When was the last time you came up with a creative solution to a difficult problem?
"We had a major project and our department was divided into three teams. Then the flu circulated through our office and collectively we ended up being down by one third of our workforce. It also created some strain and friction between certain individuals on the team. I pointed this out to management and suggested we restructure our how we were tackling the project and that we instead collectively work together in stages. They agreed and chose three team leaders responsible for delegating tasks to each member of the now united team, of which I was one team leader. This way, everyone got to work closely with everyone on an individual level. This fostered our teamwork mentality, and created a situation where we over-performed as a group, turning our project around."
They're using this question to measure how adaptable your preferred working style is and whether you're resourceful and exhibit 'outside-of-the-box' thinking. These are the markers of innovators, and innovation is integral to leadership. American Express takes great pride in helping their leaders grow; "Grow as you lead. Lead as you grow. Growing great leaders is one of the things that sets American Express apart. We back our colleagues by providing innovative learning experiences that enable them to build new skills, reach their career goals and develop as leaders at all levels." Your answer will speak to your leadership potential and how well you manage stress and overcome task paralysis when unexpected circumstances disrupt your workflow.
Exude confidence while relaying your answer, rather than returning to the emotional state of a stressful situation. By exhibiting a feeling of ease not only showcases you're adept at managing your emotions when things don't go according to plan, it also suggests your emotional state in those moments is also that of being calm and collected. So display your confidence in your own abilities and your emotional intelligence when relaying your example. Frame yourself as resourceful, with a propensity to think fast on your feet. Demonstrate that you aren't easily discouraged.
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