Even the most fantastic leader can be in danger of burning out now and then. The interviewer wants to know how they can be an encouragement to you, in turn. As a leader, you need to be able to identify and express what keeps you showing up, working hard, and supporting your team.
Your motivation may come from successes and achievements. Perhaps you are working towards career advancement. Take some time to think about what truly motivates you and share your thoughts with the interviewer.
Leadership Interview Questions
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1.
How can we motivate you as a leader?
"I gain motivation through words of encouragement and compensation based rewards. For instance, I could compete for a gift card or a contest where I can earn a bigger holiday party budget for my team. Being a leader comes naturally to me, so I don't find it to be a taxing task very often. My competitive nature keeps me internally motivated, as well."
"I feel motivated when I work in a trust-filled, positive, and collaborative environment. When I can trust my team and am offered trust in return, I feel empowered to work even harder."
"I am motivated by shout out's and recognition for my team members when they perform well. As a manager, I take a lot of time motivating my teams. When I have the opportunity to reward them through recognition from the corporate head office, it is extra motivating."
"What motivates me is the potential to continue to grow with a quality company. I value recognition, especially when this recognition presents an opportunity to take my career to the next level. I value a company that appreciates not only me but all of its employees. Loyalty is rare these days, and it's something I truly value."
"I am a very competitive person and find a great deal of motivation through sales contests and challenging but achievable goals. I am motivated to win, learn, and grow professionally."
"I'm competitive, and also love praise when it is meaningful. Being in sales, of course, I gain motivation through financial rewards. I love opportunities to tap into accelerated growth based on my sales performance."
"You can motivate me, as an educator, by noticing the great things I do for my students. If a parent calls to mention their child's learning has improved, I want to hear about it. Kind words of appreciation drive my motivation. I like to know my efforts are making an impact."
Anonymous Answer "The potential to grow within a company is motivational. I value recognition, appreciation of myself and the team, and loyalty."
Rachelle's AnswerConcise and well thought out. Great work!
Was this answer helpful? Yes (3) or No (0)Thank you, your vote helps us display the best answers.Anonymous Answer "To see my direct reports working as a team."
Rachelle's AnswerTry expanding on your response, as this one isn't very helpful to the interviewer and sounds a bit stand-offish.
"The best way to motivate me as a leader is to cultivate an environment of teamwork, collaboration, and togetherness. As a leader, I like to work closely with my team to help them achieve their goals. This type of environment is very motivating for me."
Was this answer helpful? Yes (3) or No (0)Thank you, your vote helps us display the best answers.