Using Agree or Disagree Questions as Icebreakers

As icebreakers and conversation starters, agree or disagree questions are an excellent way to make your Agile retrospective, brainstorming sessions, or any other type of meeting more engaging and cohesive.

They help to quickly get the group's collective opinion on a particular topic and can even spark interesting debates. Read on to learn more about why agree or disagree questions are such powerful tools.

What Are Agree or Disagree Questions?

When asking an agree or disagree question, the presenter poses a statement and then asks the group whether they agree or disagree with it. This type of question has become increasingly popular in scenarios such as Agile retrospectives and brainstorming sessions, where getting different perspectives is essential for achieving successful outcomes.

The beauty of these types of questions is their simplicity: they require minimal effort to answer, yet can still generate powerful insights into a particular topic. They also encourage engagement from all participants, even those who are typically reticent to voice their opinions.

Why do Groups Love Agree or Disagree Questions?

Just like "get to know you" icebreaker questions, agree or disagree questions can be a great way to quickly break the ice and get everyone in the room engaged without anyone feeling they’re being put on the spot.

Moreover, these questions are an efficient tool for gauging the group’s feelings on a particular issue. By asking each participant whether they agree or disagree with a statement, it's easy to assess the potential for consensus-building within the group, which amplifies your team’s collaboration. This helps inform discussion and decision-making during meetings by providing helpful insights into how people perceive certain topics. 

How to Create Your Own Agree or Disagree Questions

When formulating an agree or disagree question, the key is to make sure it's relevant and timely. Think about what topics would be most useful for your particular group and craft questions that will generate interesting discussions.

For example, if you're running a brainstorming session on improving your process during software development, you might ask something like: 

"Agree or disagree: We should invest in more automation tools to make our process faster and more efficient."

Use these basic templates to help start crafting your own statements:

1. [blank] is better than [blank].

2. It's better to [blank] than to [blank].

3. We should [blank] rather than [blank]. 

4. The best way to [blank] is by [blank]. 

5. We should focus our efforts on [blank].

6. [blank] is the best way to achieve our goal.

7.  It's more important to focus on [blank] than [blank]. 

8. [blank] is the best way to go about [blank].

9. [blank] should always be our priority.

10. We should invest in [blank].

These questions can help to spark interesting debates, encourage different perspectives, and generate productive outcomes. Make sure to note any areas of agreement or disagreement, as they can help inform future decisions.

You can also check our list of funny Would You Rather questions to give you more ideas.

Tips for Using Agree or Disagree Questions with Your Group

Keep in mind that these questions tend to be more challenging than simple icebreaker questions; each one needs to be handled with care. Here are a few tips for facilitation that you can use to make sure your session runs smoothly: 

1. Give members time to think of their arguments: It's important to give each member enough time and space to think through their responses before they answer the question. This will help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to consider all sides of the argument before speaking up.

2. When debating, make sure only one person talks at a time: If there is lively debate during an agree or disagree session, it's essential that only one person speaks at any given moment (you can use a talking stick/prop to help with this). This will prevent the conversation from getting sidetracked or derailed by multiple people speaking at the same time. 

3. Reassure team members that there are no right or wrong answers: Agree or disagree questions don't have a definitive answer, so it's important to remind your group that everyone's opinion is valid and should be respected. After all, these sessions are meant to encourage open dialogue and collaboration, so have fun with them! 

120 Fun Agree or Disagree Questions

In addition to the template provided above, here are some fun icebreaker questions you can use to engage your group: 

Agree or Disagree Questions for Work

1. Working from home is more productive than working in the office. 

2. Meetings should be kept as short as possible. 

3. Teamwork makes the dream work! 

4. Success comes from hard work and dedication, not luck.

5. There is no such thing as a stupid question!  

Funny Agree or Disagree Questions

1. Cookies are better than cake! 

2. Cats make better pets than dogs. 

3. Bubble baths are the best way to relax after a long day. 

4. It's always 5 o'clock somewhere!  

5. 'Netflix and chill' is the perfect date night activity. 

Food & Drink Agree or Disagree Questions

1. Coffee is better than tea. 

2. Spicy food is the best kind of food. 

3. Wine pairs perfectly with every meal.  

4. Beer tastes better when it's shared with friends. 

5. Fast food isn't as bad as people make it out to be!  

TV & Cinema Agree or Disagree Questions 

1. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the greatest movie franchise ever created! 

2. The Simpsons is the best-animated TV show of all time. 

3. Harry Potter is the definitive fantasy series. 

4. Star Trek > Star Wars. 

5. The Lord of the Rings trilogy should have been left as a standalone set of movies.

Sports Agree or Disagree Questions

1. Basketball is more exciting to watch than football. 

2. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world.  

3. Tennis is one of the most challenging sports to play. 

4. Golf is a sport that requires extreme patience and focus. 

5. Hockey is the best team sport!  

Agree or Disagree Questions for Software Development Teams

1. Automation tools are critical for achieving successful outcomes in software development projects. 

2. Adopting Agile processes helps teams become more efficient and productive.  

3. Continuous integration is key for successful software development. 

4. User feedback should always be taken into consideration during the development process.  

5. Investing in collaboration tools is essential for teams to work together effectively. 

How Can GoRetro Help?

Agree or disagree questions are an effective tool for quickly engaging a group and generating useful insights. They help create meaningful conversations, encourage team collaboration, and spark interesting debates. 

If you're looking to run your own remote team retrospectives or brainstorming sessions using these types of questions, GoRetro is the perfect platform for you. We provide Agile retrospectives templates that include pre-made agree or disagree questions for groups of all sizes. So why not give it a try? 

Sign up today and see how our powerful tools can help make your next meeting even more productive.