Question bank Competencies

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Interview Guide Template which can be found at:
ACTION ORIENTATED.............................................................................................................................3
BEING RESILIENT....................................................................................................................................4
ATTRACTS TOP TALENT..........................................................................................................................5
BALANCES STAKEHOLDERS....................................................................................................................6
BUILDS NETWORKS................................................................................................................................7
BUILDS EFFECTIVE TEAMS.....................................................................................................................8
BUSINESS INSIGHT.................................................................................................................................9
COLLABORATES...................................................................................................................................10
COMMUNICATES EFFECTIVELY............................................................................................................11
COURAGE.............................................................................................................................................12
CULTIVATES INNOVATION...................................................................................................................13
CUSTOMER FOCUS..............................................................................................................................14
DECISION QUALITY..............................................................................................................................16
DEMONSTRATES SELF-AWARENESS....................................................................................................17
DEVELOPS TALENT...............................................................................................................................18
DIRECTS WORK....................................................................................................................................19
DRIVES ENGAGEMENT.........................................................................................................................20
DRIVES RESULTS..................................................................................................................................21
DRIVES VISION AND PURPOSE.............................................................................................................22
ENSURES ACCOUNTABILITY.................................................................................................................23
FINANCIAL ACUMEN:...........................................................................................................................24
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE:.........................................................................................................................25
INTERPERSONAL SAVVY.......................................................................................................................26
INSTILLS TRUST....................................................................................................................................27
MANAGES AMBIGUITY........................................................................................................................28
MANAGES COMPLEXITY......................................................................................................................29
MANAGES CONFLICT...........................................................................................................................30
NIMBLE LEARNING:.............................................................................................................................31
OPTIMIZES WORK PROCESSES.............................................................................................................32
ORGANIZATIONAL SAVVY....................................................................................................................33
PERSUADES..........................................................................................................................................34
PLANS AND ALIGNS.............................................................................................................................35
RESOURCEFULNESS.............................................................................................................................36
SELF-DEVELOPMENT............................................................................................................................37
SITUATIONAL ADAPTABILITY...............................................................................................................38
STRATEGIC MINDSET...........................................................................................................................39
TECH SAVVY.........................................................................................................................................40
VALUES DIFFERENCES..........................................................................................................................41
ACTION ORIENTATED

Readily takes action on challenges, without unnecessary

planning. Identifies and seizes new opportunities. Displays a
can-do attitude in good and bad times. Steps up to handle
tough issues.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time you were the first person to take

action on something.
 Tell me about a time you had to decide between more
planning or taking immediate action.
 Describe a time when you seized an opportunity and
moved forward with it yourself.
 Give me an example of how you identified a new
opportunity worth pursuing.
 Explain what you did when faced with a difficult and
urgent problem.
 Tell me about a time you had to take over someone else's
challenging project.
 Tell me about a situation that required an enormous
amount of energy and effort.
 Describe a tough situation when you demonstrated a can-
do attitude.
 Tell me about a time when you acted too hastily and had
to deal with the consequences.
 Describe a project or issue you were eager to address, yet
first needed others’ buy-in.
ATTRACTS TOP TALENT

Attracts and selects diverse and high caliber talent. Finds the
right talent to meet the group’s needs. Closes talent gaps with
the right balance of internal and external candidates. Is a good
judge of talent.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time you were responsible for picking

team members.
 Tell me about the most difficult position you have had to
fill.
 Describe a time when you assessed someone one way and
others saw the person differently.
 Tell me about a time when your ability to read people
worked really well when hiring or selecting someone.
 Tell me about a time when your first impression was
incorrect and you changed your mind after you got to
know the person.
 Describe a time you had to choose between someone who
wasn't a great fit but had long-term potential, and
someone who was a good fit for the current job only.
 Tell me about a time you had to choose between two
individuals you thought were equally qualified.
 Tell me about a time when you hired someone from
outside the organization when others thought an internal
candidate should have been given the job.
 Talk about a time you significantly misjudged or misread
someone you hired from outside the organization.
 Tell me about a time you had to decide what kind of talent
needed to be brought into the team.
BEING RESILIENT

Is confident under pressure. Handles and manages crises

effectively. Maintains a positive attitude despite adversity.
Bounces back from setbacks. Grows from hardships and
negative experiences.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time when you felt under extreme

pressure, but managed to carry on.
 Describe how you dealt with a hardship assignment or
situation (for example, layoffs, legal/regulatory battles,
trouble with unions).
 Give an example of how you rebounded from of a negative
work experience.
 Tell me about a time when a project or initiative seemed
like it was going to fail.
 Tell me about a time when you absolutely knew you were
right but someone in power overruled you.
 Tell me about a time when someone or something caught
you by surprise and caused your goals to be blocked.
 Tell me about a time when you became defensive or
irritated and were able to successfully regain your focus.
 Describe a crisis you had to handle.
 Give me an example of how you handled an emergency
situation.
 Tell me about a time you were under pressure to back
down, but stood firm.
BALANCES STAKEHOLDERS

