Team Leader Interview

(1)

Team Leader Interview

Frequently asked questions

1. Tell us about yourself?

Keep your answer very simple and brief. Don't prolong by telling your family history

and schooling. Be brief and focus more on your skills initiatives and adaptability.

2. Why should we hire you?

Because I have all the attributes that this role requires. Knowledge, experience,

skills and abilities. You need to be confident while replying and no vague answers.

3. Why are you looking for a

3. Why are you looking for a change? or Why do you want to leave your

change? or Why do you want to leave your

company?

Be positive while answering. You want to work with a company where you can make

a long term career. Where you can use your skills and learn new skills. Be honest if

there was any retrenchment in the previous company e.g.

there was any retrenchment in the previous company e.g. Our Department was

Our Department was

consolidated or eliminated.

4. What are your strengths?

Your strengths should relate to the company and job opening. I have a proven track

record as an achiever. Positive attitude, good sense of humor, good communication

skills, dedicated, team player, willingness to walk the extra mile to achieve

excellen

excellence

ce etc.

etc.

5. What are your weaknesses?

Never say you do not have any weak points. Try not to reveal your personal

characteristi

characteristics. I

cs. I often get impatient with others

often get impatient with others sloppy work.

sloppy work.

6. What challenges did you face in your previous jobs?

Getting things planned and done on time within the

Getting things planned and done on time within the budget. Quote any example

budget. Quote any example

that you have

that you have experienced.

experienced.

7. How will you motivate your team?

Bottom line is do it

Bottom line is do it show it and inspire. Involve all the members in the

show it and inspire. Involve all the members in the ongoing

ongoing

development and progress of the company. Communicate and interact with the

team members. They want regular updates on their personal performance. Keep

them updated. Celebrate individual and team

them updated. Celebrate individual and team performa

performance. Catch people

nce. Catch people doing

doing

something right and focus on recognizing excellent performance. Set challenging

goals. Team will work hard to accomplish them. Believe in your people. Majority of

them want to perform. Motivate employees for the next

them want to perform. Motivate employees for the next level. Consistent and

level. Consistent and

transpar

transparent with the team. Let

ent with the team. Let the members know why doing an assigned task is

the members know why doing an assigned task is

important to you the organization and them. Set the example for others

(2)

A

RTICLERTICLE RELATEDRELATED TOTO ATTENDINGATTENDING

I

NTERVIEWNTERVIEW

:

How many times have I been a

How many times have I been asked this question? (The title of this sked this question? (The title of this article). The answer isarticle). The answer is

plenty of times. I attend an interview for a position of authority and am asked, amongst

other things, what constitutes a good team leader? In this article I will be writing about the

way in which I would reply to

way in which I would reply to this question etc.this question etc.

In my career thus far

In my career thus far, I have been , I have been a team leader for a team leader for two different companies and have alsotwo different companies and have also

been a member of many dif

been a member of many different teams, who have been run by a ferent teams, who have been run by a numerous different teamnumerous different team

leaders. This has given me, in my

leaders. This has given me, in my own opinion, quite a good own opinion, quite a good understanding of what isunderstanding of what is

required to be a good team leader.

Good, positive and quick decision making

There is nothing worse than being in

There is nothing worse than being in a team whose leader a team whose leader is quite weak, in-decisive andis quite weak, in-decisive and

lacking in confidence. It sends a

lacking in confidence. It sends a wave of uncertainty through the time and leaves thewave of uncertainty through the time and leaves the

members of that team feeling

members of that team feeling frustrated.frustrated.

Communication

A team leader who is

A team leader who is unapproachable is, in my opinion, a unapproachable is, in my opinion, a poor team leaderpoor team leader. Any member of . Any member of

the team should feel comfortable and happy to be able to talk to

the team should feel comfortable and happy to be able to talk to his/her team leader abouthis/her team leader about

a variety of matters. This would include business matters of

a variety of matters. This would include business matters of course but could also includecourse but could also include

any personal difficulties that they may be

any personal difficulties that they may be going through.going through.

The team leader should also

The team leader should also possess the ability to convey messages from the company topossess the ability to convey messages from the company to

his staff, as well as communicating what he expects from them, work wise, for

his staff, as well as communicating what he expects from them, work wise, for thatthat

particular day and week.

