Organizational skills are an important factor in a person’s career and are a common interview topic. There are a wide variety of behavioral interview questions about your organization skills that you could see in an interview. Below is a selection of behavioral interview questions: Tell me about a time when you managed a complicated project.
All interview questions will include behavioral or situational interview questions.
The questions asked in behavior based interviews are designed to determine whether you demonstrate the core behaviors or competencies required for success in the job.
Common work-related behaviors that are explored in behavior interviews include your work accuracy and your attention to detail, the standard of your work and your planning and organizational skills.
We help you to prepare for the common behavioral interview questions you are likely to face in your job interview.
Be confident that you are ready to handle these interview questions. The sample interview answers will help you to prepare your own winning behavioral interview answers.
Attention to Detail
Describe what you do to control mistakes in your work.
In asking this behavioral interview question the interviewer wants to know if you are able to accurately complete your tasks with close attention to all aspects of your work and carefully control errors.
In your interview answer show that you are concerned with maintaining accuracy and check your work for errors.
'In my last position I had to make all the travel arrangements for my manager.(Situation)
I listened carefully, noted down what she needed and then read it back to her to confirm that I had it right. I would also follow up with a detailed email to check again. Once I had made the arrangements I would set up a time to give her feedback and check I had everything she needed. I then followed this up with an email with all the confirmed details. (Action)
This was time-consuming for both of us but it meant that no errors were made in the arrangements. It would have been more frustrating and costly not to have made such thorough checks' (Result)
High Work Standards
Tell me about a time that you were not satisfied with your work performance. What did you do about it?
All interview questions around work performance are designed to explore whether you set high standards for yourself and strive to meet these standards. What do you consider to be a 'high standard'?
In your interview answer demonstrate how you attempt to attain high performance standards and correct substandard performance.
'My performance review rating was lower than I had expected or wanted. (Situation)
I met with my manager to establish a plan of action for improvement and set very specific targets to be met on a monthly basis. I worked hard to meet these targets and constantly monitored my performance. I also asked for regular feedback about my performance. (Action)
After six months, my boss conducted another review and my rating improved. (Result)
Organizing and Planning
Describe a situation in which you had to schedule your activities to meet a work objective.
The interviewer is exploring your ability to set objectives and schedule and prioritize your activities appropriately.
In your interview answer show how you are able to set a course of action, allocate resources accordingly and plan tasks to reach objectives.
'I had to complete a training report every month. This involved collating and presenting a large amount of information. (Situation)
I scheduled all the data collecting tasks. Each department was given a monthly deadline to submit information to me and I scheduled reminders to be sent out before the deadline.
I set aside a time in my diary each month to collate all the information and check it. Then I allocated time for drawing up and presenting the report. (Action)
This worked well and I always comfortably met my deadline.'
Common behaviors explored in job interviews
- problem-solving, initiative & judgment Behavioral interview questions
- tolerance, resilience & adaptability Job interview behavioral questions
- team work, leadership & negotiation skills Questions for behavioral interviews
Prepare your own behavioral examples for the job interview using these answers to behavioral interview questions as a guide.
Frequently asked situational interview questions
Common Interview Questions and Answers
Tell me about yourself | Your strengths and weaknesses? | Why should we hire you? |
What is your reason for leaving?
Make sure you are well prepared for your interview and confident that you have covered everything before your interview. Go through the interview checklist the day before your interview.
Job Interviews > Behavioral Interview > All Interview Questions
Use the search box to find exactly what you are looking for.
To Top of Page
By Julia Penny,© Copyright 2019 Best-Job-Interview.com
Leadership interview questions focus on exploring and evaluating recognized leadership competencies. The questions are designed to assess whether the candidate has both leadership skills and leadership potential.
Management and leadership differ in a number of crucial ways.
- Management is a hands-on component of leadership - responsible for such functions as planning, organizing and controlling.
- Effective leadership is the ability to inspire followers to listen to and follow a vision.
Leadership Interview Questions and Answers
Effective eadership interview questions will require candidates to provide examples of how they have demonstrated common leadership skills and are asked in the format of competency-based or behavioral interview questions
11 Essential Leadership Behavioral Interview Questions
1. How would your staff and colleagues describe your leadership style? Give me an example to support your answer.
The purpose of this question is to find out if the style is congruent with the organizational culture.
The perceptive leader is able to adapt his or her style to fit the follower's, employee's and organizational needs. Find out about the different leadership styles
2. What are the most important values and ethics you demonstrate as a leader? Give me an example of these in practice.
- Integrity- being truthful and trustworthy and having conviction - is an essential leadership competency.
- The effective leader demonstrates values and ethics in personal behavior and integrates these values and ethics into organizational practices and activities.