Understands internal and external stakeholder requirements,

expectations, and needs. Balances the interests of multiple
stakeholders. Considers cultural and ethical factors in the
decision-making process. Acts fairly despite conflicting
demands of stakeholders.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time when you anticipated stakeholder

needs and concerns.
 Describe a time when you had to make a high-stakes
decision that took into account different stakeholder
needs.
 Give me an example of when you needed to manage
expectations of stakeholders whose views were different
from your own.
 Tell me about a time you had to change a process or
procedure to make it fair for everyone.
 Describe a time when you had to factor competing
stakeholder perspectives into a decision.
 Tell me about a time multiple stakeholders disagreed on a
course of action and you had to find middle ground.
 Tell me about the most difficult stakeholder you have had
to manage.
 Tell me about a time when you had to work with external
stakeholders to get business results.
 Describe a time when you could have worked with
external stakeholders better.
 Tell me about a time you did not gather enough input from
all the stakeholders during a project.
BUILDS NETWORKS

Builds strong formal and informal networks. Maintains

relationships across a variety of functions and locations. Draws
upon multiple relationships to exchange ideas, resources, and
know-how.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time when you built strong relationships

that stemmed from a difficult situation.
 Tell me about a time you needed to connect people in
order to accomplish a goal.
 Give me an example of connecting two people who
previously didn’t know each other.
 Describe a time when you used your network to exchange
ideas, resources, and know-how
 Tell me about a situation when you used your connections
to shape an initiative.
 Describe a time you were able to prevent a problem or
conflict by reaching out to your network.
 Tell me about a time you used your network to gain
knowledge for one of your projects.
 Tell me about a time when you benefited from a
partnership with someone outside the organization.
 Give me an example of a time when having a strong
network inside the organization worked well for you.
 Tell me about a time you removed barriers to get others to
build relationships across organizational boundaries.
BUILDS EFFECTIVE TEAMS

Forms teams with appropriate and diverse mix of styles,

perspectives, and experience. Establishes common objectives
and a shared mindset. Creates a feeling of belonging and
strong team morale. Shares wins and rewards team efforts.
Fosters open dialogue and collaboration among the team.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time you were in charge of a team and

needed to get them focused around common goals.
 Tell me about a time you worked with a high-performing
group or team.
 Tell me about a time when you had to revitalize a
stagnant team.
 Give me an example of a time you increased a team’s
effectiveness or productivity.
 Tell me about a time you improved team spirit or morale.
 Describe a team experience when the members didn't
work well together.
 Give me an example of when your team accomplished
something exceptional and it was up to you to reward the
group.
 Tell me about a time you were in charge of a team that
didn't have the talent to get the job done.
 Tell me about a time you encountered a team member
who was dragging down the effectiveness of the team.
 Tell me about a time you had to prioritize the team’s goals
over your own personal goals.
BUSINESS INSIGHT

Knows how businesses work and how organizations make

money. Keeps up with current and possible future policies,
practices, and trends in the organization, with the competition,
and in the marketplace. Uses knowledge of business drivers
and how strategies and tactics play out in the market to guide
actions.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 What are three trends in your current industry?

 Tell me about three advantages that your most recent
organization’s competitors have.
 Tell me about a time your knowledge of marketplace
trends influenced a decision you made.
 Describe a time you made a decision that had a positive
impact on the business as a whole.
 Tell me about a failing business and why you think it is
struggling.
 Describe how your knowledge of business has been
developed.
 Describe how you keep current on products and services
that are provided by your organization’s competitors.
 Tell me about a successful business and why you think it is
successful.
 Tell me about the most successful business you have
worked for and why it was a success.
 Explain how you keep yourself current on business
practices and trends.
COLLABORATES

Works cooperatively with others across the organization to

achieve shared objectives. Represents own interests while
being fair to others and their areas. Partners with others to get
work done. Credits others for their contributions and
accomplishments. Gains trust and support of others.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a successful experience you’ve had

implementing something across organizational
boundaries.
 Describe a time when you ensured that a system or
process enabled teamwork across organizational
boundaries.
 Tell me about a time when you built strong relationships
where none previously existed.
 Describe a time you had to build partnerships to achieve a
shared objective.
 Describe a time when a person or group did not get their
share of credit.
 Describe a time when you were praised individually when
others also contributed.
 Describe a time you worked with multiple groups or
people who had different interests.
 Tell me about a challenging situation when you worked to
earn trust and credibility within your team.
 Tell me about a time you succeeded in an initiative by
collaborating with others.
 Describe a time when the only way to achieve your
individual goals was to ask for help from others.
COMMUNICATES EFFECTIVELY

