When have you had to lead by example?

"Last year, our facility merged with another private medical office, and there was talk of pending lay-offs. Rather than show my stress, I encouraged my team to try harder than ever. I suggested that we show our corporate office exactly what we could do! We ended up being the number one team in our region, which resulted in zero layoffs."

The interviewer wants to know that you are aware of the need to always lead by example. As a leader, your actions, decisions, and demeanor are always under some form of scrutiny. The most stressful workplace situations often surround change, so it's a great idea to talk about a time when your organization went through a major change and how you led others by setting a good example.

"I often lead by example when it comes to mandatory overtime. I work in an order-driven environment, and sometimes we have to work late to get the job done. I don't let my peers see me get upset at last-minute announcements."