Motivation

A good team leader will

A good team leader will have the ability to keep his have the ability to keep his or her troops motivated throughout theor her troops motivated throughout the

day and week. They can do

day and week. They can do this by operating various challenges such as the best employeethis by operating various challenges such as the best employee

of the month receives a box of

of the month receives a box of chocolates, the worst employee is not allowed to chocolates, the worst employee is not allowed to speak or bespeak or be

spoken to for one hour

spoken to for one hour, as way of punishment. Just a , as way of punishment. Just a bit of fun and bit of fun and games, which can begames, which can be

judged by the amount, and

judged by the amount, and standard of work that each member completes. This standard of work that each member completes. This is just oneis just one

of many ways to keep the troops thinking and

(3)

Q

UESTIONUESTION ANDAND

ANSWERS:

RE: As a team lead how do you pacify an angry client? RE: As a team lead how do you pacify an angry client?

There are two rules to follow when dealing with a client: There are two rules to follow when dealing with a client: 1st : Client is always Right

1st : Client is always Right

2nd: Even if the client is Wrong, Refer to rule no 1. 2nd: Even if the client is Wrong, Refer to rule no 1. Since the client is

Since the client is angryangry, as a l, as a lead accept the mistake (blame) whatever the client ead accept the mistake (blame) whatever the client has to say. If youhas to say. If you start with this... the client is bound to get relaxed after 5/10 minutes of

start with this... the client is bound to get relaxed after 5/10 minutes of shouting... Then try to explainshouting... Then try to explain the game plan to follow f

the game plan to follow f rom NOW (Please prepare for this as a rom NOW (Please prepare for this as a lead you should be ready for thislead you should be ready for this anytime).

anytime).

What are the Leadership Styles a good team

What are the Leadership Styles a good team leader ...leader ... There is no direct answer to this

There is no direct answer to this question.question. If you think of it then it

If you think of it then it is a flamboyant style that usually would distinguish a leader from the team.is a flamboyant style that usually would distinguish a leader from the team. However

However, at , at the same time the same time flamboyance has to be complemented with flamboyance has to be complemented with actual knowledge of theactual knowledge of the technology/issu

technology/issues being addressed by the es being addressed by the solution.solution. A few qualities that can make a good team lead: A few qualities that can make a good team lead:

1) Due diligence - A cliched term, but makes a lot of sense when one is leading a t

1) Due diligence - A cliched term, but makes a lot of sense when one is leading a t eam of highlyeam of highly qualified technologists. Delving into the details of

qualified technologists. Delving into the details of what each team member is iwhat each team member is i nvolved in helps innvolved in helps in constant

constant monitoringmonitoringof activities. It is a merry go round but is useful.of activities. It is a merry go round but is useful.

2) Reach the next level - communicate what the team is upto and what the achievements of the team 2) Reach the next level - communicate what the team is upto and what the achievements of the team have been to the next higher level. Gives visibility to the team as well as the lead

have been to the next higher level. Gives visibility to the team as well as the lead 3) Personal outreach -

3) Personal outreach - common human beings (which common human beings (which means everyone except superman-m.h.rmeans everyone except superman-m.h.r.i.p and.i.p and Paris Hilton) are surrounded by pressures which can restrict thought flow at

Paris Hilton) are surrounded by pressures which can restrict thought flow at critical junctures. A goodcritical junctures. A good team lead can provide a reassuring pat on the

team lead can provide a reassuring pat on the back to team members who are under pressure. To doback to team members who are under pressure. To do this you have to be able to identify with the team member and be able to give thoughtful advice (DO this you have to be able to identify with the team member and be able to give thoughtful advice (DO NOT discuss such issues with anyone - breaks the trust

NOT discuss such issues with anyone - breaks the trust bond).bond). 4) Encourage independent thinking - Reduces a lot of

4) Encourage independent thinking - Reduces a lot of design and implementation problems.design and implementation problems. 5) T

5) Take the team out for ake the team out for a team-building session once in a a team-building session once in a while. Make sure the team while. Make sure the team gets "face time"gets "face time" with higher management. Invite higher management of course.

with higher management. Invite higher management of course.

How must the team leader

How must the team leader play the role of play the role of learner.learner...

A good learner only could be a good leader

A good learner only could be a good leader. The team . The team leader must attend induction training, seminarsleader must attend induction training, seminars arranged by companies in various skills to

arranged by companies in various skills to keep them updated with keep them updated with the current technologythe current technology. They must. They must learn and induct it their team members which proves them to be a good team leader.

(4)

RE: What is Self-managed team leadership? RE: What is Self-managed team leadership?