Is effective in a variety of communication settings: one-on-one,

small and large groups, or among diverse styles and position
levels. Attentively listens to others. Adjusts to fit the audience
and the message. Provides timely and helpful information to
others across the organization. Encourages the open
expression of diverse ideas and opinions.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time when you had to communicate

something important to someone who did not understand
your industry or function’s language very well.
 Describe a situation when you were leading a group who
didn't know much about the task.
 Describe the best presentation you've ever given.
 Describe a time you were comfortable with what you
communicated and felt you connected with your audience.
 Tell me about a time when others were missing the key
points in a discussion and you helped get things back on
track.
 Tell me about a time you were involved in a task that
required you to communicate clearly and quickly.
 Tell me about a time you had to shut off a person in the
audience or during a meeting who was talking too much or
asking too many questions.
 Tell me about a time when someone said you weren't
listening but you thought you were.
 Describe a time you had to convey the same message
through different methods of communication (for example,
e-mail and presentation, or an in-person meeting and a
phone call).
 Tell me about a time when you had to communicate the
same information to different audiences and had to vary
your style for each.
COURAGE

Readily tackles tough assignments. Faces difficult issues and

supports others who do the same. Provides direct and
actionable feedback. Is willing to champion an idea or position
despite dissent or political risk.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time when you disagreed with someone

more senior, and offered a solution that actually worked
better.
 Tell me about a time you accepted an assignment where
the odds of success were against you.
 Describe an example of when you volunteered for a risky
or challenging task that nobody else wanted to do.
 Tell me about a time when you stepped in to defend
someone (other than a direct report) whom you felt was
being unfairly treated.
 Tell me about a time when you challenged someone on an
ethical or performance issue.
 Tell me about a time when you were investigating
something and had to report back negative news to higher
management.
 Tell me about a time you held back on something you
later wished you had said.
 Describe a time when you challenged an idea or approach.
 Tell me about a time when you criticized the status quo
despite some risks.
 Describe a time when you challenged someone in a
position of authority.
CULTIVATES INNOVATION

Comes up with useful ideas that are new, better, or unique.

Introduces new ways of looking at problems. Can take a
creative idea and put it into practice. Encourages diverse
thinking to promote and nurture innovation.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about the most unusual idea you've had that

worked.
 Tell me about a time you took a risk on a new product or
solution and it paid off.
 Tell me about a time when you identified an opportunity to
innovate during the early stages of a project or process.
 Describe a time when you sized up an idea for its value in
the market or organization.
 Tell me about a time when you managed something from
the idea stage to market or application.
 Tell me about a time when you brought another person's
or group's idea to successful completion.
 Tell me about a time when you came up with some new
ideas to solve an old problem.
 Describe a time when you facilitated idea generating or
brainstorming with others.
 Tell me about a time when you participated in a failed
attempt to innovate.
 Describe your most creative contribution to the
organization.
CUSTOMER FOCUS

Gains insight into customer needs. Identifies opportunities that

benefit the customer. Builds and delivers solutions that meet
customer expectations. Establishes and maintains effective
customer relationships.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time when you almost lost a customer and

had to turn the situation around.
 Tell me about a time when you changed your approach to
customers based on their input.
 Describe a time you obtained up-to-date information from
a customer, and what you did with it.
 Describe a situation where new insights about a customer
paid off.
 Tell me about a time you created a new service, process,
or product based on customer feedback.
 Tell me about a time when you went the extra mile for a
challenging customer.
 Tell me about a time you were confronted with an internal
or external customer problem.
 Describe a time when you found a customer problem
especially difficult to deal with.
 Tell me about a time when you had to deal with what you
thought were unreasonable customer requests.
 Tell me about a time when you exceeded a customer's
expectations.
DECISION QUALITY

Makes sound decisions, even in the absence of complete

information. Relies on a mixture of analysis, wisdom,
experience, and judgment when making decisions. Considers
all relevant factors and uses appropriate decision-making
criteria and principles. Recognizes when a quick 80% solution
will suffice.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Describe a time when you made a major decision and

were really pleased with the outcome.
 Tell me about a time when you made a significant decision
but doubted yourself afterward.
 Tell me about a quick decision you made that turned out
to be a good one.
 Tell me about a time when you irritated people with your
speed of making decisions.
 Describe a time you had to make a quick decision and
gather a lot of information in a short time frame.
 Tell me about a hasty decision you made and later
regretted.
 Give me an example of a difficult problem you worked on
and walk me through your decision-making process.
 Describe a time when you had to make a decision without
all the information you wanted or needed.
 Describe a time you received useful feedback on a
decision you made.
 Tell me about a time when you turned out to be right and
others were wrong.
DEMONSTRATES SELF-AWARENESS

