Master 35 Academic Dean interview questions covering strategic leadership, faculty relations, and accreditation.
Question 28 of 35
Example Answer
Entry Level
Experienced
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Community Answers

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"Sometimes full disclosure can damage someone's self-esteem, and reality isn't always best expressed in full and can be self-indulgent based on the person's intention. In those instances, honesty isn't always the best policy. However, when approached correctly, you can remain honest while protecting the individual's feelings and self-esteem."

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"I do feel that honesty is the best policy so long as the honest comment does not come with the intention of being hurtful. Of course, there may be situations where being completely honest could cause harm or hurt to someone. In those cases, it may be better to withhold some information. But in general, being truthful and transparent is the best way to build trust and maintain strong relationships. It can be difficult to be honest, especially if the truth is not what the other person wants to hear, but in the long run, it is always better to be upfront and honest rather than hide the truth."

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"Honesty is always the best policy. Often, it is just a matter of how you communicate and deliver your message, so managing this with each situation is critical to building honest and trustworthy relationships. While there may be situations where it is difficult to be completely honest, in the long run, being truthful and transparent can build trust and respect in relationships. Of course, there may be exceptions where honesty could cause harm, such as when disclosing sensitive information or in situations that require tact and diplomacy. Overall, I think it's important to strive for honesty and integrity in our interactions with others."

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
The interviewer asks if you think honesty is always the best policy to understand your moral compass and how you make decisions in difficult situations. They may also be trying to gauge your level of integrity and whether or not you can be trusted to act with transparency in a professional environment. Additionally, they want to see how you approach difficult situations where the truth may not be easy or comfortable to share. It's essential to be truthful in your response and considerate of the context in which the question is being asked. Ultimately, being honest and transparent can build trust and credibility, but it's important to do so in a discreet and respectful manner.

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Anonymous Answer
Honesty is always the best policy. Being honest but cautious of the messages being sent will supplement trustworthiness among colleagues and students.

Rachelle's Feedback
You are absolutely right! The interviewer should appreciate that you also mention delivering honesty to build relationships vs breaking them down.
Anonymous Answer
As I say to my students in critique: honesty is caring. To not give honest feedback on someone's work isn't caring, it's hiding. You can absolutely be honest without giving cruel feedback, and that drives me as both a teacher and leader.

Cindy's Feedback
Terrific. The way you brought it back to teaching and leading is very effective.
Anonymous Answer
Honesty is always the best policy. The skill set that experience leaders have is how they communicate and deliver a message of concern. Being able to accomplish that builds upon the trustworthiness of the communicator.

Stephanie's Feedback
The question explicitly asks if you think honesty is the best policy. but the response feels a bit generic and impersonal. I have included a suggested example of a revised response in the "Revised Answer" section.
I believe that honesty is always the best policy; honesty is fundamental for success in the workplace, and it is the building block of all relationships. As a leader, it is important for me to exhibit transparency in my work, even when that is uncomfortable or inconvenient. Being able to communicate truthfully with my team, even when that means delivering a concerning message, is critical to building trust.
Anonymous Answer
Yes, I think honesty is the best policy, but I know that some items must be kept confidential to protect individuals' privacy.

Chad's Feedback
Excellent answer! The interviewer should appreciate that you mention the importance of confidentiality, as you will have access to a lot of sensitive information as an Academic Dean if hired.
Anonymous Answer
Yes and NO! All depends! Honesty is good but it can hurt people sometimes. Be wise and get things moving smoothly and do things that are beneficial for people.

Chad's Feedback
Good answer! It is important to be considerate of people's feelings and avoid being hurtful whenever possible. However, can you clarify what you mean by "Be wise and get things moving smoothly and doing things that are beneficial for people.", as the interviewer may not fully understand your thoughts.
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Written by Krista Wenz
35 Questions & Answers • Academic Dean

By Krista

By Krista