Team Leader Interview Questions and Answers

Q1. What is your long range objective?

Ans: The applicant should explain his long range objectives and how he is working hard to achieve those objectives.
For example, if the applicant is from the financial sector, then he shall move in the direction of becoming the financial analyst first and then financial head of the company

Q2. Can you work and handle the team?

Ans: The applicant shall highlight his qualities of working in the team. He shall assure the applicant that he can very well handle the team members and can handle the pressure as well. Also, he has worked as a team in his school and college days and earlier his projects were all team projects.

Q3. Describe some situations where you acted as a leader when you were not?

Ans: To answer this question the applicant will have to give some example where he due to certain conditions had to act as a leader even when he was just a part of the team. More effective the example, the greater the impression he will have upon the interviewer.

Q4. Do you use any tools to support you in leading a team?

Ans: As a Team Leader, you need to be able to oversee day-to-day operations, delegate tasks to team members and set deadlines. There are an increasing number of tools available, to help track timelines and goals, collaborate more effectively, communicate more efficiently and improve productivity. Outline which tools you have used before and then explain why you have used them. If you have had any positive outcomes as a result of using these tools, explain to the interviewer what you have experienced.

Q5. Would you like to work in a team or individually?

Ans: By saying that the applicant would like to work in a team will present his quality of being open to ideas presented by others. Also, how he is able to cope up with the pressure of working in the team.

Q6. What are your preferred methods of communication and why?

Ans: It’s important for a Team Leader to be able to communicate clearly with their team members. Before you answer, consider how you communicate on a daily basis. Do you prefer having a lengthy call with someone, do you arrange to see them face-to-face, do you send them a quick bullet-pointed email, or do you use online collaboration tools? Explain why you use the communication methods you do and make sure you use examples.

Q7. What are the qualities of a successful manager?

Ans: The answer to this question lies in two words: vision and leadership.
A manager is one who has the vision for the long run. The desired results will be achieved if has the leadership qualities to achieve them.

Q8. Have you ever failed as a leader?

Ans: For this question the applicant shall clearly share the experience and that how he learned from the mistakes that he has made. He now knows how to deal with failure and motivate other team members in such a situation.

Q9. What qualities will you demonstrate as a leader?

Ans: The applicant shall highlight his quality of being honest and showing integrity towards others as the most important qualities of a leader.
The applicant shall make the interviewers believe in what he says and shall have the confidence in his being a great leader.

Q10. What is your approach when you are not clear about achieving your goals on time?

Ans: As a leader you should be ready to accept any comments or opinions from your team. And should not hesitate to seek help from your immediate superiors or your team-mates.Taking all the inputs into account, you should come up with a new and clear agenda on how to finish your target on time.

Q11. How will you win the confidence of your team?

Ans: The applicant shall describe that how he will set the goals and also involve other team members in the decision making process.
He will act as a guide to all the hard work that the other members puts in, to achieve the desired results.

Q12. How will you handle various projects at the same time?

Ans: For this I will clearly list all the projects and will give priority to one which have their deadlines earlier to meet. Also, I will give the guidelines to my team to carry out the work accordingly.

Q13. How will you get others to accept your ideas?

Ans: The applicant will explain the way he presents his ideas and make others believe in what he thinks about a particular problem.

In case, some employees don’t agree with the idea presented, he will modify the idea in such a manner that it will become acceptable to all.

Q14. Are you comfortable with group discussions/meetings or one on one?

Ans: As a leader I prefer group discussions because in a group we will be able to know the individual skills and hidden qualities of the team-mates. This can help everyone to improve their interpersonal skills. And as a whole, it will lead to the success of the team.

Q15. According to you what is the most difficult part of being a leader?

Ans: The best way to answer this question would be answer it in the most simple manner. It is very important for a leader to make all the employees work as a team.
A leader has to decide the direction in which the team has to move and he shall have the vision to see the long term impact of the steps taken today.

Q16. How would you mitigate a dispute between two team members who disagree over their responsibilities?

Ans: As well as questions about your past, you may be presented with situational Team Leader interview questions. A key theme that interviewers may want to focus on is conflict management, which is a key skill that every Team Leader needs to have.
Take your time to consider your response. You want to show that you don’t tolerate arguments and can resolve the situation quickly and effectively. Make sure you show that you understand how a dispute can not only impact the individuals, but the team as a whole, along with the project. Explain how you would listen to both sides of the argument and carefully consider their feedback. Demonstrate that you are not afraid to then come to a decision and stick to it.

Q17. What motivates a leader?

Ans: To me a leader is motivated by the hard work his team puts in achieving the goals of the company. The way the team grows under the leadership of a person is the most important motivating factor for any individual.

Q18. How will you give bad news, if any, to your team?

Ans: I will get all the team members together and will announce the news. I will try to identify the point from where the things have gone wrong and will ensure that such things don’t happen in the future. I will also encourage my team to share their point of view regarding such a situation.

Q19. What is over supervision in your view as a leader? How will it affect an employee?

Ans: Over Supervision is nothing but when a person is given with more direction than what he needs. When an employee is under such situation, they get frustrated and angry.
They stop trying and taking risks. They stop making decisions on their own, and their participation and initiation come down.

Q20. What are the four different leadership styles and brief them?

Ans: Generally the Leadership styles differ in three ways: the amount of direction provided by the leader, the amount of support and encouragement given by the leader, and the involvement of an employee in decision making.

• DIRECTING: This is described as one-way communication. The leader will define the roles and goals, guiding the employee what, when, how, with whom, and where to carry out the task. The leader initiates the Problem-solving and decision making. Resolutions and conclusions are announced, and a job is closely observed by the leader.
• COACHING STYLE: This is a two-way communication. The leader assigns the task to the employee and also motivates, encourages, praises the employee’s views on how to proceed with the task. Even though the leader approaches the employee, decision-making and problem-solving are up to the leader.
• SUPPORTING: In this style, both the leader and the employee identify the problem together and will set the goals. Problem-solving and decision-making shifts between them. The employee will share his view on how to proceed with the job. Then the leader provides any assurance or support, resources etc if needed.
• DELEGATING: In this style, the employee and the leader jointly define the problem and goals. The employee prepares the plan about when, how and with whom the task should be done. A leader will monitor the employee’s performance periodically.