Superpower

Purpose

The Superpower icebreaker invites participants to dream big and share something imaginative about themselves. Choosing a superpower reveals personality traits, values, and aspirations in a lighthearted way. It is a reliable opener that generates smiles, sparks conversation, and levels the playing field between extroverts and introverts.

At a glance

• Group size: 4–30
• Duration: 10 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Facilitation style: Round-robin sharing
• Setting: In-person or virtual

How to run

1. Ask the question: "If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?"
2. Give participants 30 seconds to think.
3. Go around the group, each person sharing their superpower with a one-sentence explanation.
4. Optionally, invite the group to vote on the most creative or useful superpower at the end.
5. Bridge to the session topic if applicable.

Materials needed

• None

Pitfalls & common mistakes

• No "why": The explanation is more interesting than the power itself — always ask for it.
• Repetition fatigue: If many people pick the same power (flying is popular), encourage uniqueness.
• Going too deep: Keep it light — this is a 10-minute opener, not a philosophical debate.
• Skipping the bridge: A missed opportunity if the answers relate to the workshop topic.

Inclusion & accessibility

• No physical activity — fully accessible.
• Works across all cultures and age groups.
• Virtual-friendly: participants can type answers in chat before sharing aloud.
• Non-threatening topic that does not require sharing personal information.

Variations

• Superpower for the team: "What superpower does this team need most right now?"
• Superpower swap: After sharing, each person assigns a superpower to the person next to them.
• Villain twist: "What would your supervillain power be?" for a humorous spin.

When NOT to use this

• In very formal or senior executive settings where imaginative questions may feel out of place.
• When the group needs physical energy — this is a seated, verbal activity.
• If you have already used a similar hypothetical question in the same session.

Source & further reading

• A widely used icebreaker question with no single credited source.
• Popular in team coaching, classroom settings, and corporate retreats.