Reflects on activities and impact on others. Proactively seeks

feedback without being defensive. Is open to criticism and
talking about shortcomings. Admits mistakes and gains insight
from experiences. Knows strengths, weaknesses, opportunities,
and limits.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Describe when or where you learned the most about your

strengths and weaknesses.
 Tell me about a time you asked someone to give you
feedback.
 Tell me about a time when you were surprised or confused
about how someone viewed you.
 Tell me about a time when you had to admit to your boss
that you weren’t very good at something.
 Tell me about sharing one of your weaknesses with
someone else.
 Describe a time you were given positive feedback.
 Tell me about a time you made a change after receiving
positive feedback.
 Talk about a time you received significant negative
feedback.
 Tell me about a time a performance review did not go as
well for you as you had expected.
 Tell me about a time when your understanding of your
strengths or weaknesses was helpful to you.
DEVELOPS TALENT

Places a high priority on developing others. Develops others

through coaching, feedback, exposure, and stretch
assignments. Aligns employee career development goals with
organizational objectives. Encourages people to accept
developmental moves.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Describe a time when your efforts in developing someone

worked out positively.
 Describe a time when you coached or mentored people
younger and less experienced than you were.
 Tell me about a time when you worked with an
inexperienced person and started them down a road of
accelerated development.
 Tell me about a time when you were involved in what you
think was a good development process.
 Tell me about a time you created a development process
to align with organizational goals and priorities.
 Tell me about a time when your efforts in developing
someone didn't work out as you had expected.
 Tell me about a person you helped do something they
didn't think they were capable of.
 Tell me about a significant challenge you provided for
someone else.
 Describe a situation when you knew you should be
developing others but didn't have the time.
 Give me an example of how you determine the most
appropriate development path for someone.
DIRECTS WORK

Provides clear direction and accountabilities. Delegates and

distributes assignments and decisions appropriately. Monitors
progress by maintaining dialogue on work and results. Provides
appropriate guidance and direction based on people’s
capabilities. Intervenes as needed to remove obstacles.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time when you involved others in a goal-

setting process.
 Give me an example of how you divided up elements of a
project or assignment for others to work on.
 Give me an example of how you keep things on track in
your group when everyone is very busy and facing a tight
deadline.
 Describe a time when you had to remove a barrier in order
for a team to continue work.
 Tell me about a time your team wasn’t successful because
of an obstacle preventing progress.
 Tell me about a time when you resisted the temptation to
get involved in something you had asked someone else to
do.
 Describe a time when you delegated a task that only you
had worked on or knew how to do.
 Describe a time when you restored focus to a group that
was confused or going in different directions. Describe a
time when you delegated too much and it got you in
trouble.
 When you were in a leadership position, tell me how you
organized the work load, set objectives, and checked in
with people.
DRIVES ENGAGEMENT

Structures the work so it aligns with people’s goals and

motivators. Empowers others. Makes each person feel his/her
contributions are important. Invites input and shares ownership
and visibility. Shows a clear connection between people’s
motivators and the organizational goals.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Give me an example of when knowing what made

someone tick was critical.
 Explain how you've been able to get people to feel their
work matters.
 Tell me about a time you had to make a decision between
taking quick action and inviting others for input.
 Give me an example of how you created an environment
where others could offer input.
 Give me an example of motivating a team who felt
detached from the larger organization.
 Tell me about a time you had to energize a group of
disengaged people.
 Tell me about a time you were on a dispirited team and
helped to raise spirits.
 Describe a specific time when you empowered others.
 Tell me about a time your team should have felt
empowered but didn’t.
 Give me an example that illustrates how you appeal to
very different people when managing a work project.
DRIVES RESULTS

Has a strong bottom-line orientation. Persists in accomplishing

objectives despite obstacles and setbacks. Has a track record
of exceeding goals successfully. Pushes self and helps others
achieve results.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time you got results even though some

major factor changed, such as a budget cut, competitor
move, or market shift.
 Talk about a time you were assigned to a fix-it or
turnaround assignment.
 Describe a time when you drove yourself harder than you
were driving your people.
 Describe a time you championed a cause that others had
abandoned.
 Tell me about a time when you just had to give up and
move on to something else.
 Describe a time when you pushed harder for results than
others around you.
 Tell me about a time you got results that far exceeded
your own expectations.
 Tell me about a time when you got results that far
exceeded others' expectations.
 Tell me about a time you stepped in during a project to
help the team achieve its goals.
 Tell me about a time when you got results when others
tried and failed.
DRIVES VISION AND PURPOSE

