company?
- Would you rather have a job that offers incredible job security but no room for growth, or a job with high risk but immense potential for advancement?
- Would you rather be the person who trains the next generation of leaders, or the person who makes the groundbreaking discoveries?
- Would you rather have your career defined by innovation, or by reliability?
- Would you rather have a mentor who is incredibly successful but emotionally distant, or a mentor who is less accomplished but very supportive?
- Would you rather have your career be a constant learning experience, or a period of mastering a specific skill?
- Would you rather have the opportunity to work on a project that changes the world but doesn't pay well, or a project that generates a lot of money but has little impact?
- Would you rather be known for your strategic vision, or your tactical execution?
- Would you rather have a job that involves constant travel, or a job that requires you to stay in one place?
- Would you rather be the boss of everyone, or the best employee in the company?
- Would you rather have a career where you're always on the cutting edge, or a career where you refine existing processes to perfection?
Hypothetical Scenarios: Thinking Outside the Box
- Would you rather be able to talk to animals, or be able to understand machine code?
- Would you rather have a personal theme song play every time you enter a room, or have a fog machine follow you everywhere?
- Would you rather have to sing everything you say, or have to rap everything you say?
- Would you rather be able to control your dreams, or have perfect recall of every dream you've ever had?
- Would you rather have to wear a helmet at all times, or have to wear a cape at all times?
- Would you rather have a button that instantly cleans your entire house, or a button that instantly cooks your favorite meal?
- Would you rather have to answer the door every time the doorbell rings, or have to answer the phone every time it rings?
- Would you rather have a voice that sounds like a cartoon character, or a laugh that sounds like a hyena?
- Would you rather be able to communicate with aliens, or understand what your pet is thinking?
- Would you rather have to speak in a British accent for the rest of your life, or speak in a pirate accent for the rest of your life?
- Would you rather have a personal cloud that follows you and rains lightly whenever you're sad, or a personal sunshine that follows you and shines brightly whenever you're happy?
- Would you rather have to eat only beige food, or only brightly colored food?
- Would you rather have to wear shoes on your hands and gloves on your feet, or socks on your ears and earmuffs on your toes?
- Would you rather have a tail that wags when you're happy, or ears that droop when you're sad?
- Would you rather have the ability to control the flow of time, or the ability to manipulate gravity?
Fun & Silly Choices: Injecting Humor
- Would you rather have to wear socks with sandals every day, or crocs with formal wear every day?
- Would you rather have a sneeze that sounds like a duck quacking, or a hiccup that sounds like a foghorn?
- Would you rather have to high-five everyone you meet, or fist-bump everyone you meet?
- Would you rather be able to communicate with your past self, or your future self?
- Would you rather have to dance everywhere you go, or sing everywhere you go?
- Would you rather have a pet squirrel that follows you everywhere, or a pet pigeon that delivers your mail?
- Would you rather have to wear a clown nose every Monday, or a party hat every Friday?
- Would you rather have your nose glow in the dark, or your ears change color with your mood?
- Would you rather have to eat a spoonful of mustard every time you lie, or a spoonful of hot sauce every time you tell a joke?
- Would you rather be able to make fart noises with your hands, or make animal sounds with your voice?
- Would you rather have to wear a t-shirt that says "I'm With Stupid" pointing to yourself, or a t-shirt that says "I'm Awesome, Ask Me How"?
- Would you rather have your coffee taste like chocolate, or your dessert taste like coffee?
- Would you rather have to say "Abracadabra" before doing anything important, or "Hocus Pocus" after finishing?
- Would you rather have a beard made of spaghetti, or hair made of popcorn?
- Would you rather have to whisper everything, or shout everything?
In conclusion, "Would You Rather Questions for New Employees" are far more than just a frivolous game. They serve as a powerful, yet simple, tool for facilitating connection, understanding, and a sense of belonging. By engaging in these imaginative scenarios, new team members can quickly feel more comfortable, learn about their colleagues' personalities, and start building the foundational relationships that lead to a more positive and productive work environment. So, next time you're looking to onboard a new hire, consider throwing in a few of these thought-provoking, and often hilarious, questions!