Tell me about your leadership qualities.
The FBI looks for natural leaders they can invest in and promote as the years go on. The interviewer would like to know what you consider strong leadership qualities. When describing leadership qualities, avoid general terms, and give some unique ideas.
A great leader is someone who people naturally want to follow. They have exceptional interpersonal skills and build relationships with nearly any personality type. True leaders see the importance of motivating others and recognizing even the smallest achievements. A respected leader will take ownership of their mistakes and lead their team by example.
Determine which of these qualities you most identify with:
- Confident
- Optimistic
- Encouraging
- Accountable
- Engaged
- Passionate
- Integrous
- Loyal
- Charismatic
Focus on three or four leadership qualities you possess. Be sure to use qualities that align with the bureau's needs that you can find on the FBI's website. If the website shows they are looking for Special Agents who are loyal, charismatic, confident, and optimistic, use some of those keywords in your response.
When responding to this question, avoid saying you do not have leadership qualities and prefer to follow others' orders. While the FBI wants Special Agents who will follow the orders of their superiors, they also want agents who have strong leadership qualities and can rise within the ranks of the bureau.
Review the FBI's website and the job description and remember to use keywords that define the bureau's ideal agent. When you use keywords that the FBI specifically used, it shows the interviewer you have the qualities they are looking for in a candidate.
"As a leader, I am knowledgeable, adaptable, and open. My desire to nurture others to their fullest potential is strong. I strive to be an example to follow and enjoy helping guide others to bettering themselves and their careers."
"Although I have not been in an official leadership role in my law enforcement career, I have been a leader in other ways, such as volunteer opportunities, sports teams, and church activities. When I take the lead, I am loyal to those I guide, I am compassionate, and I show full engagement in our cause. I look forward to taking further leadership training in the future to enhance my skills further."
"I have an IQ of 122. I'm experienced and meet all the prerequisites. I keep up to date on all the latest trends in law enforcement and utilize all the latest methods of earning the public trust. I have every certification, and a few extras on bias and diversity. I am very focused and don't rest until I accomplish what I set out to achieve. I work fast, am technically proficient and exceed all my deadlines. I am very empathetic and intuitive with well above average communication and interpersonal skills, and I am able extremely adaptable and able to pick and learn things swiftly, whether it is a skill or how to assimilate into a new team. I am also fully versed in the nuances of successfully leading a multi-generational team with open communication between every member of my team where every voice is heard and considered and all input is valued, guided and encouraged."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I am a "quiet leader," allowing the quality of my work to speak for itself and giving objective feedback to work colleagues. Colleagues have sought me out for my advice on work matters because they know I will provide an honest, but tactful answer. My leadership style is proactive. If I need something from a team, I will be specific in what I need to minimize the number of questions they may have so they have a clear objective. If I have to delegate to a team, I will utilize their strengths for the benefit of the whole team and task. I like to follow up on the status of a project and see where the weak points are so that they can be addressed.
Krista's Feedback
You sound like a very thorough and fair leader. You mention many strong qualities appreciated by the FBI in this response.
Anonymous Answer
I like to lead by example. I lead from the front by taking action, demonstrating what needs to be done, and keeping my team organized to make sure we're all on the same page and contributing equally.
Krista's Feedback
It seems you are a strong leader. These are great qualities to highlight - you're very descriptive.
Anonymous Answer
I strongly believe in leading by example. I am able to remain optimistic, no matter what difficulties we are working through, which helps to motivate and improve the overall morale of the team. I recognize the strengths of other people and use that knowledge to delegate tasks in a way that will benefit the team. My friendly personality and ability to empathize allows me to connect with all types of people. I love to assist in improving someone's skills or knowledge in their position while providing positive feedback and helpful, constructive criticism. If you regularly acknowledge your team's achievements, they are more likely to enjoy their job, which improves morale and productivity.
Krista's Feedback
This is a good start! Just a few minor tweaks: (1) avoid 'you' language and replace it with 'I' language to make your reply more personal. (2) Try offering some story-based examples of how times when you have deployed these leadership qualities. This way, your answer is more action-based, which will help the interviewer picture you in action :) I have provided an example below.
"I strongly believe in leading by example. I can remain optimistic, no matter what difficulties I am working through, which helps to motivate and improve my team's overall morale. For example, I...(give a brief story of a 'time when.'). I recognize the strengths of other people and use that knowledge to delegate tasks to benefit the team. My friendly personality and ability to empathize allows me to connect with all types of people. I love to assist in improving someone's skills or knowledge while providing positive feedback and helpful, constructive criticism. For instance, I...(give a brief story of a 'time when.'). When I regularly acknowledge my team's achievements, the members are more likely to enjoy their job, improving morale and productivity."
Anonymous Answer
I once heard a quote that "leaders eat last." As a leader, I aim to serve by example. I believe the best leaders are first in the door and last out. I am optimistic, passionate, and results-driven.
Krista's Feedback
This is a good quote! 'Leaders Eat Last' is a fantastic book by Simon Sinek - a great read if you haven't had the chance. Your idea of leadership is terrific. I suggest providing a measurable example of your leadership philosophy in action. By weaving in a story of your leadership qualities and how they have impacted others, your answer will have even more weight.
Anonymous Answer
I take pride in being a positive leader that does the right things in the workplace. I take the stance of leading by example, and setting a positive tone. I always try to stay positive, even in the most dire of situations, because if you crack, your whole team can crack under the stress and pressure. I try to be the stable presence that is needed.
Krista's Feedback
From your response, it is evident that leadership and workplace positivity are of importance to you. To improve your response, I suggest providing a specific example as to how your leadership qualities have shown up in your current role or a previous role. For example, is there a time when you exhibited positivity towards colleagues during a challenging or negative situation? How did that illustrate your leadership capacity?
Anonymous Answer
I have never been in a leadership position with law enforcement. But I was vice president of my high school and basically was in charge of running most things as the president opted to not help much. I found out that I am able to get along with most personality types and can help people with potential problems they're facing. The principal took notice and began calling me into his office to help with issues he had with certain students. Being a leader is not defined by a certain "mold" a person must fit but instead is a person who is able to adapt and change to fit the circumstances they are facing.
Krista's Feedback
Good start. Can you expand by explaining how you work with different personalities to get the good result you describe? What are the challenges of working well with people that are different from you? Is this an essential component of leadership? Why?
Anonymous Answer
I like to take initiative and I enjoy taking the lead. I like to teach what I know and to spread the knowledge. I find great happiness in achieving a goal. I am motivated, organized, dependable, and reliable.
Krista's Feedback
You describe a number of positive traits which align clearly with being in a leadership role!
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