Talks about future possibilities in a positive way. Creates

milestones and symbols to rally support behind the vision.
Articulates the vision in a way everyone can relate to. Creates
organization-wide energy and optimism for the future. Shows
personal commitment to the vision.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time you communicated a new direction

for a group or business.
 Describe a time when you worked with a group to develop
their mission and vision.
 Tell me about a time you managed a group/unit that was
headed one way and you felt they should be going
another.
 Tell me about a situation when you were leading an
unenthusiastic group and needed to energize them.
 Tell me about a time when you inspired people to stay
with the team or organization by sharing your sense of
purpose or vision.
 Tell me about a time when you had to champion an
organization’s vision that you didn't fully agree with.
 Tell me about a time when you made changes to your
workgroup’s purpose or direction to fit the organization’s
vision.
 Tell me about an occasion when you gained buy-in for
your vision.
 Tell me about a time when you had to figure out how to
get your vision across to remote locations without going
there.
 Tell me about a time when a vision message you delivered
was rejected.
ENSURES ACCOUNTABILITY

Follows through on commitments and makes sure others do the

same. Acts with a clear sense of ownership. Takes personal
responsibility for decisions, actions, and failures. Establishes
clear responsibilities and processes for monitoring work and
measuring results. Designs feedback loops into work.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Recall a time you made a mistake while working with

others and had to make it right.
 Describe a time you had to set stretch goals and articulate
how success would be measured.
 Tell me about a time you had to communicate and
manage new responsibilities when there was a significant
shift in goals midway through a project.
 Describe a time when a member of a team you were
leading made a mistake.
 Give me an example of how you explained to a direct
report or team member what it was you wanted.
 Describe a time you tried to improve the effectiveness of a
team or workgroup.
 Tell me about a time when you monitored and managed
others’ work on a complex task.
 Tell me about a time when you and your team struggled
because you were not clear about who was responsible for
a task or project.
 Describe your approach to monitoring the progress of
team members and holding them accountable.
 Give me an example of a time you were unable to follow
through on a commitment.
FINANCIAL ACUMEN

Understands the meaning and implications of key financial

indicators. Uses financial analysis to generate, evaluate, and
act on strategic options and opportunities. Integrates
quantitative and qualitative information to draw accurate
conclusions.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time you used financial analysis to

evaluate a new strategy or business direction.
 Tell me about a time you made a decision based on
findings from financial data.
 Tell me about a time you had to weigh the short- and long-
term financial consequences of a new initiative.
 Give me an example of the financial impact of one of your
decisions.
 Describe a time you received feedback on a financial
decision you made.
 Tell me about a lesson you learned from working with
financial data.
 Give me an example of when you made a decision
informed by patterns you saw in financial data.
 Tell me about a time you changed your mind about a
direction after reviewing financial reports.
 Tell me about a time your knowledge of key financial
indicators resulted in a good decision.
 Tell me about a time you used your financial acumen to
make the case for a new idea or strategy.
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

Looks toward the broadest possible view of an issue or

challenge. Thinks and talks in global terms. Understands the
position of the organization within a global context. Knows the
impact of global trends on the organization.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time you anticipated the impact of a

global trend.
 Describe a time you were able to build cooperation
between two parties in an international setting.
 Describe a time you had to do something different,
unusual, or out of the ordinary for an international
customer.
 Tell me about a time when a tactic you used wasn’t
appropriate in a given country or culture.
 Tell me about a surprising success you had because of
your ability to work well with someone or some people
from another country.
 Describe a time when your organization’s existing way of
doing business wasn’t going to work for a new region.
 Tell me about an opportunity you seized to localize a
global product or service.
 Tell me about a time you took a broad, global view of a
business challenge.
 Tell me about a time when the local approach to business
proved more effective than the company’s typical
approach.
 Tell me about a global trend that will impact how your
company or industry conducts business.
INTERPERSONAL SAVVY

Relates comfortably with people across levels, functions,

culture, and geography. Acts with diplomacy and tact. Builds
rapport in an open, friendly, and accepting way. Builds
constructive relationships with people both similar and different
to self. Picks up on interpersonal and group dynamics.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time when you worked with someone who

was difficult to get along with.
 Describe a situation that illustrates how you made yourself
approachable and friendly to people who were more junior
in the organization.
 Tell me about a time when you built strong relationships
where none previously existed.
 Tell me about a time when you got to know a new
coworker (or classmate).
 Tell me about a time when you changed your
interpersonal style midstream because something wasn't
working.
 Tell me about a time you changed your approach in a
group situation, such as a meeting, presentation, or
debate, based on the interpersonal dynamics in the room.
 Describe a time you needed to use diplomacy and tact to
maintain relationships in a tension-filled situation.
 Describe a situation where you facilitated or encouraged a
climate of trust and respect between coworkers.
 Describe a time when you used your diverse business
network to help you meet the responsibilities of your job.
 Give me an example of how you built rapport when you
met a new contact.
INSTILLS TRUST

Follows through on commitments. Is seen as direct and truthful.

