Leaders Interview Questions Part Two (Good Leaders Ask Great Questions Series)

 

 Good Leaders Ask Great Questions

Inspired by E.J. Lugo

These questions can help camp directors and supervisors assess potential staff and their level of enegement as thy navigate your interview process.

The goal is select a staff team that will enhance the overall camp experience for both staff and campers. I have typically hired for enthusiasm and not skills. Skills can be taught. Enthusiasm to learn and embrace new things develops over time as individuals gain experience, build confidence in their ability to learn, and recognize the benefits of continous growth in personal and professional life; this is often referred to as a "growth mindset."

BACKGROUND: I spent the last few months in research and consultation with human resource professionals as well as the most common questions that stem from Behavior Based questions. I have compiled a grouping of questions below that help determine specific behaviors that youth development professionals at camp deem necessary for successful camp leadership candidates.

Remember, all questions are like Ogres. Okay, if you don't get the reference, but here is the video link. Questions are layered and you can dig deep or go in a deep dive in a discussion.

John Maxwell says, "In job interviews, ask candidates how they have previously handled frustration, disappointment and challenging situations with co-workers. Listen for how they have been influenced by others or how the feedback of a previous supervisor has made a difference in their leadership style. The ability to accept and adapt based on such assessment is a critical skill for effective leaders.

Peel away at the layers of each answer with deeper questions.

QUESTIONS PART TWO

(These are not intended to be first questions or get to know you questions. These are to determine a behavior about what they have done in the past. Past performance being the best indicator for future behavior.)

Time Management: Can you describe a situation when you had to do a number of things at the same time>

Tell me about a time where you had difficulty completing all the things?

Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently?

Evaluationg Alternatives: Can you describe a time where you had a number of alternatives to choose from to complete a task or manage priorites?

Tell me about how you assembled the information to decide?

Tell me about some major decisions you have made in the last 6 or 12 monhts?

Are one of those decisions diificult for you? (Describe it for me)

Interpersonal Skills: Can you describe a recent unpopular decision you mad and what the result was?

or

Tell me about a past situation whre you found yourself in a difficult or frustrating situation from an individual you worked with?

As you can see, these examples are about how folks have worked in the past. There may be times that your candidate has never had a job prior to this interview. I always ask for them to think about times where they worked with others perhaps on a team, at church, or on a school project. One can always extrapolate performance based on past experience; no matter how different it may be from the role that they are applying.

Tell me in the comments what topics you would like to hear these style questions? What has worked for you and what has not?

I hope you have enjoyed these questions and will consider coming back for the next set in the series on interview questions.

You can sign up for a daily dose of John Maxwell at: Minute With Maxwell

I am on www.buymeacoffee.com If you like the BLOG, please consider buying me a coffee today.

Follow me here or at:

Facebook Page for daily "Today's Essential Thoughts" https://www.facebook.com/alferreiracoach 

 

Leadership Interview Questions (Good Leaders Ask Great Questions Series)

 Good Leaders Ask Great Questions

Inspired by E.J. Lugo

These questions can help camp directors and supervisors assess potential staff and their level of enegement as thy navigate your interview process.

The goal is select a staff team that will enhance the overall camp experience for both staff and campers. I have typically hired for enthusiasm and not skills. Skills can be taught. Enthusiasm to learn and embrace new things develops over time as individuals gain experience, build confidence in their ability to learn, and recognize the benefits of continous growth in personal and professional life; this is often referred to as a "growth mindset."

BACKGROUND: I spent the last few months in research and consultation with human resource professionals as well as the most common questions that stem from Behavior Based questions. I have compiled a grouping of questions below that help determine specific behaviors that youth development professionals at camp deem necessary for successful camp leadership candidates.

Remember, all questions are like Ogres. Okay, if you don't get the reference, but here is the video link. Questions are layered and you can dig deep or go in a deep dive in a discussion.

Who will you hire?

John Maxwell says, "In job interviews, ask candidates how they have previously handled frustration, disappointment and challenging situations with co-workers. Listen for how they have been influenced by others or how the feedback of a previous supervisor has made a difference in their leadership style. The ability to accept and adapt based on such assessment is a critical skill for effective leaders.

QUESTIONS

(These are not intended to be first questions or get to know you questions. These are to determine a behavior about what they have done in the past. Past performance being the best indicator for future behavior.)

