Thursday, November 29, 2012

Team Building Queries


Fourteen years ago the following questions were part of a corporate exercise involving my peers and me.  The objective was to gain a better understanding of one another, thus improve our interactions, and thus our management productivity. 

From the beginning, I found the questions amazing to consider.  For sure, I appreciated the opportunity to be more thoroughly understood by those working with me each day.  In fact, seeking to be totally honest, it was not easy settling on the answers to several of the questions.

Would my responses to those be the same today?  I’m not sure.
___________________________________________
Question #1:  If you could have dinner with any three people, living or from history, whom would they be and why?

        My Answer:  
(A.)       Princess Diana – It seems to me she was a fun romantic sensitive caring young woman who cherished the family unit and it “fell apart”.  In that sense her life mirrored my own.  I would love to commiserate with her about the consequences of the choices we make in life.
(B.)       Alex Haley – I would I tell him how beneficial his book ROOTS was to my personal sense of self and I might learn, first hand, the challenges he overcame in his research to produce the book. (My award-winning memoir, Black Star Girl, was published in March 2010.)
(C.)        John F. Kennedy, Jr. - This young man with a notably interesting history, appears to be a constructively focused gentleman.  I would love a discussion so as to learn more about his plans for the future and to share insights we may find helpful.  (JFK,Jr. would die less than one year following this thoughtful decision of mine.)

Question #2:  You were named after?  

       My Answer:  Joe Louis’ first wife, Marva Spaulding Louis. (Joe Louis was a World Champion boxer.)

Question #3:  The cartoon character that is most like you and why?

       My Answer:  DICK TRACY – We are strong, reliable, inquisitive, passionate and seek closure to problems.

Question #4:  What book are you currently reading?
        My Answer:  BLACK BEAUTY   (To my granddaughter).

Question #5:  The most unusual job you’ve held?
        My Answer:  As a Junior High School student, reading homework to a blind student.
 ___________________________________________

How would you answer the questions?

2 comments:

  1. Okay, 3rd try. My answers below.
    1. Michelle Obama; Bruce Springsteen, Michael Vick
    2. Former Queen of Iran, Farah Diba Pavlavi
    3. Boomerang bird from Angry Birds, because she shows the potential to achieve a goal even if she has to double back to hit the target.
    4. A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
    5. First job out of college which involved walking 40 blocks every Monday in the Wall Street area of NYC rain or shine. Had to visit 6 to 9 brokerage firms in one day to certify their new hires for a tax saving program.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I understand your mom wanted to name you "Susan Lee" but your dad prevailed and you were named after the Queen. lol Thanks for your response, for sharing; all interesting!....Boomerang Bird, Angry Birds? hmmmm

    ReplyDelete