What is your leadership style?
The answer to this question that always pops up in interviews will depend on your personal leadership philosophy and management approach.
For example, when describing your leadership style, you might say something like:
“My leadership style is based on building strong relationships with my team members and creating a collaborative and supportive work environment. I believe in empowering my team to take ownership of their work and providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed. I also value open communication and transparency, so I encourage my team to share their ideas and feedback with me so that we can work together to achieve our goals.”
You can also mention specific strategies or techniques that you use to motivate and engage your team, such as setting clear expectations, recognizing and rewarding outstanding performance, and providing ongoing feedback and coaching.
The best definitions of leadership prioritize motivation, transformation, care for people, and empowerment as key aspects of leadership.
Personal Values, Meaning, and Leadership Style
Values are defined as the guiding principles and beliefs that you hold about what is important in life. Meaning is the subjective experience of feeling purposeful and fulfilled in your life. Research on leadership indicates there is a strong connection between your personal values and your leadership style.
Transformational Leadership Style
If you have a clear sense of your personal values and a strong sense of meaning you are more likely to exhibit a transformational leadership style.
Transformational leaders are those who inspire and motivate their followers by articulating a compelling vision, providing intellectual stimulation, and serving as a role model for ethical behavior.
Transformational leaders are more likely to align their leadership style with their personal values and meaning, as they are more likely to prioritize the growth and development of their team members, act as a mentor, and create a culture of collaboration and innovation.
Transactional Leadership Style
In contrast, leaders who are not aligned with their personal values and meaning are more likely to exhibit transactional leadership styles, which focus on rewards and punishments and tend to be more hierarchical and controlling.
Delegative Leadership Style
Delegative leadership is a non-controlling and non-intrusive leadership style that gives more power and authority to team members. To practice delegative leadership effectively, there must be an alignment of core values and commitment to goals on a team level.
Watch the video below to learn how to delegate effortlessly and get the job done:
The Tough Leadership Interview Question
Let’s imagine you need to attend an interview for a team lead position in a marketing agency and need to prepare yourself to answer the question: How would you describe your leadership style? Consider following these steps:
- Before the interview, research the company and its culture to get a better understanding of the leadership qualities that they value. This can help you tailor your response to fit their expectations.
- Reflect on your previous experiences as a leader, whether in a professional or personal setting. Consider what worked well and what didn’t, and what leadership qualities you exhibited in those situations.
- Consider what leadership values are most important to you: collaboration, communication, empathy, accountability, or innovation. These values can guide your leadership style and shape your response to the question.
- To illustrate your leadership style, use concrete examples from your past experiences. Talk about a time when you successfully led a team, overcame a challenge, or implemented a new strategy. Be specific about the actions you took and the results you achieved.
- Demonstrate self-awareness. Acknowledge any weaknesses or areas for improvement in your leadership style, and show a willingness to learn and grow as a leader.
Finally, don’t try to emulate someone else’s leadership style or say what you think the interviewer wants to hear. Instead, be true to yourself and describe the leadership style that you believe is most effective for you.
A strong answer to the question “How would you describe your leadership style?” demonstrates your experience, values, and authenticity as a leader.
The Elevator Pitch Answer to the Question ”How Would You Describe Your Leadership Style”?
If you are asked to describe your leadership style in three words in the shortest possible time, you have to know your goals, personal values, and meaning. Here are five possible elevator pitch-style answers to the question: “Describe your leadership style in three words”:
- “Collaborative, Empowering, Visionary”
- “Authentic, Inclusive, Strategic”
- “Results-driven, Innovative, Communicative”
- “Adaptable, Trustworthy, Servant”
- “Inspiring, Accountable, Humble”
Self-awareness and alignment with your values and purpose are crucial for effective leadership.
Reflection Points to Discover Your Leadership Style
If you haven’t thought about your values so far, here is a practical exercise to help you become a better leader by reflecting on the following points:
1. Vision and Direction
A good leader has a clear vision and direction for their team or organization. This involves defining goals, establishing priorities, and communicating expectations.
2. Communication
Leaders must be able to articulate their vision and goals clearly, listen actively to their team members, and provide constructive feedback.
3. Decision-making
Good leaders weigh the pros and cons of each decision, consider the potential consequences, and choose the best course of action for their team or organization, often with limited information.
4. Empowerment
Leaders empower their team members to take ownership of their work, encourage them to be creative and innovative, and provide them with the resources and support they need to be successful.
5. Emotional Intelligence
Good leaders are empathetic, able to build strong relationships with their team members, and create a positive and supportive work environment.
6. Accountability
Leaders hold themselves and their team members accountable for their actions and results. This involves setting clear expectations, monitoring progress, and providing feedback and support when necessary.
7. Continuous Improvement
Good leaders are always striving to improve themselves and their teams. They seek feedback, learn from mistakes, and adapt their leadership style to meet the changing needs of their team or organization.
8. Ethics and Integrity
Leaders must act with integrity, uphold ethical standards, and be accountable for their actions. This includes treating team members with respect and fairness, being transparent and honest, and leading by example.
After working through these reflection points, how would you describe your leadership style?
If you want to develop a self-managing digital leadership system that changes and evolves as you gain experience and grow as a leader, and help your team achieve their best work there is a roadmap you can download for free below:
