How would you handle leading a team if you didn’t have formal authority watching over you?
Personal leadership isn’t dependent on holding a formal title; it simply requires a desire to inspire others to perform at their best. Mark Murphy, founder of Leadership IQ and author of Hiring for Attitude, describes a food manufacturing company that credits much of their success to the prevalent attitude of personal leadership among their employees. From the machine operators on the shop floor to the CEO, everyone embodies a positive personal leadership attitude. Interviewers want to know how you lead without formal authority, and a STAR method-style story is the clearest way to show it.
How do they define personal leadership? Here’s their criteria:
- Keeps their word.
- Steps up and offers assistance when needed.
- Enjoys taking on new responsibilities and encourages others to do the same.
- Treats everyone with respect.
- Maintains a positive attitude that motivates others.
Your organization might have a different definition of personal leadership, and that’s perfectly fine. The key is to know how to interview candidates to determine if... premium content.
