Personnel Selection: Interview Questions: Empowering Others

Autonomy

Do you allow employees to make their own decisions?
How would you give employees the authority to act on their own?
How would you give employees autonomy to complete tasks on their own?
Describe how you encourage employees to make informed decisions based on their own judgment and reasoning.
Give examples of how you let employees make their own decisions?
Have you let employees complete tasks according to their methods? Describe.
Do you give employees the opportunity to make their own decisions at work?
How do you allow employees to take ownership of their work?

Freedom of Scheduling

Describe how you allow for flexibility in the working hours.
Do you allow employees the opportunity to take time off when needed?
Do you recognize the importance of a healthy work/life balance?
Describe how you would empower employees to structure their work hours to maximize their productivity.
Give examples of how employees the freedom to set their own schedule.
Do you allow employees to organize their schedule to best accomplish the job?
When do you recognize that employees may need flexibility in their working hours?

Values Others

Describe how you recognize the expertise that employees have in certain areas and allows them the freedom to operate as they see fit.
Do you value input from others? Elaborate.
How do you coordinate the knowledge, skills and resources of others to accomplish more in the department?
Give an example of how you view others in the department as valued assets to be trained and employed?
How would you value the expertise that others bring to the team?
Did you recognize and reward employees who made important decisions and take action when necessary?
How do you acknowledge and appreciate employees for their proactive decision-making?
Explain how you value the opinions of others?

Delegates Work

Describe how you allow subordinates to perform mission critical tasks.
How do you assign tasks that allow employees to use their critical thinking skills?
Do you give new tasks to employees?
Describe how you distribute the workload to subordinates?
Explain how you allow employees to participate in the workload of the department.
How do you ensure employees understand what is being assigned to them?
Do you assign important tasks to subordinates?

Supportive

Describe how you encourages employees to take the initiative when responding to an issue.
Do you support the decisions of others?
Explain how you encourage employees to think outside the box.
Explain how you would recognize the accomplishments of employees when they complete important assignments.
Do you provide support and resources needed to accomplish goals?
How do you remove obstacles to the success of others?
Would you support the decisions of others even if those decisions may sometimes lead to mistakes?
How would you give employees the resources they need to complete the job?
How would you create a culture where employees are recognized and rewarded for taking the initiative and making impactful choices?
Do you encourage independent, original thinking and creative problem-solving? Explain.

Accountability

Describe how you encourage employees to take on greater responsibilities.
Describe what steps you would take to allow the team to take responsibility for the project.
Do you allow individuals to be responsible for their decisions?
Do you avoid micromanaging your employees?
Describe how you would allow employees the freedom to do tasks how they see fit, but still hold them accountable for obtaining results.
Give an example of how you allow employees to take on more responsibilities.
Explain how you encourage employees to solve problems on their own.
Do you give responsibility for making important decisions to employees?

Input from Others

Are you willing to share in the decision making process?
Do you considers ideas from employees that may challenge traditional ways of doing the job?
Do you listen to the ideas employees have for solving issues?
How do you give employees input into the decision making process?
How do you include others in the decision making process?
Describe how you would solicit input from others to make informed decisions.
Give examples of how you solicit input from others when making decisions.

Confidence

Goals

Describe how you encourage others to obtain necessary skills and training.
Describe how you set clear goals for others to accomplish.
How do you encourage others to exceed their stated goals?
Do you establish goals that allow employees top operate independently in the field?
Should a manager set goals to allow the employee to have more autonomy over their work?
How do you set clear goals for assignments?

Opportunities

Describe a time when you gave employees important tasks to expand their career options.
How do you enable employees to take on more challenging roles?
Do you create opportunities for employees to exercise their independence?
When did you give employees the opportunity to demonstrate their skills?
How do you create a culture where employees are given the opportunity to take the initiative and make impactful decisions?
Give examples of how you allowed employees to have flexible work schedules.

Skill Level

Did you help employees advance their skills so that they can have more autonomy?
Do you allow employees to take training to increase their skill levels so that they can be more independent?
How often do you permit employees to take training to become more independent?
Are you aware of the skill levels of employees and assigns tasks that are at the appropriate skill level?
Explain a time when you encouraged employees to expand their skills in order to take on greater responsibilities.
Describe how would you assign tasks that are within the skill levels of employees.