Whiteboard questions for work

Whiteboard question of the day · (UTC)

Which gives up first on a busy day: Wi-Fi, printer, or coffee machine?

Copy it onto the board in marker and let people add their marks by lunch. A new one every day at 00:00 UTC, drawn from the 104 questions in the tally-mark, would-you-rather, this-or-that, poll, one-word, funny, and break room sets below.

Whiteboard questions for work are answered in silence: walk past, add a tally mark, a dot, or one word, and keep walking. Copy today’s question onto the board, or pick one from the sets below.

Stairs or elevator?

198 questions in this set — nothing repeats until you have seen them all. No sign-up, no limits.

198 fun whiteboard questions for work

Tally-mark questions for the office whiteboard

  1. 1Stairs or elevator?
  2. 2Morning meetings or afternoon meetings?
  3. 3Hot coffee or iced coffee?
  4. 4Paper notebook or notes app?
  5. 5Sticky notes or index cards?
  6. 6Headphones on or headphones off while you work?
  7. 7Quiet corner or middle of the buzz?
  8. 8Lunch at your desk or lunch away from it?
  9. 9Team lunch or solo lunch?
  10. 10Walk-and-talk or sit-down chat?
  11. 11Warm office or cool office?
  12. 1225-minute meetings or 50-minute meetings?
  13. 13Slide deck or one-page doc?
  14. 14Reply right away or reply in batches?
  15. 15Brainstorm on a whiteboard or on sticky notes?
  16. 16Chat message or walk over to their desk?
  17. 17Fruit bowl or cookie jar in the kitchen?
  18. 18Mug or water bottle on your desk?
  19. 19Natural light or desk lamp?
  20. 20Music while you work or silence?
  21. 21Meeting room with a window or one with a big whiteboard?
  22. 22Handwritten thank-you or emoji thank-you?

Would you rather whiteboard questions

  1. 1Would you rather work four longer days or five shorter days?
  2. 2Would you rather skip every status meeting or every status email?
  3. 3Would you rather always get a free meeting room or a working printer?
  4. 4Would you rather have a longer lunch break or leave an hour earlier?
  5. 5Would you rather work from a cozy café or a quiet library?
  6. 6Would you rather have a snack shelf or a free Friday lunch?
  7. 7Would you rather sit by the window or sit next to the kitchen?
  8. 8Would you rather have one meeting-free day or two free mornings?
  9. 9Would you rather give a ten-minute talk or write a one-page summary?
  10. 10Would you rather get a surprise team lunch or a surprise early finish?
  11. 11Would you rather spend a day learning or clearing your to-do list?
  12. 12Would you rather forget your charger or forget your headphones?
  13. 13Would you rather have the best desk chair or the best monitor?
  14. 14Would you rather get a quick call or a long message?

This or that whiteboard questions

  1. 1Out of office: fully offline or checking in once a day?
  2. 2Desk plant or desk toy?
  3. 3Calendar blocked solid or calendar wide open?
  4. 4Bullet points or full sentences?
  5. 5Train or plane for a work trip?
  6. 6Gel pen or ballpoint?
  7. 7First one in or last one out?
  8. 8Highlighter or underline?
  9. 9Laptop on a stand or flat on the desk?
  10. 10Elevator small talk or comfortable silence?

Whiteboard poll questions for work

  1. 1Next team outing: bowling, mini golf, karaoke, or a trivia night? Add a dot.
  2. 2How do you get to work: walk, bike, car, bus, or train? Add a dot.
  3. 3Give one up for a month: coffee, music while you work, or your second monitor?
  4. 4Best way to celebrate a team win: cake, an early finish, a team lunch, or a public shout-out?
  5. 5Pick the next office plant: cactus, fern, something big and leafy, or a plastic one nobody has to water.
  6. 6Best chip flavor: salted, barbecue, sour cream and onion, or salt and vinegar?
  7. 7Theme for next Friday: sports jersey, favorite color, hat day, or business as usual?
  8. 8Breakfast today: a proper meal, coffee only, something on the way in, or not yet?
  9. 9Ideal working hours: 7 to 3, 9 to 5, or 11 to 7? Add a dot.
  10. 10Favorite way to take a break: a walk, a snack, a chat, or a scroll?
  11. 11Most-used reaction in our team chat: thumbs up, laughing, eyes, or the party popper?
  12. 12Name the meeting room nobody can ever book: The Vault, The Unicorn, The Mirage, or write your own.