Communication: Can you describe a situation when you were able to strengthen a relationship through effective communication? (Follow up is, what made your communication effective?)

Tell me about a time where you had difficulty understanding someone who supervised you? 

Conflict Resolution: Can you describe a time when you took personal accountability for a conflict and initiated contact with someone who was involved to explain your action?

Delegation: What has been a mistake you have had when delegating work to someone? And what has been your biggest success?

Flexibility: Can you give me an example of a time when you faced an obstacle and had to adjust how you proceeded?

As you can see, these examples are about how folks have worked in the past. There may be times that your candidate has never had a job prior to this interview. I always ask for them to think about times where they worked with others; perhaps on a team, at church, or on a school project. One can always extrapolate performance based on past experience; no matter how different it may be from the role that they are applying.

Tell me in the comments what topics you would like to hear these style questions? What has worked for you and what has not?

I hope you have enjoyed these questions and will consider coming back for the next set in the series on interview questions.

You can sign up for a daily dose of John Maxwell at: Minute With Maxwell

I am on www.buymeacoffee.com If you like the BLOG, please consider buying me a coffee today.

Follow me here or at:

Facebook Page for daily "Today's Essential Thoughts" https://www.facebook.com/alferreiracoach 

 

Top Five All Time BLOGS - The End of Summer 2024 Issue

 

Castle Rock trail head
from Big Bear Blvd. near Big Bear Lake California

As many of you know, I have said summer is about beginnings and endings. I stole that of course from a life long friend, Brain Crater, who was a great influence in my camp career.

For over a dozen summers, summers began at Castle Rock in Southern California and ended at Castle Rock. (I have written about that before.)

This summer (2024) I got to spend serving with Camp Get-A-Way in a advisory capacity. My role as Camp Director is to help develop best practices, training, and most importantly, apply my 40 plus years of experience to the needs of this great program for families with children who have mental health challenges.

As I look at serving these famileis through that lens, I can't help but apply the lessons from my previous BLOGs and a life time of learning in my capacity as a Youth Development Profesional.

Here are the Top Five most read BLOGs from alferreira coaching. All happen to be from my series of Fifty Nifty Years in the United States (that celebrated my life and journey as an immigrant to the United States.

5) 2010 - Leadership Curriculum and A Copy of a Fax of a Copy of A Fax of a co... A lesson on "traditions" and empowering others from my BLOG on Fifty Nifty Years in the Unites States.

4) 1980 - Thank a Teacher for A Pile of Leadership Lessons A early lesson in Leadership and Mind Set and from the Fifty Nifty Years in the Unites States series.

3) 2012 - What Gift Is This Person Giving Me? A lesson on how negativity or gate keepers impact the role of the leader and how altering your mindset changes their gift. An entry from my Fifty Nifty Years in the United States.

2) 1986 - Wally Vision (and Leadership) Another entry from the Fifty Nifty Years in the United States and how impactful vision (a learned skill) can serve others.

1)  1985 - Leadership Lessons from the "Real Thing From my series on Fifty Nifty Years in the United States about Bill Gagliardi's influence on my life as a leader.

I hope you all had a great summer and learned lessons that served you (and others) well.

Castle Rock view at sunset.

Here is a version of the story of Castle Rockyou may have heard as a camper attending Camp Bluff Lake. (From KBHR News on Big Bear Lake, CA, May 3, 2014)

"The Legend of Castle Rock - Rising out of the mountains at the southwest end of the lake, standing like a sentinel keeping watch over Big Bear, is Castle Rock. There is a Serrano Indian legend that surrounds Castle Rock from a time long ago when Big Bear was known as Yuhaviat, which means ‘pine place’.

The legend tells of a beautiful young girl named Wyhnemah who once lived in Yuhaviat. All the young men of the tribe were constantly competing with each other for her attention, but she only cared for one young brave named Pahwek. He was a hunter and whenever he was gone on hunting trips to get food for the tribe, Wyhnemah would climb to the top of Castle Rock and watch for his return.When she would see him in the distance, she would climb down and run to meet him.

On one such trip, Pahwek did not return when he was supposed to. As the days and weeks went by, Wyhnemah came to realize that something was terribly wrong and that he would never be coming home. Not wanting to live her life without her true love, she climbed to the top of Castle Rock one evening and with a prayer on her lips, Wyhnemah stepped off the edge to join Pahwek forever in the happy hunting ground."

