Tell me about your exposure to team building exercises. What team building skills would you bring to our organization?
"Team building activities in our office are entertaining because we have such an expressive group of people. One time, we built an entire obstacle course out of office supplies, and everyone had to participate. We had awards and prizes. I believe these small things make an employee engaged in their job, even on the toughest of days. I have also participated in a few fun team-building activities where using teamwork to solve a problem was necessary. I've participated in a department escape room night. This was a great opportunity for us to get to know each other better on a personal level while also seeing how we all uniquely think to solve a common problem."
If you have ever participated in a ropes course or a trust fall, then you have engaged in team-building exercises! Of course, most examples of team-building do not need to be that extreme. Any activity or company effort that motivates teams and builds trust among co-workers is considered a team-building exercise. Many companies will offer team experiences to help build stable groups that collaborate and communicate better. If you have experience as a participant or leader, share your knowledge and highlight your biggest takeaway from your experiences that you can bring to this team.
"I initiate a few team-building events per year with my team and also promote their use among other departments. Sometimes it's a family potluck or picnic in a park. Other times, it's a group volunteer effort at the soup kitchen. We do a lot together as a group. When a department has the chance to bond both personally and professionally, overall employee satisfaction is greatly increased."
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Anonymous Answer
I do not have a lot of exposure to leading team-building exercises. However, setting up group activities to get people to connect over more than just work can be very effective. An example is I once was in a fantasy basketball league at work; I don't even watch basketball, but we all got really into it, and it helped break down the silos between certain departments, which was important.
Rachelle's Feedback
It sounds like this basketball league was a fun and memorable experience! Rather than beginning your answer with 'I do not...' (this makes the interviewer check out right away), I recommend leading with a positive statement. For instance, you could discuss some of the team-building exercises that you've seen to be impactful even if you did not lead them. In a previous response, you mentioned a 'Caregiver of the Month' program...this could be considered team-building, perhaps since it was meant to initiate retention and motivation.
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