Whiteboard questions with a number or scale

  1. 1Rate the office temperature from 1 (cold) to 5 (hot).
  2. 2How was today’s lunch? 1 is sad, 5 is superb.
  3. 3How full is your week? 1 is empty, 5 is packed.
  4. 4Rate this week’s meeting load: 1 is too few, 5 is too many.
  5. 5How many sticky notes are on your monitor? Write a number.
  6. 6Meeting-room chairs: 1 is torture, 5 is a cloud.
  7. 7How many meetings are on your calendar today? Write a number.
  8. 8Rate the coffee machine from 1 to 5.
  9. 9How loud was the office today? 1 is a library, 5 is a train station.
  10. 10Wi-Fi today: 1 is broken, 5 is flawless.
  11. 11How long should our standup be? Write the minutes.
  12. 12Rate how tidy your desk is, from 1 (jungle) to 5 (museum).

One-word whiteboard questions

  1. 1Finish in one word: “Today feels like a ___ day.”
  2. 2Name one word you would ban from meetings.
  3. 3Your go-to lunch, in one word.
  4. 4The best snack in the kitchen, in one word.
  5. 5Pick a one-word title for today’s playlist.
  6. 6In one word, what does this office need more of?
  7. 7Name a color that matches today.
  8. 8Give the meeting room a one-word nickname.
  9. 9Pick one verb that sums up your morning.
  10. 10The perfect team lunch, in one word.
  11. 11Describe our team on a good day in one word.
  12. 12Your must-have desk item, in one word.
  13. 13Choose one word to print on our team mug.
  14. 14One word for the feeling when a meeting ends early.

Monday whiteboard questions

  1. 1What do you open first on Monday: email, chat, or calendar?
  2. 2Monday desk reset: tidy first or dive straight in?
  3. 3Rate your Monday motivation, from 1 (snooze) to 5 (sprint).
  4. 4When will your main task be done: Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday?
  5. 5Plan the week on paper or plan it as it comes?
  6. 6Start Monday with a team meeting or a quiet hour?
  7. 7Best time for Monday’s first meeting: 9, 10, or 11?
  8. 8Name a song that should open the week.

Wednesday and Thursday whiteboard questions

  1. 1Wednesday check: ahead, on track, or behind? Add a mark.
  2. 2Halfway through the week: rate your energy from 1 to 5.
  3. 3Midweek treat: coffee run or cake?
  4. 4The best thing so far this week, in one word.
  5. 5Thursday: wrap things up early or push one more big task?
  6. 6How many days does this week feel like so far? Write a number.
  7. 7Thursday lunch: somewhere new or the usual?
  8. 8What would make tomorrow easier? One word.

Friday whiteboard questions

  1. 1Friday: leave early or start late?
  2. 2Rate this week from 1 to 5.
  3. 3How many tasks did you finish this week? Write a number.
  4. 4Friday snack: donuts, pizza, or fruit?
  5. 5Which day was the best this week? Add a dot under Mon to Fri.
  6. 6Friday playlist: upbeat or mellow?
  7. 7End the week with a five-minute wrap-up or just log off?
  8. 8Rate how ready you are for the weekend, from 1 to 10.

Funny whiteboard questions for work

  1. 1Reply-all: a crime or a public service?
  2. 2Thermostat: arctic, sauna, or somewhere in between?
  3. 3Is the printer a friend or a foe?
  4. 4Which gives up first on a busy day: Wi-Fi, printer, or coffee machine?
  5. 5Is a “quick sync” ever quick? Yes or no.
  6. 6The real office ritual: the 3 pm snack run or the 4 pm slump?
  7. 7Meeting invite with no agenda: accept, decline, or ask?
  8. 8Most overused phrase: “circle back”, “touch base”, or “bandwidth”?
  9. 9Fridge lunch: label it or trust fate?
  10. 10Last cookie on the shared plate: take it or leave it?
  11. 11Keyboard: loud and clicky or soft and silent?
  12. 12Best sign of a good meeting: snacks, short agenda, or early finish?

Funny whiteboard questions for adults

  1. 1Biggest grown-up win this week: laundry folded or inbox under 50?
  2. 2Fitted sheet: folded properly or rolled into a ball?
  3. 3Bedtime on a work night: before 10, before 11, or don’t ask?
  4. 4How many browser tabs do you have open right now? Write a number.
  5. 5Unread notifications on your phone: under 10, under 100, or too scared to look?
  6. 6Best grown-up treat: a long nap or a quiet house?
  7. 7Most exciting grown-up purchase: a vacuum, a good knife, or a good pillow?
  8. 8Leftovers for lunch: good planning or a cry for help?
  9. 9Weather check: open the app or just look outside?
  10. 10Phone battery at home time: above 20% or living dangerously?

Break room whiteboard questions

  1. 1Microwave queue: wait your turn or come back later?
  2. 2Best break room snack: chips, chocolate, or fruit?
  3. 3Cleaning the break room fridge: a rota or whoever finds the mystery container?
  4. 4The ideal coffee break: five minutes or fifteen?
  5. 5At the break room table: chat with whoever is there or headphones in?
  6. 6Best thing to find in the break room: free cake, a clean mug, or an empty microwave?
  7. 7Tea bag: squeeze it or let it be?
  8. 8Your mug: wash it right away or at the end of the day?
  9. 9What should the break room get next? One word.
  10. 10Lunch break: eat first and then scroll, or scroll first and then eat?

