Leadership Interview Questions

Leadership

Give me a specific example of when you had to motivate a group of people to get an important job done.

Tell me about a time when you had to rally the troops to complete a difficult assignment. What did you do and what were the results?

How do you balance the need to supervise without “doing the work yourself” for your team?

Give me an example of how you’ve motivated others.

Describe a situation when you had to mobilize others to take action on a specific goal.

If you had to describe your leadership style, what would it be? (Follow-up) Talk to me about how you’ve implemented (or would implement) that style on the job.

Give me an example when you simply had to use your authority to get something accomplished. (Follow-up) What were the consequences?

Assume that you are managing a project and as the leader, you are expected to give feedback to team members. Describe how you would give feedback to someone who is not contributing quality work.

Describe a situation in which you were responsible for a project and at least one of your team members had more experience or expertise than you did in one area.

Understanding how other people think is often a part of being a leader on a project. Describe an incident that you’ve experienced in which that understanding was key in the project’s success.

Give me an example of a time when you’ve been instrumental in empowering a person or a group to accomplish something.

At times, a situation arises when we can really “make our mark” on the business we’re working on. Tell me about a time when you were involved in that kind of situation and how you took advantage of it.

How frequently do you meet with your immediate subordinates as a group? What do you do in preparation? At the meeting? After the meeting?

What recent problem have you had in which you included your subordinates in arriving at a solution? What approach did you take to get them to accomplish the task?

Tell me about a specific time when you had to handle a tough morale problem.

Tell me about a time when you had to tell a staff member that you were dissatisfied with his or her work.

Describe a time when you came up with a creative solution to a problem between two employees.

Describe how you communicate priority projects to your staff without making them feel overwhelmed.