ARE YOU A TEAM PLAYER? Tell me about your leadership quality

Team player is a term we hear a lot when it comes to the workplace. When asked if you’re one, everyone answers with a resounding “yes”. Still why the interviewer asks this question? This question is asked to determine if you work well with teams and when I say this, it doesn’t mean if you like interacting with people and like hanging out with them. What is actually asked is: Do you possess the qualities of a good team player.

A few of the qualities are: To respect your teammates’ opinions, be empathetic, be a good listener, discuss with them the project insights often, solve problems together, inform them about any developments in a particular area, understand the need of others, help each other.

In the corporate world, social interaction is very important. At any given level whether you’re a fresh level or at a higher level, you have to work with teams. What matters is how do you make the interviewer believe that you’re a good team player. So don’t give an obvious answer. Give a strong, realistic example, and make it much more convincing and interesting.

TIPS FOR GIVING THE BEST ANSWER:

• Support your answer with a recent incident.
• Make sure you sound genuine and convincing.
• Ensure your body language is consistent with the story.

WHAT NOT TO SAY:

• Don’t say you prefer to work independently.
• Avoid giving vague answers.
• Don’t give any example unrelated to work unless you’re a fresher.
• Don’t Lie

EXAMPLES:

Example 1- I always have been working with team and while working in team I met with different personalities and enjoyed working with them too.

I always take each and every task as my responsibility and always given my best to complete them on time till now I have not missed any work deadline so far 🙂

In my last project, where we are were working on common topics and I supported my team members whenever they used to stuck in someplace, and even sometimes I have taken help from my senior colleague for few areas.

I have also given KT to new joiners and helped them with the joining process to make it smoother.

Example 2- I like working in teams. With more people, productivity and efficiency increase, and hence the goal attainment becomes easier. Last year, in my college fest I was the team leader of my department and was the host of a show named ‘Sparx’. I talked to other departments and created awareness about the show.

I delegated some of my tasks to my juniors while I was looking for sponsors. There were a few obstacles but together as a team we managed to do everything on time. Everyone loved it and I and my team were appreciated.