Team building whiteboard questions for staff

  1. 1How long have you worked here? Add a mark: under a year, one to five years, or more than five.
  2. 2Shout-out board: write the first name of someone who helped you this week.
  3. 3Write one thing you could teach a coworker in ten minutes.
  4. 4How many countries have you visited? Add a mark: 1 to 5, 6 to 15, or more than 15.
  5. 5Write a language you speak besides English, or add a mark next to one already up.
  6. 6First concert you went to? Write the band, or add a mark next to one already up.
  7. 7Best piece of work advice you have ever had, in five words or fewer.
  8. 8One app you could not do your job without, in one word.
  9. 9Write one thing you are learning outside work right now, in one word.
  10. 10Which team would you like to shadow for a day? Write the team name.

Whiteboard question of the week

  1. 1Pick a theme for the team’s week: focus, finish, or fun.
  2. 2Add a mark under the day you expect to be busiest.
  3. 3This week the team needs more of: a quiet hour or a social hour?
  4. 4In one word, what from last week should we repeat this week?
  5. 5Sum up what you learned this week in one word on a sticky note.
  6. 6Which weekday works best for a team lunch this week? Add a dot.
  7. 7By Friday, pick one word that should describe this week.
  8. 8Add a dot for each day you took a proper lunch break.
  9. 9Tally all week: one mark every time a meeting ends early.
  10. 10Tally all week: one mark per cup of coffee or tea.
  11. 11Vote by Friday on the next team lunch spot: write a suggestion or add a dot to one.
  12. 12Week-long challenge: one mark each time you take the stairs.

Halloween whiteboard questions

  1. 1Best Halloween candy: chocolate, gummies, or something sour?
  2. 2Candy corn: treat or trick?
  3. 3Office costume day: full costume, one accessory, or none at all?
  4. 4Pumpkin carving: spooky face or silly face?
  5. 5Horror movie night: lights on or lights off?
  6. 6Haunted house: first one in or waiting outside?
  7. 7Desk neighbor for a day: a friendly ghost or a polite vampire?
  8. 8Leftover Halloween candy: bring it to the office or keep it at home?
  9. 9The spookiest sound in this office, in one word.
  10. 10Scariest Monday morning: 200 unread emails, a full calendar, or an empty coffee machine?
  11. 11If the whole team wore one group costume, what would we be? One word.
  12. 12Rate your Halloween spirit from 1 (lights off, nobody home) to 5 (decorations up since September).

Fall and Thanksgiving whiteboard questions

  1. 1Pumpkin spice: love it, hate it, or never tried it?
  2. 2Apple pie or pumpkin pie?
  3. 3Rake the leaves or jump in them?
  4. 4Fall weekend: a long walk outside or a movie on the couch?
  5. 5Jacket check: add a dot if you needed a coat this morning.
  6. 6Clocks going back: is the extra hour of sleep worth the darker evenings? Yes or no.
  7. 7Best fall smell: woodsmoke, cinnamon, or wet leaves?
  8. 8Best Thanksgiving side: stuffing, mashed potatoes, or mac and cheese?
  9. 9Cranberry sauce: homemade or the one that keeps the shape of the can?
  10. 10Thanksgiving leftovers: the next-day sandwich or a second full plate?
  11. 11Best part of Thanksgiving: the food, the parade, the football, or the nap?
  12. 12One thing you’re thankful for at work this year, in one word.

Christmas and holiday whiteboard questions

  1. 1Holiday music in the office: start now, December only, or never?
  2. 2Real tree or artificial tree?
  3. 3Holiday lights: classic white or every color at once?
  4. 4Ugly holiday sweater day at the office: yes or no?
  5. 5Secret gift exchange at work: love it or dread it?
  6. 6Wrapping presents: neat paper and ribbon or gift bags for everything?
  7. 7Holiday cookies: bake them, buy them, or just eat everyone else’s?
  8. 8Snow day: build a snowman or stay under a blanket?
  9. 9Best holiday movie? Write a title, or add a mark next to one already up.
  10. 10How many working days until the holiday break? Write a number.
  11. 11New Year’s resolutions: make one, skip them, or recycle last year’s?
  12. 12Best team moment this year, in one word.

How to use whiteboard questions for work

A whiteboard question is answered in silence. Someone walks past the board, adds a tally mark, a dot, a number, or one word, and keeps walking — five seconds, no meeting required. That is why whiteboard questions for work suit a busy office better than a spoken round: nobody has to be in the room at the same moment, and the quietest person on the team gets exactly the same say as the loudest.

