What is the hiring manager looking for?

Hiring managers ask this question to gauge your leadership abilities, your capacity to inspire change, and your ability to navigate challenges and pivot your team accordingly. An effective response should showcase your strategic thinking, effective communication, and track record of successful team alignment.

How to structure your answer

1. Delineate the Challenge: Begin by setting the context – paint a picture of the existing challenges or circumstances that necessitated the strategic shift.

*Explain why the change was crucial and how it aligned with the company’s goals.

2. Articulate the Vision: Clearly state the new strategic direction, emphasizing its importance and relevance to your team.

* Highlight the benefits and opportunities that this direction presents.

3. Foster Buy-In: Describe how you actively engaged your team in understanding and embracing the change.

* Mention any communication strategies or workshops you employed to build consensus.

4. Provide Resources and Support: State how you equipped your team with necessary resources and training to facilitate the transition.

5. Lead by Example: Share specific actions you took to exemplify the new direction and motivate your team.

6. Measure and Celebrate: Describe how you monitored progress, celebrated milestones, and recognized the team’s contributions.

Tips to answer this interview question

* Tips:
* Focus on your role in shaping and driving the strategic shift, rather than solely attributing it to external factors.
* When discussing challenges, maintain a positive and solution-oriented perspective.
* Provide concrete examples of how your interventions led to positive outcomes.

* Things to Avoid:
* Don’t dwell on failures or setbacks; instead, emphasize lessons learned and improvements made.
* Avoid discussing strategic decisions made by superiors without your involvement.
* Be mindful of time constraints; keep your response concise and to the point.

Example interview answers to this question

Sample Answer 1:
“During a market downturn, our company had to pivot from traditional sales strategies to embrace e-commerce. I led the transition by conducting thorough market research, analyzing consumer trends, and outlining a comprehensive digital marketing plan. Through workshops and one-on-one conversations, I secured buy-in from my sales team. I provided extensive training on e-commerce platforms and digital marketing tools. By setting clear goals, monitoring progress, and celebrating milestones, we successfully transitioned our sales force to the new strategic direction, resulting in a 25% increase in online sales within six months.”

* Why it’s strong: This answer showcases the candidate’s proactiveness, strategic thinking, and ability to lead and motivate a team through significant change. They provide specific examples of their actions and highlight the positive outcomes achieved.

Sample Answer 2:
“In my previous role, the company underwent a restructuring that involved merging two departments. As the team lead, I played a pivotal role in aligning my team with the new structure. I organized town hall meetings to communicate the rationale behind the merger and address concerns. I facilitated workshops to help team members understand their new roles and responsibilities. I also arranged cross-training sessions to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing. Through open communication, active listening, and empathy, I successfully navigated this challenging transition, ensuring that my team remained engaged and motivated throughout the process.”

* Why it’s strong: This answer demonstrates the candidate’s strong communication, empathy, and leadership skills. They highlight their ability to create a positive and supportive environment during a challenging time and successfully guide their team through a major organizational change.