In any of your leadership roles, what was the toughest decision you have made?

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As a Manager, you will be expected to make some tough decisions from time to time. The interviewer wants to know more about these tough decisions and how you come out of these situations with a positive result.

Some of the challenging decisions that a Manager will need to make include:

- Termination and hiring decisions
- Promotions and salary increases
- Budget allocation or budget-cutting
- Creating or implementing a new policy

"I believe that the toughest decisions to make as a leader would surround the creation and implementation of a new policy that greatly affects someone's livelihood. For instance, incorporating more overnight travel into an employee's schedule or changing their bonus structure. These types of decisions would have to be well-researched and justified."

"The toughest decisions that I make as a leader are always surrounding the termination of an employee. It's never a fun activity to have to let someone go from their role. There is the emotional component, as well as logistical components that need consideration. With that said, I have made these decisions many times in my career, and I can go through with terminations as needed."

"In my most recent management role, implementing budget cuts has been the toughest decision I have had to execute. I knew the cuts would directly affect my staff's livelihood and likely result in them seeking alternate employment. Our company was in financial trouble, and these decisions were necessary but very difficult to execute."

Anonymous Answer

"Hiring right is the single most important skill any manager can have, and it is the most challenging. I follow my intuition a lot, and because I am such an intuitive person, I also recognize the emphasis I have to make on being objective. It's tough to choose just one candidate from a pool of excellence, and I have spent lots of time counseling my peers and mentors so that I make the right choice."