Has a new opportunity opened up within your business for a leadership role? If you’re feeling ready for the increased responsibilities and want to be considered for the position, you may be wondering what questions you will be asked during your interview.
Effective leadership brings coordination amongst teams as well as keeping them motivated. It also enables employees to receive the support they need in case they find themselves struggling. It plays an important role, so businesses want to make sure they get it right.
With this in mind, we’ve created a list of common questions associated with the hiring stages for a leadership role.
Can you provide us with an example of when you demonstrated leadership skills?
We are almost certain that this question will come up during the interview. Firstly, to be able to confidently answer this question you’ll want to understand what examples provide a good answer.
Leadership skills include traits such as creativity, confidence, strong will and good negotiation skills. You need to show that you were able to take control of a situation and ensure the best outcome, but also be understanding and open-minded at the same time. Before your interview, prepare an answer that displays these traits and shows that you are able to effectively lead a team.
How would you motivate your team?
Without motivation, your team won’t feel passionate about their work and it can cause procrastination or lack of effort in what they produce. Motivation is achieved through things such as clear communication, set goals, positive feedback and opportunities for self-development.
It is also just as important to be effective with criticism. Constructive feedback is an area that many leaders stray from, but without it your team won’t improve. You need to build trust, balance the positive and negative, and make sure not to make it personal.
As a leader, what values are important to you?
Values typical of leadership roles include:
- Influence
- Trust and honesty
- Passion
- Empathy
- Dedication
- Personal development
- Open mindedness
Who is your favourite leader and why?
Those who inspire you can give an indication to your employer of your leadership style. Take a look at some leaders in your life, it doesn’t need to be famous ones. Be prepared to give examples of their leadership techniques and why you think they are effective.
How do you measure your team’s performance?
Being consistent with your teams performance can ensure that they are staying on track, as well as identifying any issues. This is important because you can then speak to your team member to offer any support or try to resolve any problems they may be facing.
Great ways to measure your team’s performance is through monitoring your team’s work, KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), providing monthly or quarterly 121 sessions, and having weekly team catchup sessions. Although, if you are monitoring work make sure it isn’t too full on, asking to check everything your team has done can make it seem like you don’t trust them and can cause a barrier between you.
How do you measure your own performance as a leader?
To ensure your team is working to the best of their ability, you need to make sure you are leading them to the best of yours.
A common method of measuring your own performance is through evaluation feedback. Listen to your team and their needs to improve your leadership style. If you feel as though your team doesn’t feel comfortable enough to leave you constructive criticism, give them a way to do it anonymously.
You can also measure your performance through the performance of your team. If things are going particularly well, it might be time to take a step back to evaluate the situation and identity areas of improvement for yourself. If your team is excelling, then you can have confidence in your leadership skills.
Continuous development is also essential if you want to be the best leader you can be. Ideas for this can include attending training sessions, completing qualifications and shadowing other leaders within the business.
Are you able to collaborate with others and accept new ideas?
One of the most important aspects of leadership is being open to new ideas. Don’t just stick to what you prefer, as this is based on your own opinion. If your team comes to you wanting to try something new, asking them to come back with research and a plan will provide them with motivation and determination.
Trying new things can be great for the business, but you should also note that new methods won’t always prove effective and you shouldn’t criticise your team for it. Finding what works best comes with experimenting and trying again and again, so spending time looking at how you can improve next time rather than not trusting your team to try new things again is a better approach to keeping good faith within the team.
ILM Level 3 Leadership and Management
The B2W Group provides funded online distance learning qualifications that come at no cost to the learner or business. Our ILM Level 3 Leadership and Management qualification is a great option for those wanting to expand their knowledge on successfully managing a team. These are flexible qualifications that are completed in around 12-14 weeks with the support of a dedicated tutor.
Level 2 Principles of Team Leading
This distance learning qualification is for individuals who wish to develop their knowledge and understanding of being a team leader. Tasks involved in being a team leader include planning, allocating and monitoring work for those they are responsible for, as well as giving appropriate feedback and briefs to team members.