- A good leader acts with the courage of his/her convictions.
- While leaders are open with their employees and model honesty, transparency and fairness, they do not violate confidences or divulge potentially harmful information.
3. Name some situations in which a leader may fail. Tell me about a time when you failed as a leader.
A number of factors can fall outside a leader's control such as:
- the available skill pool in the organization
- time constraints
- the economic climate
If employees are lethargic and negatively orientated it can create a situation ripe for failure.
In answering leadership interview questions that explore how you deal with difficult challenges focus on how you were able to analyze the setback and seek honest feedback to learn from failure. How you used the difficult situation to encourage constructive questioning of policies and practices.
Show your ability to be resilient in the face of failure and to constantly work towards improvement.
4. What role does leadership play for a manager? How have you demonstrated this?
The leader's role is:
- to communicate the strategic vision with clarity
- to translate the vision into concrete direction and plans
- to identify and communicate priorities, short term objectives, timelines, performance measures, clear responsibilities and performance agreements
- to provide quality judgment and advice
Leadership versus management
5. Tell me about an innovative solution you developed to a non-traditional problem.
Innovation and creativity are key competencies explored in leadership interview questions. Effective leaders promote change and innovation.
Finding solutions to unique problems are facilitated by encouraging a constant information flow in all directions and emphasizing responsiveness to changing demands.
Get help with answering questions about creativity and innovation at behavioral interview answers
6. Tell me about a time when the going got really tough. How did you rally the staff and build morale?
Leaders build a sense of common purpose by promoting the organizational vision both internally and externally.
- they develop and implement effective communication strategies within the organization.
- they remove barriers to collaboration and provide clear direction on priorities.
- they give clear and honest feedback to inspire trust
7. What methods have you used to gain commitment from your team?
Leaders gain commitment by influencing and persuading the team to set objectives and buy into the process.
- they establish a spirit of cooperation and cohesion for goal attainment
- they take the team into the performing phase as quickly as possible
- leaders encourage debate and ideas from all stakeholders
- they inspire a commitment to success and excellence by demonstrating passionate personal commitment
- they promote a productive culture by valuing individuals and their contributions
8. All leaders have to deal with conflict situations. Describe a recent disagreement you personally had to handle.
Leadership interview questions that explore how you handle conflict are looking at your ability to understand and respect different views.
- demonstrate your ability to settle dispute by focusing on solving the problem taking into consideration the personalities involved.
- show how you evaluate the viability of the different dispute resolution mechanisms available and are able to provide support and expertise to other people.
- demonstrate how you are able to negotiate a compromise
Get help with answering standard interview questions about managing conflict and handling difficult situations
9. How have you persuaded employees to follow your strategic vision for the organization?
Leaders develop ownership by involving employees in the decision-making and planning process.
- they provide resources to facilitate employee success
- they empower employees by devolving authority to get things done efficiently.
- effective leaders develop processes that engage employees in achieving the strategic vision
10. How have you encouraged the learning and development of employees?
Learning happens at every opportunity. Your answer to leadership interview questions like this should demonstrate that effective leaders develop employees by:
- mentoring and coaching
- providing performance feedback on a daily basis
- leaders act as models for their employees but the most effective leaders not only teach by example, they take a personal interest in the learning of others and serve as mentors
- leaders manage learning throughout the organization by continually focusing attention on the learning agenda and providing the resources to facilitate it
- leaders monitor learning by getting regular feedback
11. What was the most significant change you brought about in an organization?
Leaders can recognize new opportunities and anticipate long term opportunities.
- they determine new business directions for the organization
- they are able to create enthusiasm and acceptance of the new vision or change and use the appropriate leadership style to inspire and guide employees to embrace change.
Think about what the concept of leadership means to you when preparing for leadership interview questions. Look back over your experiences and select insightful examples of how you have demonstrated the competencies associated with leadership.
What are the top leadership skills?
Leadership includes the ability to innovate and drive an organization or people towards new ideas and directions.
The ability to persuade and influence, demonstrate integrity, communicate and motivate, innovate and implement strategic vision, demonstrate drive and tenacity are all recognized leadership skills.
12 Core Competencies
Focus on your strengths when answering leadership interview questions. Go to the comprehensive list of strengths to help you identify your personal strengths at list of strengths and weaknesses
Leadership interview questions include What are your strengths?
Use the excellent advice and guidelines at management job interview questions to help you succeed in your leadership interview.
Recommended Pages
These common interview questions and sample interview answers will prepare you for any general interview questions you may be asked in your leadership interview.
Job Interviews > Interview Guides > Leadership
Use the search box to find exactly what you are looking for.
To Top of Page
By Julia Penny,© Copyright 2019 Best-Job-Interview.com