Self-managed team leadership is different from traditional leadership and provides an alternative to Self-managed team leadership is different from traditional leadership and provides an alternative to traditional leader’

traditional leader’s role. Self-managed tes role. Self-managed team leaders lead am leaders lead without positional authority. Self-managedwithout positional authority. Self-managed team leadership is moving inside

team leadership is moving inside one’s subordinate work group to lead. Self-managed team leadershipone’s subordinate work group to lead. Self-managed team leadership defines a different role for t

defines a different role for the leaderhe leader. The leader is not responsible for makin. The leader is not responsible for makin ggdecisionsdecisions_{, developing}_{, developing} action plans or giving orders. In these

action plans or giving orders. In these situations, the team is situations, the team is given the responsibilitygiven the responsibility, authority and, authority and accountability for managing a defined area of

accountability for managing a defined area of responsibilityresponsibility. When the work . When the work group is given control overgroup is given control over one or more defined areas of

one or more defined areas of team responsibilityteam responsibility, it is the , it is the leader’leader’s role to use self-managed ls role to use self-managed leadershipeadership skills and systematic processes to help the

skills and systematic processes to help the team to operate effectively anteam to operate effectively and efficientlyd efficiently..

What steps must a team leader take to motivate the... What steps must a team leader take to motivate the...

T

Thheesse e aarre e tthhe e ffeew w sstteepps s yyoou u sshhoouulld d ttaakke e tto o mmoottiivvaatte e tthhe e tteeaamm 1) Don't even think of selling the credit of a team member on your name. Give the credit to individual 1) Don't even think of selling the credit of a team member on your name. Give the credit to individual iin n tteeaam m aannd d eennccoouurraagge e hhiimm//hheer r ffoor r tthhe e ssaamme e vveerrbbaallllyy.. 2) In case of some bad reputation comes to your team, try to shield the team members from losing 2) In case of some bad reputation comes to your team, try to shield the team members from losing their morals, but do not forget to take or suggest preventive steps to let happen same thing again. their morals, but do not forget to take or suggest preventive steps to let happen same thing again. 3) Start work by self on some of the tasks which are boring though required (like documentation) before 3) Start work by self on some of the tasks which are boring though required (like documentation) before a

asskkiinng g tteeaam m mmeemmbbeerrs s tto o ddo o tthhe e wwoorrkk.. There are lot many tips like this one, but these few will help get hold of the team.

There are lot many tips like this one, but these few will help get hold of the team.

What are the Core s

What are the Core skills needed for Team Lead?

kills needed for Team Lead?

1.

TTask (or Project) Management Skills (scheduling ask (or Project) Management Skills (scheduling and budgeting and budgeting resources)resources)

2.

Personnel Management Skills (delegating, dispute resolution, personality conflictPersonnel Management Skills (delegating, dispute resolution, personality conflict resolution)

resolution)

3.

Mentoring SkillsMentoring Skills

4.

Communication Skills (downstream and upstream)Communication Skills (downstream and upstream)



 Best leader characteristics:Best leader characteristics: •

• Good technical skillsGood technical skills •

• SupportiveSupportive •

• ApproachableApproachable •

• Offers adviceOffers advice •

• Praises a job well donePraises a job well done •

(5)

•

(6)

RE: What are the attributes that make a good team lead... RE: What are the attributes that make a good team lead...

1.

A good team leader has to haveA good team leader has to have

1. Good knowledge of the project (s) he is leading 1. Good knowledge of the project (s) he is leading 2. Genuinely interested in

2. Genuinely interested in the success of project AND individuals.the success of project AND individuals. 3. Helping and problem solving team members

3. Helping and problem solving team members 4. Open to suggestions from team members 4. Open to suggestions from team members

5. Has to be responsible for whatever decision a team member has taken 5. Has to be responsible for whatever decision a team member has taken 6. Not afraid of failure

6. Not afraid of failure

7. Nice to have: technically sound so as to replace any of the team member 7. Nice to have: technically sound so as to replace any of the team member

2.

1. T1. Trust and rust and confidenceconfidence 2. Make sound and timely

2. Make sound and timely decisionsdecisions 3. Lead by example

3. Lead by example

4. Keep the team informed wirh the changes 4. Keep the team informed wirh the changes

5. Develop a sense of responsibility for the team members 5. Develop a sense of responsibility for the team members 6. Use the full capabilities of your team members