What is your leadership style?

Describe your approach to leadership in your own words, but strive to use generally accepted vocabulary when labeling your style. For example, you may be a 'helps the team out however I can' leader which is best known as a 'servant' approach to leadership. You can research common styles of leadership before your interview if you aren't familiar with the most common names. Also, there are online tests that can help you identify your style if you need further assistance.

Remember to include a variety of approaches in your response. For example, an interviewer might not resonate with a candidate who described a completely authoritarian approach to leadership. While they might recognize the need for an authoritative approach at times, most companies look to hire project managers that can also delegate, serve, facilitate, and set the pace for their teams as well.

"My leadership style changes depending on what is needed to add value to the team experience at any given time. I enjoy serving as a coach, motivator, and facilitator. I also enjoy working with other visionary and transformational leaders and strive to use these skills in my approach.

I least enjoy bureaucratic or authoritarian types of leadership. I find it is necessary to use these styles in performance issue situations or when there are conflicts that cannot be settled in any other way. However, I first look for ways to use democratic and supportive approaches to avoid people feeling like they are being managed. I would much rather them feel they are co-creating their own experience."