Suppose the job description specified a collaborative or servant leadership style. In that case, focus on using one of those two styles in your response. Collaborative leadership is a management practice that brings staff, executives, and managers together and shares information organically. The servant leadership style focuses on leaders prioritizing serving their team and organization first. Servant leaders do not prioritize their own objectives but seek to achieve a vision by providing substantial support to their staff.

Avoid describing your leadership style as something opposite of what the agency is looking for in a candidate. If they specifically state they seek a Social Work Supervisor with a servant or collaborative leadership skills, choose one of those styles. If you say your leadership skills are different from what they are looking for, they may pass you over for a candidate who has the style they seek.

"I describe my leadership style as collaborative. I like to seek out a diversity of ideas, opinions, and thoughts from my team to build strategies and solve problems. I find this leadership style effective since my team members feel included and trusted and are more likely to take pride in ownership of their work."