Tell me about when you recently mentored a co-worker.
"By the time I left the coffee shop, I was assistant manager. I gave the owner a heads-up that I was going to be leaving in a couple of months. They were grateful I gave them so much notice. I started training my successor at being the new assistant manager. It went well, and in less than a couple of weeks, they were up to speed. My boss assured me I'd be assistant manager until I left, but I told them it would be better if I stepped down and if my trainee became my boss. This way I could back them up, be around to answer questions, and phase out my schedule. I go in for coffee there now and again, and they're all doing great."
There are those who strive to contribute to the vision and the greater success of a team. Then there are those who strive to develop themselves, driven by their own ambitions to accomplish their personal and professional goals. There's nothing wrong with ambitiously trying to climb the latter. But prioritizing the ultimate success of the team displays big-picture thinking. By contributing to the greater success of the company and the team, they are contributing to their individual success and development.
A person who prioritizes their own goals above others, or that of the team, can undermine their own efforts towards success. Investing in the development of your coworkers, and driving positive change towards the greater success of the team is an investment in one's own development. The scope of one's vision, big picture versus a more narrow short-term view, is what the interviewer is truly trying to assess.
Accenture's culture is centered around innovation, collaboration, and creating a level playing field for all their participants. Ideally, your goal is to reveal your motivation to further the team, rather than checking off a list of accomplishments as you try to climb through the ranks. Balance your personal goals with the goals of the team. When they align, both your personal goals and that of the team are accomplished.
Accenture wants to recruit those who "communicate effortlessly with co-workers," and is offering to give you "a head start in unlocking the power of your leadership DNA. Discover your strengths as you take on challenges that will prepare you for leading the way in making a difference."
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