You're in a team building interview and you need to demonstrate leadership skills. What's your next move?

1 Prepare yourself

Before the interview, do some research on the company, the role, and the type of team building activity you might encounter. Think about your strengths and weaknesses as a team player and a leader, and how you can showcase them or improve them. Practice some common team building exercises with a friend or a colleague, and get feedback on your performance. You can also review some leadership principles and models, such as the situational leadership theory, the transformational leadership style, or the STAR method.

2 Communicate effectively

During the interview, communication is key to demonstrate your leadership skills. You need to listen actively to your team members, ask open-ended questions, clarify expectations, and summarize key points. You also need to express your ideas clearly, confidently, and respectfully, using positive and constructive language. Avoid interrupting, criticizing, or dismissing others, and instead acknowledge their contributions, offer feedback, and build on their suggestions. You can also use non-verbal communication, such as eye contact, gestures, and facial expressions, to show your interest, enthusiasm, and empathy.

3 Collaborate constructively

Another important aspect of leadership is collaboration. You need to show that you can work well with others, respect diversity, and contribute to the team's success. You can do this by being supportive, cooperative, and flexible. For example, you can offer to help someone who is struggling, share your resources or skills, or adapt to changing situations or feedback. You can also encourage participation, involvement, and feedback from your team members, and recognize their achievements and efforts.

4 Solve problems creatively

Team building interviews often involve some kind of problem-solving or decision-making task that requires creativity and innovation. You can demonstrate your leadership skills by being proactive, analytical, and resourceful. For example, you can identify the problem, define the goals, brainstorm solutions, evaluate alternatives, and implement actions. You can also use your creativity to overcome obstacles, find new ways of doing things, or generate original ideas. You can also involve your team members in the problem-solving process, and ask for their input, opinions, and suggestions.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?