Effective icebreakers for networking Effective icebreakers for networking Ask any professional who has either climbed the corporate ladder or built their own, and they’ll tell you there’s no use in being lonely at the top. One of the most effective and impactful ways to excel in your career - regardless of industry, skill set, or function - is to create lasting bonds with like-minded individuals. This makes networking one of those necessary evils that should fall high on your list of career-building priorities.Even so, motivational speaker and workplace expert Amy Cooper Hakim, Ph.D., says many workers get anxious in these pressure-filled settings, regardless if the elbow-rubbing is done online or in person. This might be because they’re not handling the interactions in a way that stimulates and fosters a conversation.“It can be incredibly uncomfortable to strike up a conversation when you are new to a group. At a networking function, we are meeting so many people that it is hard to keep track of who’s who.