Keeps confidences. Practices what he/she preaches. Shows
consistency between words and actions.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Describe a time when it was challenging for you to

practice what you preached.
 Tell me about a time when you publicly admitted a
mistake or failure.
 Tell me about a time when you were asked to do
something you thought was unethical.
 Tell me about a time you were asked to disclose
something that someone asked you to keep secret.
 Describe a time you started up and ran with an
idea/project, no matter what got in your way.
 Describe how you handled a situation where you were
unable to follow through on a commitment.
 Describe a time someone told you something in
confidence, but you felt you needed to tell someone else.
 Give me an example of how you gained others’ confidence
when you worked with them for the first time.
 Describe a time when you decided to give someone the
benefit of the doubt.
 Give an example of when you chose to be true to your
own values rather than do what was told or expected.
MANAGES AMBIGUITY

Deals comfortably with the uncertainty of change. Effectively

handles risk. Can decide and act without the total picture. Is
calm and productive, even when things are up in the air. Deals
constructively with problems that do not have clear solutions or
outcomes.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time when you had a problem and you

didn't know what to do.
 Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision
and the information available was inadequate.
 Tell me about a time when you had to act on something
important before you had time to come up with a clear
answer or solution.
 Tell me about a time when it was difficult to make sense of
the situation or need.
 Give me an example of how your work habits changed
when you didn’t know exactly what to do.
 Tell me about a time when a crisis made what you had
been doing obsolete or ineffective.
 Describe a project/assignment where the outcome or
process was unclear.
 Give an example of when you entered a job or situation
and had to make decisions immediately, without time to
get your bearings.
 Tell me about a time when someone asked you to try
something completely new to you.
 Tell me about a time when you had to change something
significant in your work environment.
MANAGES COMPLEXITY

Asks the right questions to accurately analyze situations.

Acquires data from multiple and diverse sources when solving
problems. Uncovers root causes to difficult problems. Evaluates
pros and cons, risks and benefits of different solution options.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time you came up with a process or

procedure to solve a problem.
 Describe a time you faced conflicting data about a
problem and you weren't sure how to approach it.
 Tell me about how you analyzed information and options
to solve a persistent problem.
 Tell me about a time you found a work problem to be
significantly more complex than you initially thought.
 Tell me about a time you had to solve a problem twice,
when the first solution wasn't right.
 Describe a time you were faced with a complex problem
and had to get to the essence in a short time period.
 Tell me about a time when you didn't spend as much time
as you should have examining the data and root causes of
a problem.
 Tell me about a time when your chosen solution didn’t
work, and you had to rethink the problem from scratch.
 Tell me about a time when you selected a solution that
worked in the past, but it didn't work this time.
 Give me an example of your typical problem-solving
approach.
MANAGES CONFLICT

Steps up to conflicts, seeing them as opportunities. Works out

tough agreements and settles disputes equitably. Facilitates
breakthroughs by integrating diverse views and finding
common ground or acceptable alternatives. Settles differences
in productive ways with minimum noise.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time when you handled a disagreement or

conflict well.
 Tell me about a time when you restored harmony with
someone you disagreed with and had distanced yourself
from.
 Tell me about a time when something went from a
harmonious to a conflict-ridden situation.
 Tell me about a time when you avoided a conflict.
 Tell me about a time you had difficulty getting two people
or groups to agree.
 Describe a time you mediated a high-tension situation.
 Tell me about a time someone made you uncomfortable or
irritated and it resulted in a disagreement.
 Tell me about a time you had to tell somebody something
they didn't like or didn't want to hear.
 Tell me about a situation where you had to push for an
unpopular change.
 Tell me about a time you saw a conflict coming and were
able to avoid unnecessary disruption or interference.
NIMBLE LEARNING

Learns quickly when facing new situations. Experiments to find

new solutions. Takes on the challenge of unfamiliar tasks.
Extracts lessons learned from failures and mistakes.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time you did something in a different way

following reflection on a previous experience.
 Tell me about a time you learned from your success.
 Tell me about a time you analyzed a failure in order to
promote team learning.
 Describe a time when a mistake or failure directly led to a
successful solution.
 Describe an experimental approach you took to solve a
problem.
 Describe a time when you had to try multiple times in
order to find the right solution.
 Tell me about a time when you took a risk and quickly
applied what you learned.
 Tell me about a time when you had to learn something
new very quickly.
 Describe a time when you convinced colleagues to keep
experimenting until a viable solution was found.
 Tell me about a time when you were energized to find the
ideal solution.
OPTIMIZES WORK PROCESSES

