Program Manager Mock Interview

Question 25 of 34 for our Program Manager Mock Interview

Program Manager was updated by Karrie Day on January 14th, 2024. Learn more here.

Question 25 of 34

What are your expectations for the project managers you have direct responsibility for in your work as a program manager?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Remember To
Answer Example

Some project managers are responsible for the direct management of project managers. Interviewers ask this question to learn more about a candidate's management style and the expectations for the project managers under their leadership.

Remember to include expectations for a mix of hard and soft skills you intend to foster and help develop for the project managers you will be working with. This includes items such as project management competencies, leadership, facilitation, customer service, etcetera.

"The first things I seek to establish with project managers I have leadership and management responsibility for are trust and transparency. I want them to know it is okay to be vulnerable and to learn. I want them to know that mistakes happen, and they are a team's responsibility. I want them to know I am there to support them and I expect honesty so that we can proactively make changes as necessary. I do not expect perfection, but I expect excellent communication and demonstrable growth.

I also expect adaptability from the project managers I lead. Things change constantly and I seek to create an agile and creative environment. I challenge PMs to always look for the value stream and to find ways to maximize it on behalf of their teams and their customers.

I expect the PMs on my team to have a strong project management knowledge base and to continue to learn. I expect them to share best practices, earn from each other's successes and failures, and suggest process changes that add value.

Finally, I expect the PMs I lead to be leaders. I ask them to find ways to get to know their teams and their customers better so they can serve their teams at a high level. I ask them to lead by example. I challenge them to be prepared to have difficult conversations and defuse conflicts when needed. I ask them to find what works best for their teams and to foster a dynamic and fun environment in which everyone can thrive."

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How to Answer: What are your expectations for the project managers you have direct responsibility for in your work as a program manager?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Program Manager job interview.

25. What are your expectations for the project managers you have direct responsibility for in your work as a program manager?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Some project managers are responsible for the direct management of project managers. Interviewers ask this question to learn more about a candidate's management style and the expectations for the project managers under their leadership.

Written by Karrie Day on June 3rd, 2022

Remember To

Remember to include expectations for a mix of hard and soft skills you intend to foster and help develop for the project managers you will be working with. This includes items such as project management competencies, leadership, facilitation, customer service, etcetera.

Written by Karrie Day on June 3rd, 2022

Answer Example

"The first things I seek to establish with project managers I have leadership and management responsibility for are trust and transparency. I want them to know it is okay to be vulnerable and to learn. I want them to know that mistakes happen, and they are a team's responsibility. I want them to know I am there to support them and I expect honesty so that we can proactively make changes as necessary. I do not expect perfection, but I expect excellent communication and demonstrable growth.

I also expect adaptability from the project managers I lead. Things change constantly and I seek to create an agile and creative environment. I challenge PMs to always look for the value stream and to find ways to maximize it on behalf of their teams and their customers.

I expect the PMs on my team to have a strong project management knowledge base and to continue to learn. I expect them to share best practices, earn from each other's successes and failures, and suggest process changes that add value.

Finally, I expect the PMs I lead to be leaders. I ask them to find ways to get to know their teams and their customers better so they can serve their teams at a high level. I ask them to lead by example. I challenge them to be prepared to have difficult conversations and defuse conflicts when needed. I ask them to find what works best for their teams and to foster a dynamic and fun environment in which everyone can thrive."

Written by Karrie Day on June 3rd, 2022

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