Describe how you would motivate a group of people to do something they did not want to do.
As a manager, you understand what it takes to motivate a group of people! Think about the fun ways you have encouraged people to achieve their goals in the past. This can be at work, on a sports team you have coached, your kids, etc. Maybe you created a fun contest or came up with an award for reaching a goal. Or, maybe you simply complimented your staff, sharing how much you appreciate their hard work and talents, and that was enough of a push to keep them going. Begin by telling the interviewer who the group of people was (your employees, your kids, little league team, etc.), being sure to include what task the group did not want to do. Next, share how you motivated the group, and wrap it up by sharing the successful outcome of your efforts!
"Last summer, I had to motivate my teenage children to clean out the garage. No one wanted to tackle this chore, including myself, but it needed to be done to clear up space and get rid of some of the toys and things they hadn't played with since they were little. I knew my kids would be motivated by food, so I planned to have donuts for them when they woke up that morning and then we ordered pizza for dinner at the end of the day. We also tried to make it as fun as possible by playing music, taking breaks, and laughing at memories that different toys reminded us of as we cleaned up and organized. What was at first a daunting chore turned out to be a fun and full day of quality time.
I hope to bring this same approach into my work as a manager. Recognizing what motivates people, setting up incentives, and being willing to bring a positive attitude and make the most of it are all things that I want to use to motivate my team."
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Anonymous Answer
I would have a discussion and communicate why and what the benefits are of what we are doing and offer incentives to achieve it.
Stephanie's Feedback
This is a great start, but I suggest developing this response a little more. Is there a specific example you can share of a time when you motivated someone to do something that they didn't want to do?
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