Identifies and creates the processes necessary to get work

done. Separates and combines activities into efficient workflow.
Designs processes and procedures that allow managing from a
distance. Seeks ways to improve processes, from small tweaks
to complete reengineering.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Describe a time when you found yourself caught in an

inefficient process and had to figure out a better way.
 Tell me about a time you critiqued other people's workflow
processes and found a better way.
 Describe the impact of a work or process improvement
you made.
 Tell me about a time you were faced with processes,
systems, or workgroups that were delivering poor quality.
 Tell me about a time when your attempt at improving
quality worked out really well.
 Tell me about a time you were part of a major quality
improvement effort.
 Describe a time you revised a process for virtual
employees.
 Give me an example of a work process or procedure that
you implemented across geographical locations.
 Tell me about a time when you modified a process
someone else designed.
 Tell me about a time when you re-engineered a process
you originally designed.
ORGANIZATIONAL SAVVY

Is sensitive to how people and organizations function.

Anticipates land mines and plans approach accordingly. Deals
comfortably with organizational politics. Knows who has power,
respect, and influence. Steers through the organizational maze
to get things done.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time when your knowledge of how to

maneuver through an organization worked really well for
you.
 Tell me about a time when you helped mediate a power
struggle between two people or two groups.
 Tell me about a time when people more senior than you
didn't agree on what you should be doing.
 Tell me about a time when you had to deal with policies
you felt were unnecessary.
 Describe a time you had to deliver bad news to a group or
management.
 Tell me about a time you got something approved that
impacted a larger part of the organization.
 Tell me about a time when you gained approval for
something by being politically sensitive.
 Tell me about a successful experience you've had
implementing something across organization boundaries.
 Tell me about a time you worked with multiple groups or
people who had different ways of operating.
 Describe a time you helped someone new to the
organization understand the way things really work
around there.
PERSUADES

Positions views and arguments appropriately to win support.

Convinces others to take action. Negotiates skillfully in tough
situations. Wins concessions without damaging relationships.
Responds effectively to the reactions and positions of others.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Describe a time when you needed to share a compelling

argument to get others to agree to an idea or proposal.
 Describe a situation you were in where you had to be
diplomatic and forceful, but not make many concessions.
 Tell me about a time when you brought two reluctant
groups or individuals together.
 Tell me about a time you disagreed with someone and
brought them around to your way of thinking.
 Describe a time you changed your mind after hearing the
other side of an argument.
 Tell me about a time you had to reach agreement with
other parties when there was little trust.
 Tell me about a time when you served as a mediator
either formally or informally.
 Describe a time you were involved in settling a
disagreement and successfully maintained relationships.
 Describe a time you had to consider another person’s
feelings without backing down on your own view.
 Tell me about a time you got approval for a new or revised
policy/practice/procedure.
PLANS AND ALIGNS

Sets objectives to align with broader organizational goals.

Breaks down objectives into appropriate initiatives and actions.
Stages activities with relevant milestones and schedules.
Anticipates and adjusts effective contingency plans.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time when you planned and organized a

complex task or project from start to finish.
 Describe a time you established objectives and a plan that
aligned with organizational priorities.
 Tell me about a time you had to change plans during a
project/task you were doing to prioritize something
unexpected.
 Tell me about a time when you ran out of time and had to
choose what to finish.
 Give me an example of a project you managed where
setting milestones and measuring progress was critical.
 Describe a time you were setting goals and needed to plan
for uncertainties or problems.
 Tell me about a time when you stumbled because you
didn't anticipate a roadblock/obstacle.
 Tell me about a time when you divided a plan into phases
and detailed tasks to organize and accomplish the
objectives.
 Describe a time when a project plan was so high level or
general that it was difficult to execute.
 Tell me about a time when your lack of planning got you in
trouble.
RESOURCEFULNESS

Marshals resources (people, funding, material, support) to get

things done. Orchestrates multiple activities simultaneously to
accomplish a goal. Gets the most out of limited resources.
Applies knowledge of internal structures, processes, and culture
to resourcing efforts.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time when you were given a project you'd

never done before.
 Give me an example of a time when you were faced with a
challenge due to a change in resource requirements.
 Tell me about a time you obtained fewer resources than
you had planned or hoped for.
 Tell me about a time you were prevented from doing
something because you couldn't get others to share their
resources with you.
 Describe the most complex allocation of resources
problem you have ever faced.
 Describe a time when understanding the organization’s
culture aided in securing or deploying needed resources.
 Tell me about a time when organization politics prevented
you from securing resources you needed.
 Tell me about a time you had to project funding and
resources to accomplish a set of goals.
 Describe a time someone asked you for help to figure out
resources for a project.
 Tell me about a time you had to start something from
scratch.
SELF-DEVELOPMENT

