How to Use Get to Know Someone Questions to Improve Team Culture

Great team culture doesn’t just happen—it’s built through everyday moments of connection. In today’s hybrid workplaces, where teams are spread across cities or time zones, creating that sense of belonging can feel like a challenge.

But what if improving team culture didn’t require a full-blown retreat or a big budget?

It turns out, simply asking the right get to know someone questions can transform how your team connects, collaborates, and communicates. When done well, these questions become a practical tool to boost morale, break silos, and create meaningful relationships at work.

Let’s explore exactly how you can use them strategically—and authentically—to build a stronger team culture.

The Role of Trust and Connection in a Strong Team Culture

Before diving into the questions themselves, it’s important to understand why they work.

Strong teams are built on trust. When team members feel safe to share their thoughts, speak up with ideas, or ask for help—they thrive. But this kind of culture doesn’t happen overnight.

Without connection:

• Employees feel isolated and disengaged
• Teams work in silos instead of collaborating
• Morale dips, and turnover rises

But with regular use of thoughtful get to know someone questions, you create space for employees to be seen, heard, and understood—key ingredients in any high-performing team.

Why Get to Know Someone Questions Work

These questions might seem simple on the surface, but they work on multiple levels:

• They level the playing field: Everyone, from interns to execs, can answer.
• They invite storytelling: Stories build empathy and reveal shared values.
• They are low-pressure: Unlike performance-based discussions, they’re fun and casual.
• They foster psychological safety: The more people share, the safer they feel to open up again.

Think of get to know someone questions as trust accelerators. In a 10-minute chat, you can learn more about your coworker than you might in weeks of emails and project updates.

Practical Ways to Use These Questions in the Workplace

1. Kick Off Meetings or Standups

Instead of diving straight into the agenda, take two minutes to ask a fun or thoughtful question. It immediately sets a positive, human tone.

Examples:

• “What’s your favorite productivity hack?”
• “What’s one food you couldn’t live without?”

Rotate who gets to ask the question to build team ownership.

2. Icebreakers for New Hires or Onboarding

Starting a new job can be nerve-wracking. Warm, welcoming questions help break the ice without being overly personal.

Tips:

• Use prompts like “What was your first job ever?”
• Allow new hires to learn about teammates through shared responses
• Pair with visual responses or GIFs to keep it playful

3. Virtual or Remote Team Activities

For distributed teams, asynchronous and real-time bonding is vital.

Ideas:

• Post a weekly question in your Slack channel: “What’s a fun fact most people don’t know about you?”
• Use polls to vote on answers
• Host monthly “Coffee & Questions” video chats

This helps bridge the distance and promote inclusivity.

4. Celebrations and Milestones

Adding questions to celebrations adds depth and joy to the moment.

When to use:

• Project completions
• Birthdays
• Promotions or anniversaries

Example Question:

“Looking back, what moment are you most proud of this year?”

5. One-on-Ones and Team Check-Ins

Use questions to deepen conversations with direct reports or peers.

Why it works:

• Encourages reflection
• Builds rapport
• Shifts focus from task to person

Questions like:

• “What helps you stay motivated during tough weeks?”
• “What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you at work?”

Examples of Powerful Get to Know Someone Questions

Here are a few favorites, categorized for easy use:

🎉 Fun and Light:

• What’s your guilty pleasure TV show?
• If you could only eat one meal forever, what would it be?

🧠 Reflective:

• What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
• What’s one life experience that shaped who you are today?

🎯 Work-Focused:

• What’s your favorite part of your current role?
• How do you recharge after a long workday?

These get to know someone questions are designed to create meaningful conversations without crossing personal boundaries.

Do’s and Don’ts When Using These Questions

✅ Do:

• Let people skip or pass if they want
• Keep it inclusive and non-judgmental
• Encourage listening, not just answering
• Follow up with curiosity (e.g., “Tell me more about that!”)

❌ Don’t:

• Ask overly personal or controversial questions
• Turn it into a competition or quiz
• Make it mandatory—participation should be genuine

Respect boundaries. The goal is connection, not interrogation.

Conclusion

Team culture isn’t built during annual offsites. It’s shaped every day—through small moments of connection, trust, and conversation.

Using get to know someone questions regularly helps your team:

• Feel more connected
• Communicate more openly
• Collaborate with deeper empathy

Start simple. Add one question to your next team meeting. Encourage others to join in. Watch how quickly conversations evolve from surface-level to meaningful.