Leadership skill is one of the 12 core competencies employers look out for during an interview. Leadership interview questions aim to assess a candidate’s ability to take up roles, recognize and nurture the skills of those around and help to harness them to full potential.
Leaders are very valuable and essential to a company’s success. They dare to take necessary actions and bring value to the company by creating a supportive and collaborative environment.
In an interview, when recruiters or interviewers ask questions on leadership, they are looking for specific values including the ability to motivate and inspire, a sense of responsibility, conflict resolution, decision-making skills, and persuasiveness. Put together, these values make a great leader.
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25 Leadership Interview Questions And Answers
Interview questions may vary depending on the job title and industry. Candidates applying for leadership roles like manager, supervisor, or executive may be asked more questions on leadership.
However, here are some common leadership interview questions to expect during an interview;
1. As A Leader, What Are The Most Important Values You Demonstrate?
The most important value I have and demonstrate is my integrity. I endeavor to be honest in all my actions to establish credibility and trust as a leader. Because of this, my team has confidence in me and follows the direction I take.
2. How Have You Gained Commitment From Your Team?
I have gained commitment from my team through influence and persuasion. I persuade them to set specific objectives and they have established cooperation and cohesion, they are committed to attaining the goal.
3. What Can Make A Leader Fail?
A leader can fail when he does not carry his team along and keep them updated with the goals of the organization. Other factors could also lead to his failure like, time constraints, and available resources.
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4. Differentiate Between A Team Leader And A Team Manager
A team manager oversees the activities and productivity of his team while a team leader inspires and motivates his team to achieve their set goals. A leader can lead and inspire his team to bring in their best performance.
I can do this through influence, relationship building, and being driven and passionate about the goals.
5. What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
My greatest weakness is delegating duties to others that I know that I can do better. However, if I fail to delegate these duties, I’ll have more workload than I can handle.
To overcome this weakness, I have taken time management courses and learned how to effectively handle tasks.
6. How Do You Get Others To Accept Your Ideas?
I discuss the benefits of the idea and how it can be applied and then I stay open to other thoughts and modify my ideas in a way that we all agree. Being open-minded and listening to other opinions increases my chances of being successful in attaining goals than when it’s mandatory.
7. How Do You Praise A Member Of Your Team?
I like to praise openly, in the presence of other teammates so that they could learn best practices. I would use a time when we would be gathered in a group like a meeting to praise the team member.
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8. Are You More Effective In A Group Or One On One Basis?
I believe that I am more effective in a group. Everyone in a group has something unique to offer and being in a group is a great way to develop interpersonal skills.
9. How Often Do You Feel It’s Necessary To Meet With Your Team?
I feel that I should meet with my team members at least once a week. Regular meetings and communication with team members are crucial as it provides the team an opportunity to get together and discuss our challenges, and best practices and also celebrate victories.
10. If Some Members Of Your Team Disagrees With You, How Would You Bring Cohesion?
Firstly, I would find a common ground between the members that disagree, and then I would talk about the importance of the goal we need to achieve and the implications if we do come together as a unit to attain it. We would then work together to reach an agreement.
11. How Do You Motivate Your Team?
Individually, my teammates are motivated by different things. So I find out what motivates them and speak to them, telling them how a goal or change is going to be of benefit to them.
I make sure to always have the right amount of positive and constructive feedback to help them perform effectively and efficiently.
12. How Do You Set An Example For Your Team Members?
I do my best at every task. I maintain my integrity and ensure that my actions match my words.
13. Have You Ever Mentored An Aspiring Leader? If You Have, How Did You Establish That Relationship?
Yes, I have and I treated it like the relationship I have with my team. I was able to build a strong working relationship with him, listen to his goals, and constantly monitor his progress.
14. What Do You Think Is The Most Difficult Part About Being A Leader?
A leader sees the end goal and vision of an organization and leads others towards it. Sometimes members of a team may not see it the same way but it’s the responsibility of the leader to bring them back on track.
15. How To You Lead Through Change?
Being able to adapt to change and carrying others along with that change is one of the skills of a good leader. As a leader, I embrace change and then I communicate the change with conviction to my teammates. I prepare myself for any questions that may arise, I listen to my teammate’s concerns and help them through the transition.
16. How Do You Measure Success?
By the number of set goals my team achieves. If a member of my team succeeds, it reflects on my leadership.
17. As A Leader, What Motivates You?
Seeing my team growing and achieving their professional and personal goals is my greatest motivation.
18. What Is A Leader’s Best Asset?
A leader’s best asset is his ability to motivate and inspire others to work together to achieve the goals of an organization.
19. Have Their Been Times You Have Been Uncertain On How To Achieve The Goals Of Your Team? How Did You Go About It?
Yes, there was a time like that. At that time, I was open to feedback and asked for help from someone more experienced. And then I used all the resources available to find the best course of action.
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20. Which Do You Prefer? Verbal Or Written Communication?
I work well and I am comfortable with both types of communication. However, I feel like communicating verbally is more effective. That way you’d be able to see their body language and address questions or doubts faster.
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21. Do You Think That Competition Among Team Members Is Healthy? Please Explain.
I believe that among team members, competition is healthy as long as it’s in good spirits. Healthy competitions push them to give their performance and it’s my responsibility as a leader to make sure that competition is monitored to ensure its positivity.
22. What Kind Of Criticism Do You Mostly Get?
I haven’t received criticism on the same area over and over. Whenever I get criticized I work to improve myself. I am always open to personal and professional growth.
23. When Conflicts Arise, How Do You Resolve Them?
I listen to both parties and understand the angle they are coming from. In conflicts, there is usually some common ground, so I start to resolve it.
24. Who Are The Most Important Members Of Your Team?
I believe everybody is equally important. Each teammate makes unique contributions and that makes us stronger.
25. How Do You Delegate Responsibilities To Your Team?
Each teammate has his unique strengths so I match responsibilities with their strengths. I also ensure that they have the tools necessary to be successful at their tasks and monitor their progress.
How To Answer Leadership Interview Questions
The best way or best approach to provide effective answers to leadership interview questions is using the STAR Technique.
S – Situation
Give real-life examples when answering the interviewers, maybe from your previous jobs or volunteer work.
T – Task
Describe what you were trying to accomplish or the problem you were trying to solve
A – Action
Tell the interviewers what you did to overcome the challenge
R – Result
State the skills you learned from your experience and their impact on your team.
Conclusion
Employers ask a series of leadership questions to assess your leadership qualities to see if you can contribute to the success of their organization.
The questions aforementioned are some of the most common leadership interview questions. Do well to practice them so that you can provide effective answers during an interview,
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