Shows personal commitment and takes action to continuously

improve. Accepts assignments that broaden capabilities. Learns
from new experiences, from others, and from structured
learning. Makes the most of available development resources.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Tell me about a time you took a job or assignment that

required new or different skills.
 Describe the most developmental work experience you've
had.
 Describe a situation where a prior strength actually turned
out to be a weakness in another setting and how you
addressed this.
 When seeking to develop a specific skill in the past, what
tactics or action steps did you include in your
development plan?
 Describe something you’ve learned or developed from
other people (a boss, peer, colleague).
 Give me an example of what you are currently working on
for personal or professional improvement.
 Describe actions you took that contributed to your
personal or professional development.
 Give me an example of when you compensated for one of
your weaknesses with other skills you have.
 Tell me how you identified and were able to work around a
personal weakness.
 Describe what you have done to improve your career
options.
SITUATIONAL ADAPTABILITY

Picks up on situational cues and adjusts in the moment. Readily

adapts personal, interpersonal, and leadership behavior.
Understands that different situations may call for different
approaches. Can act differently depending on the
circumstances.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Give me an example of a situation where you had to

adjust your style to get something done.
 Describe a time when you watched people closely to see
how they were reacting to you.
 Describe a time when you changed your approach based
on feedback.
 Tell me about a time when you were advised to adapt your
style in certain situations.
 Tell me about a time when you realized a style you had
used in the past wasn’t working anymore.
 Tell me about a time when you changed your style and
approach midstream and went a different direction to get
something done.
 Tell me about a time when you were a newcomer to a
group or organization and how you learned to fit in.
 Describe a time when you adapted your style due to the
people around you.
 Tell me about a time when you were not sure why people
were acting a certain way toward you.
 Tell me about a time your role in a group wasn't effective,
so you changed the way you worked with them.
STRATEGIC MINDSET

Anticipates future trends and implications accurately. Readily

poses future scenarios. Articulates credible pictures and visions
of possibilities that will create sustainable value. Creates
competitive and breakthrough strategies that show a clear
connection between vision and action.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Describe a time you had to develop a strategy that would

create value for your organization or customers.
 Tell me about a time when your strategic vision or big-
picture thinking was an asset.
 Tell me about a time when it was difficult to anticipate
issues that had an impact on your strategy.
 Tell me about a time you were implementing a strategy
and had to revise it or change direction due to changes in
the competitive landscape.
 Tell me about a time when you developed a viable
competitive strategy, but due to forces outside your
control, the strategy could not be fully implemented as
planned.
 Give me an example of exploring various scenarios and
possibilities when charting a course for the future.
 Describe some possibilities you imagine for the future of
your industry or organization.
 Give me an example of working with a team in charge of
creating a new vision and strategy.
 Describe a time when you were part of an organization or
group and thought the strategy was lacking or inadequate.
 Tell me about a time when anticipated future trends
impacted your strategic plans and decisions.
TECH SAVVY

Anticipates the impact of emerging technologies and makes

adjustments. Scans the environment for new technical skills,
knowledge, or capabilities that can benefit business or personal
performance. Rejects low-impact or fad technologies. Readily
learns and adopts new technologies.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Describe a time when picking up a new technology worked

really well for you.
 Tell me about a time when not picking up a new
technology caused difficulty for you.
 Tell me about a time you resisted new technology.
 Tell me about a time when you were an early adopter of a
new technology.
 Describe a time when you taught someone else a new
technology.
 Tell me about the biggest technological challenge you
have ever had to overcome.
 Give me an example of how you enhanced your
performance with a new technology.
 Give me an example of a new technology that caused
major issues for customers.
 Give me an example of a new technology you proposed
that had a positive impact on the organization.
 Tell me about a time when you implemented a new
technology.
VALUES DIFFERENCES

Seeks to understand different perspectives and cultures.

Contributes to a work climate where differences are valued and
supported. Applies others’ diverse experiences, styles,
backgrounds, and perspectives to get results. Is sensitive to
cultural norms, expectations, and ways of communicating.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

 Describe a time when you needed to build a relationship

with someone very different from you.
 Tell me about a time when managing differences backfired
and produced a worse outcome.
 Tell me about a time when you managed a diverse group
and the differences proved very challenging.
 Tell me about a time you led a team that was diverse for
one or more reasons; for example, culturally or
generationally.
 Tell me about a time when you were surrounded by
people who were culturally diverse or different from you.
 Tell me about a time when you overcame a stereotype
you had formed.
 Tell me about a time when you fell into the trap of
stereotyping someone.
 Describe a situation when you worked with individuals
from different cultures.
 Tell me about a time when you were uncomfortable with
someone else's culture or when someone else's culture
was imposed upon you.
 Tell me about a time when you or someone else felt
unwelcome or uncomfortable in a group.