Leadership Skills Interview
Author:
Alycia Damp, PhD IRHRThis skills-based leadership interview assesses the capacity of an individual to influence and guide members in an organization. It was designed to help you identify leadership skills and potential in your candidates.
Focus area:
Question
1
How do you see this opportunity in the context of your career, and what is one thing you hope to achieve in this role?
What does this question reveal?
Inspired to grow and advance their career in this role
Explore tips
- Is seeking an opportunity to grow by applying and developing multiple skills
- Wants to make a defined impact on others and the organization’s success
- Clearly articulates what they hope to achieve
- Is motivated to add value to the company's culture and work environment
Question
2
What do you consider your most significant work-related accomplishment? Consider something that you felt satisfaction for achieving or something that was really important, or both.
What does this question reveal?
What candidate is passionate about and how they define success
Explore tips
- Clearly defines a specific accomplishments
- Explains how the accomplishment was achieved and why it was important
- Identifies any obstacles that arose and how they successfully overcame them
- Shares credit by acknowledging others’ involvement if relevant
Question
3
Tell me about the person you have mentored who you are most proud of. What role did you play in their success?
What does this question reveal?
Engage in productive and effective mentoring relationships
Explore tips
- Describes the context and nature of the relationship
- Explains how their support helped the person achieve their goals
- Describes the person's accomplishments and uses examples to support their answer
- Shares learnings and best practices for mentoring others
Question
4
Imagine a scenario where you notice a normally high-performing employee underperforming. Walk me through how you would approach that employee and address the problem.
What does this question reveal?
Use feedback and acknowledgement to inspire productivity
Explore tips
- Initiates conversation to understand why the employee’s performance has changed
- Acknowledges their history of good performance and assesses current expectations
- Asks for their opinions on their performance to help identify challenges
- Emphasizes importance of their work by connecting it to the organization vision
Question
5
Imagine you had a compelling vision for some work you thought your company should be doing, but you had no official authority to execute it. What would you do to move your vision forward and gain support?
What does this question reveal?
Influence others by gaining support for positive change
Explore tips
- Identifies appropriate stakeholders to communicate vision to
- Considers explaining how the vision aligns with the company’s objectives
- Suggests using facts, evidence and data to convince others to adopt their vision
- Suggests inviting others to contribute to the vision
Question
6
Tell me about a time you had trouble building consensus within a team. What did you do to reach a solution?
What does this question reveal?
Achieve stakeholder alignment
Explore tips
- Acknowledge team members often have different goals and motivations
- Demonstrates they can effectively communicate and manage disagreement
- Explains how they considered the ideas and opinions of all key stakeholders
- Shows they can prioritize and communicate strategic objectives
Question
7
Sometimes we face difficult decisions at work. Can you tell me about a time you were confronted with a difficult decision at work and made the right decision even if it wasn't the easiest?
What does this question reveal?
Adheres to moral/ethical principles in decision-making
Explore tips
- Describes the context and why the right decision was difficult
- Recognized the impact of their decision on others
- Considered the ethical implications of their actions
- Discusses avoiding making decisions for personal gain
Question
8
When thinking about how you work with colleagues across different levels of the organization, how would you describe an ideal working relationship?
What does this question reveal?
Values honesty and openness in communication
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Question
9
Can you describe a strategy or initiative that you created in the past that helped your company achieve one of its main objectives? How did it align with the company's goals, and what was the outcome?
What does this question reveal?
Take ownership over advancing the organization’s mission/goals
Explore tips
- Clearly describes how their strategy was connected to company’s main objectives
- Explains the steps they took to both develop and execute the strategy
- Shares specific metrics used to set goals and track progress
- Shares any challenges they faced and how they overcame them
Question
10
If you joined our company, how would you use your position to drive and reinforce the company culture?
What does this question reveal?
Take a proactive approach to driving and reinforcing company culture
Explore tips
- Acknowledges/rewards others for behaviours that exemplify company values
- Views themselves as a role model and actively makes values-based decisions
- Engages others/the team in activities centered around defining and culture
- Treats culture as a business function and actively works on it
Question
11
What does being empathetic to others mean to you and how do you display empathy in your work?
What does this question reveal?
Understand the experiences and perspectives of others
Explore tips
- Adapts their approach and communication style to the unique needs of others
- Directs effort towards understanding and building trust with colleagues
- Engages in active listening and encourages others to share ideas
- Offers support to colleagues to help them succeed and reach their goals
Question
12
Tell me about the last time you had to deny a request or say no one of your employees or clients. Why did you say no, and how did you communicate this to them?
What does this question reveal?
Engages in perspective taking and connects with others in difficult situations
Explore tips
- Clearly explains the situation and justifies their response
- Understands and explains the effect their decision had on their employees
- Is transparent with employee and explains to them the reason for their decision
- Communicates response in a respectful manner (e.g., privately)
Question
13
How would you describe your leadership style, and based on your knowledge of our company why do you think it would be a good fit?
What does this question reveal?
Awareness of their own leadership style and whether it fits the organization
Explore tips
- Describes a specific style and explains why it reflects their personal approach
- Provides evidence of their style by sharing examples from past experience
- Explains how they motivate their team to achieve goals
- Can articulate why it would be a good fit based on company values and characteristics
Question
14
What is one thing you wish I had asked you in our conversation today?
What does this question reveal?
Self-awareness of unique strengths and value-add
Explore tips
- Gives a response that is relevant to the role in question
- Justifies their suggestion by explaining their value-add
- Exhibits strengths that were not previously covered
