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 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. 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
excellence etc.

5. What are your weaknesses?

Never say you do not have any weak points. Try not to reveal your personal
characteristics. I often get impatient with others sloppy work.

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

Getting things planned and done on time within the budget. Quote any example
that you have experienced.

7. How will you motivate your team?

Bottom line is do it show it and inspire. Involve all the members in the 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 performance. Catch people 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 level. Consistent and
transparent with the team. Let the members know why doing an assigned task is
important to you the organization and them. Set the example for others to follow
ARTICLE RELATED TO ATTENDING INTERVIEW:

How many times have I been asked this question? (The title of this article). 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 this question etc.

In my career thus far, I have been a team leader for two different companies and have also
been a member of many different teams, who have been run by a numerous different team
leaders. This has given me, in my own opinion, quite a good understanding of what is
required to be a good team leader.

Good, positive and quick decision making

There is nothing worse than being in a team whose leader is quite weak, in-decisive and
lacking in confidence. It sends a wave of uncertainty through the time and leaves the
members of that team feeling frustrated.

Communication

A team leader who is unapproachable is, in my opinion, a poor team leader. Any member of
the team should feel comfortable and happy to be able to talk to his/her team leader about
a variety of matters. This would include business matters of course but could also include
any personal difficulties that they may be going through.

The team leader should also possess the ability to convey messages from the company to
his staff, as well as communicating what he expects from them, work wise, for that
particular day and week.

Motivation

A good team leader will have the ability to keep his or her troops motivated throughout the
day and week. They can do this by operating various challenges such as the best employee
of the month receives a box of chocolates, the worst employee is not allowed to speak or be
spoken to for one hour, as way of punishment. Just a bit of fun and games, which can be
judged by the amount, and standard of work that each member completes. This is just one
of many ways to keep the troops thinking and working
QUESTION AND ANSWERS:
 RE: As a team lead how do you pacify an angry client?
There are two rules to follow when dealing with a client:
1st : Client is always Right
2nd: Even if the client is Wrong, Refer to rule no 1.

Since the client is angry, as a lead accept the mistake (blame) whatever the client has to say. If you
start with this... the client is bound to get relaxed after 5/10 minutes of shouting... Then try to explain
the game plan to follow from NOW (Please prepare for this as a lead you should be ready for this
anytime).

 What are the Leadership Styles a good team leader ...

There is no direct answer to this question.

If you think of it then it is a flamboyant style that usually would distinguish a leader from the team.
However, at the same time flamboyance has to be complemented with actual knowledge of the
technology/issues being addressed by the solution.

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 team of highly
qualified technologists. Delving into the details of what each team member is involved in helps in
constant monitoring 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
have been to the next higher level. Gives visibility to the team as well as the lead
3) Personal outreach - common human beings (which means everyone except superman-m.h.r.i.p and
Paris Hilton) are surrounded by pressures which can restrict thought flow at critical junctures. A good
team lead can provide a reassuring pat on the back 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
NOT discuss such issues with anyone - breaks the trust bond).
4) Encourage independent thinking - Reduces a lot of design and implementation problems.
5) Take the team out for a team-building session once in a while. Make sure the team gets "face time"
with higher management. Invite higher management of course.

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

A good learner only could be a good leader. The team leader must attend induction training, seminars
arranged by companies in various skills to keep them updated with the current technology. They must
learn and induct it their team members which proves them to be a good team leader.
  RE: What is Self-managed team leadership?
Self-managed team leadership is different from traditional leadership and provides an alternative to
traditional leader’s role. Self-managed team leaders lead without positional authority. Self-managed
team leadership is moving inside one’s subordinate work group to lead. Self-managed team leadership
defines a different role for the leader. The leader is not responsible for making decisions, developing
action plans or giving orders. In these situations, the team is given the responsibility, authority and
accountability for managing a defined area of responsibility. When the work group is given control over
one or more defined areas of team responsibility, it is the leader’s role to use self-managed leadership
skills and systematic processes to help the team to operate effectively and efficiently.

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

These are the few steps you should take to motivate the team

1) Don't even think of selling the credit of a team member on your name. Give the credit to individual
in team and encourage him/her for the same verbally.

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.

3) Start work by self on some of the tasks which are boring though required (like documentation) before
asking team members to do the work.

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

 What are the Core skills needed for Team Lead?

1. Task (or Project) Management Skills (scheduling and budgeting resources)

2. Personnel Management Skills (delegating, dispute resolution, personality conflict

resolution)

3. Mentoring Skills

4. Communication Skills (downstream and upstream)

 Best leader characteristics:

• Good technical skills

• Supportive

• Approachable

• Offers advice

• Praises a job well done

• Provides clear direction

• Delegates
 RE: What are the attributes that make a good team lead...
1. A good team leader has to have

1. Good knowledge of the project (s) he is leading

2. Genuinely interested in the success of project AND individuals.

3. Helping and problem solving team members

4. Open to suggestions from team members

5. Has to be responsible for whatever decision a team member has taken

6. Not afraid of failure

7. Nice to have: technically sound so as to replace any of the team member
2. 1. Trust and confidence
2. Make sound and timely decisions
3. Lead by example
4. Keep the team informed wirh the changes
5. Develop a sense of responsibility for the team members
6. Use the full capabilities of your team members