Team Leadership
Assuming a leadership role in helping others achieve excellent results.
Level 1 Meets the team's fundamental needs
BEHAVIORS
- Gives team members access to the information they need (e.g., informs others of decisions that affect them; explains the rationale for decisions).
- Gives team members access to the essential equipment or resources needed to do their jobs.
- Interacts with different team members with respect and consistency, without favoring any individual.
- Accommodates diversity among team members.
- Reinforces workplace health and safety standards to protect team members.
QUESTIONS
- In the past, how have you ensured that team members were informed of an important project or organizational development?
Probing Questions
* Provide a specific example.
* What was your role on the team?
* What was the project/organizational development?
* How did you keep others informed?
- Please describe a time when the members of your team did not have the basic equipment and resources needed to effectively do their jobs.
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* What did you do to “fix” this problem?
* What was the outcome?
- Provide an example of something you have done in the past to promote a safe and healthy working environment.
Probing Questions
* Describe the situation.
* What did you do to promote a safe and healthy working environment?
* Why did you feel this was necessary?
* How did you implement this?
* What was the outcome?
Level 2 Facilitates achievement of team results
BEHAVIORS
- Considers team members' competencies, interests and concerns in establishing team structures, roles, and responsibilities.
- Encourages team members' input, expressing appreciation for such input.
- Shows appreciation for work well done.
- Capitalizes on diversity among team members to optimize team functioning.
QUESTIONS
- Tell us about a time when, as a team leader, you ensured that you encouraged input by all team members equally and that you valued their input.
Probing Questions
* Who was on the team?
* What did you do to ensure you treated everyone equally?
* How did you encourage input?
- Describe a time when you showed appreciation to others, for a job well done.
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* How did you show appreciation?
* How were your actions received by others?
- Describe a situation where you have used a team's diversity or differences to create an advantage.
Probing Questions
* What was diverse about the team?
* How did you use diversity to create an advantage?
* What was the advantage?
* How did this benefit the overall task/project/program?
* What was the outcome?
Level 3 Builds strong teams
BEHAVIORS
- Addresses gaps in team expertise.
- Resolves conflict among team members through fair procedures, respecting each person's feelings.
- Delegates authority to match responsibility, holding staff accountable for agreed-upon commitments.
- Supports staff in taking independent action, providing coaching along the way.
- Delegates responsibility rather than taking charge or micro-managing when the staff has the capability.
QUESTIONS
- When a group of people works closely together, particularly in a team setting, it is inevitable that conflict will arise. Tell me about a time when you successfully resolved a conflict in a team setting.
Probing Questions
* What were the circumstances?
* What factors led to the conflict?
* How did you attempt to resolve this conflict?
* What were the results of your actions?
- Describe a situation when you delegated responsibility and authority to your staff or members of your team.
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* What responsibilities and authority did you delegate?
* Did you encounter any problems?
* Was your delegation effective?
Level 4 Empowers team members
BEHAVIORS
- Uses individual as well as group goal setting to maximize performance.
- Challenges rules or practices that present inappropriate barriers to independent action and decision-making.
- Brings excellent performance to the attention of the larger organization.
- Seeks resources that will enhance the team's productivity.
QUESTIONS
- Describe a situation where you identified and sought to obtain resources that would better enable your team to perform more effectively.
Probing Questions
* What was the project or task?
* How did you come to identify the need for enhanced resources?
* What type(s) of resources (people, materials, tools, etc.) did you identify?
* How did you obtain the resources?
* What was the outcome?
- Can you tell me about a previous work experience where you supported team members to work more independently and enhance their performance?
Probing Questions
* Describe the work your team was doing.
* What was your role?
* What barriers did you see that impeded more independent work and decision making?
* What did you do? Describe the steps that you took.
* What was the outcome for your team?
Level 5 Inspires team members
BEHAVIORS
- Cultivates a feeling of energy, excitement and optimism in the team.
- Creates an environment where team members consistently push for improved team performance and productivity.
- Acts as a role model in demonstrating the organization’s culture and values.
QUESTIONS
- Provide an example of a time when you created an environment where team members were motivated to push for improved performance and/or productivity.
Probing Questions
* What was the situation?
* What did you do to motivate your team members?
* Was it effective? How do you know?
* What was the result?
- Think about a time when morale was low in your team? What did you do to engage team members and boost morale?
Probing Questions
* Describe the situation. Why was there low morale in the team?
* What was your role in the team?
* What did you do?
* What was the outcome for your team?