Run it as a daily whiteboard question of the day, or leave one up for the week. Any whiteboard or dry erase board works. Write it in marker before the first meeting, leave the pen on the tray, and read the tally aloud at standup in one sentence. Rotate who writes it so the board belongs to the team rather than the facilitator. If you would rather ask out loud and get answers on the spot, the this-or-that questions are the spoken version of the same idea, and would you rather questions for work are the slower, talk-it-through version. For a board that should start an argument, controversial questions for work are two-sided debates with nothing at stake.

The sets above are sorted by the kind of mark they ask for, then by where and when the board goes up: multiple-choice whiteboard polls, a team building set for staff who are still getting to know each other, a break room set, a set for each part of the week, a week-long tally, and seasonal sets for Halloween, fall and Thanksgiving, and the December holidays. Every one is a question to put on a whiteboard at work without a second thought — readable by visitors, answerable in five seconds. For spoken holiday warm-ups in a meeting, use the holiday icebreaker questions for work.

Facilitator tip

Put the board where people already pause — by the kitchen, the printer, or the meeting-room door — and tie or tape the marker to it. A board in a corridor nobody lingers in collects few marks, and a marker that has to be fetched collects fewer. Photograph the tally before you wipe the board, so the standup read-out never depends on what is left on it.

Frequently asked questions

What are good whiteboard questions for work?+

The ones that can be answered with a single mark in a few seconds: a choice between two options, a number from 1 to 5, or one word. They also have to be safe on a board that visitors and managers can read, which rules out money, health, relationships, politics, and anything that asks someone to admit a mistake. The sets above are sorted by the kind of mark they ask for, so you can match the question to the space you have on the board.

How do you run a whiteboard question of the day?+

Write one question in marker before the first meeting, leave a pen on the tray, and let people add a tally mark, dot, or word as they pass. Read the result aloud at standup, photograph it if you want a record, then wipe the board and let someone else write tomorrow’s. The whole ritual is one marker, one question, and one sentence at standup.

What makes a good whiteboard question?+

It fits on one line in marker, the answer is a mark rather than a sentence, and anyone who walks past is comfortable reading it. The best ones split a team close to evenly, because a lopsided tally ends the conversation while a close one starts it at standup. If the answer needs a sentence to make sense, ask it out loud instead.

How often should you change a whiteboard question?+

Daily suits quick choices and one-word answers, which are used up fast. Weekly suits a rating or a theme, where the point is to watch the tally build over several days. The Monday, midweek, and Friday sets are written for those days, the week set is for a board that stays up from Monday to Friday, and the seasonal sets cover the weeks around Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the December holidays. Running one of each side by side is an easy way to find out which your team actually answers.

Can remote teams use whiteboard questions?+

Yes — move the board into a team chat channel. Post the question, then let people answer with an emoji reaction, a poll vote, or one word in the thread. A shared online whiteboard works too, with everyone adding their mark in a different color. The question-of-the-day box at the top of this page picks one each day, so you can copy it straight into the channel.

Give the quiet person the same say

Ask your team what is working and what should change in FocusRetro, an online board where answers can be anonymous and votes stay hidden until everyone has voted.

Start a free board

No credit card required

More question sets

This or that questions for work

108 one-word either/or questions for work — funny, fun, meeting, team building, and icebreaker sets for a quiet room.

Check-in questions

62 fast openers for meetings and retros, plus a question-of-the-day set for work.

Icebreaker questions for work

65 questions built for meetings and coworkers — including remote-friendly and seasonal sets.

Unhinged icebreaker questions

112 questions that commit to an absurd premise — hypotheticals, office chaos, coworker questions, and a work-safe question of the day.

Would you rather questions for work

100 work-safe dilemmas with a cost on both sides — funny, meeting, coworker, office, and remote-team picks, plus a question of the day.

Controversial questions for work

100 safe-for-work debates — hot takes, food fights, office etiquette, and poll questions that split a room without touching anything serious.

Holiday icebreaker questions for work

120 holiday icebreakers anyone can answer — Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, winter, party, and virtual-meeting sets, with no family, money, or religion questions.

Get-to-know-you questions for work

121 questions for coworkers, new hires, and new teams — fun, funny, team meeting, virtual, and team building sets, from safe to deeper.

All icebreaker and check-in questions

Every set in one place — 12 lists and 1216 questions, sorted by situation.

Related guides

How to run a sprint retrospective (step-by-step guide)

A step-by-step sprint retrospective guide: the 5-phase agenda, exact timings for a 60-minute session, facilitation tactics, remote tips, and common failure modes.

Lean Coffee template

An agendaless meeting that builds its own agenda in ten minutes — then actually sticks to it.

Sailboat template

Wind, anchors, rocks, and the island — one picture of what moves the team and what holds it back.