How do you demonstrate leadership qualities even when you are not in a leadership role?
This question challenges you to think about how you act as a leader, even when you are not in an official leadership position. Before your interview, reflect on the leadership style and skills you have developed over the years. Regardless of what role you're applying for, your interviewer wants to hear that you have taken on leadership responsibilities in previous roles and have the capacity to grow with Cisco.
You might give an example of how you coached a coworker who was having difficulty preparing for a big presentation. Maybe there was a time you stepped up and did more than what was expected of you. Whatever example you point to, emphasize that you will bring these leadership qualities to this role at Cisco.
"I naturally take on the role of a leader and mentor with my co-workers. In one instance, I worked with a new coworker who had some difficulties adjusting to the team culture and work environment. She worked with a hands-off manager who wasn't very involved with her training, but I could tell that she needed more one-on-one time to adjust to the new role. I took her out for lunch and talked to her a bit about the workplace culture and semantics surrounding the various departments. I wanted her to stay and enjoy her employment with us, so I made sure that she was settling in well."
"No matter what team or project I'm contributing to, I strive to be an effective leader by building a positive team atmosphere and supporting my coworkers. I believe that each person makes their own unique contributions to the overall goals and purpose of a team. I regularly reach out to teammates to see if I can be a resource for them in tasks for a project when I feel like my own areas of expertise could potentially be helpful. Another key component of being a good leader is holding people accountable for their actions to ensure we make a progress as a team. While it can be difficult to push team members, I've found that I've developed this leadership skill of assertiveness over the years."
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