This is your first management role. Will you feel comfortable delegating to others?
It can feel a bit uncomfortable delegating to others, especially when you are a new manager and not accustomed to being in a formal leadership role. Luckily, there are many resources available to learn about proper delegation and other management techniques. Talk to the interviewer about your knowledge of delegating and show confidence in your ability to lead others while delegating tasks and driving your team to success.
"I am thrilled to take on my first official management role and am confident that I will be able to delegate to the team mindfully and effectively. For the past three years, I have been the captain of my college basketball team. Most of my role is delegating to my teammates and encouraging them to be active participants on and off the court. I have studied delegation in preparation for a future management position. A significant factor in proper delegation is a high level of organization, a strong understanding of tasks and deadlines, and a firm knowledge of each team member's strengths and motivators. I will take the time to get to know team members as individuals and am confident that I will delegate carefully and correctly to ensure the best possible outcomes."
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
Yes. Although I utilize all leadership styles, selling, directing, delegating, and participating; delegating is my preferred, I find it very empowering. Each person has their own story and they bring their own experiences to their role, which is why each of us is hired for our skill set. Most projects that I have managed are very group-oriented - school programs, workshops, courses, summer classes camps, and gardening work. I always find that when in these groups you present the problem and the individuals can choose their role you have great success. Of course, this depends on the role, timeline, and components - in instances where you have more urgent needs, a storm is approaching quicker than expected, or kids fell and hurt themselves and crying, you need to be more direct and say - you, put all the tools away and close the greenhouse roof; you I need a first aid kit - you take the group and do some teambuilding games.
For example in the garden with volunteers, it is a mixture of directing and delegating. Here are the tasks for today: turn the compost over, pull the weeds, plant kale, shovel 7 yards of soil. Surprisingly, most people volunteer to move the soil. They are able to choose the task that interests them the most, I ensure that the tasks are getting done, provide lessons or corrections where needed. Sometimes there are tasks no one is sure what to do, sort of waffling, then it is directed out. It also depends on teh age group.
I am less likely to delegate a list of tasks to the grade 3s, then then grade 11s or adult participants. A lot of the time it is reading the group and situation; new groups of people / strangers directing, but teams of coworkers delegating works better.
Jaymie's Feedback
Getting to know the team's strengths, as you mentioned, is definitely key! You gave a very detailed and specific response that shows you have given this topic major thought and would be competent in this area.
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