Summer Staff Questions - Good Leaders Ask Great Questions Series (10 of 10)

     

Good Leaders Ask Great Questions

Inspired by E.J. Lugo

This is our last week this summer, I'll be posting several questions that you should consider asking our staff team at Summer Camp.

These questions can help camp directors and supervisors assess the engagement levels of their staff, providing insights that can be used to enhance the overall camp experience for both staff and campers.

BACKGROUND: I spent several months in research and consultation with human resource professionals as well as the most common questions that monitor team engagement, establish connection with team, and help improve team engagement with your campers. They can lead to thoughtful conversations about summer goals and aspirations, setting priorities, and developing new ideas as well as skill enhancement.

Remember, all questions are like Ogres. Okay, if you don't get the reference, but here is the video link. Questions or layered and you can dig deep or go in a deep dive in a discussion.

The questions are organized into three categories. Chose to use one or all three. Just make sure that your team members know that they are going to be asked.

1) Camper Engagement Questions - designed to make sure that your team member is engaging with their campers.

2) Personal Development Question - designed to "check in" and connect with a team member.

3) Overall Check In Question

 

THE 10th or FINAL SET OF QUESTIONS ARE

Engaging summer camp staff is crucial for a successful camp experience. Here is the tenth set or 10 of 10 questions designed to determine the engagement levels of summer camp staff:

1) How do you encourage campers to try new things and overcome reluctance. What are you doing this week, that you have not tried previously? What did you learn this summer that you are now doing as a life practice?

2) As you approach the end of our time together, what’s one thing you learned that you felt supported you the most from the staff training/orientation week?

3) Have any of your goals changed since the beginning of summer? What is a lasting memory (from the summer) that brings you joy?

 

I hope you have enjoyed these questions and will consider coming back for my next series on interview questions.

You can sign up for a daily dose of John at: Minute With Maxwell

I am on www.buymeacoffee.com If you like the BLOG, please consider buying me a coffee today.

Follow me here or at:

Facebook Page for daily "Today's Essential Thoughts" https://www.facebook.com/alferreiracoach 

 

Summer Staff Questions - Good Leaders Ask Great Questions Series (9 of 10)

     

Good Leaders Ask Great Questions

Inspired by E.J. Lugo

This is our 9th week this summer, I'll be posting several questions that you should consider asking our staff team at Summer Camp.

These questions can help camp directors and supervisors assess the engagement levels of their staff, providing insights that can be used to enhance the overall camp experience for both staff and campers.

BACKGROUND: I spent several months in research and consultation with human resource professionals as well as the most common questions that monitor team engagement, establish connection with team, and help improve team engagement with your campers. They can lead to thoughtful conversations about summer goals and aspirations, setting priorities, and developing new ideas as well as skill enhancement.

Remember, all questions are like Ogres. Okay, if you don't get the reference, but here is the video link. Questions or layered and you can dig deep or go in a deep dive in a discussion.

The questions are organized into three categories. Chose to use one or all three. Just make sure that your team members know that they are going to be asked.

1) Camper Engagement Questions - designed to make sure that your team member is engaging with their campers.

2) Personal Development Question - designed to "check in" and connect with a team member.

3) Overall Check In Question

 

THE 9th SET OF QUESTIONS ARE

Engaging summer camp staff is crucial for a successful camp experience. Here is the ninth set or 9 of 10 questions designed to determine the engagement levels of summer camp staff:

1) Tell me who you are happy to see go home and why? Tell me who you would like to have back next year and why?

2) Give me an example of how well did we create community this summer? Any suggestions on what else we can do?

3) Are there any tools or resources that you think you could benefit from that could help you be more productive?

 

Have another great week and check back for our last set of questions.

You can sign up for a daily dose of John at: Minute With Maxwell

I am on www.buymeacoffee.com If you like the BLOG, please consider buying me a coffee today.

Follow me here or at:

Facebook Page for daily "Today's Essential Thoughts" https://www.facebook.com/alferreiracoach 

 

Summer Staff Questions - Good Leaders Ask Great Questions Series (8 of 10)

     

Good Leaders Ask Great Questions

Inspired by E.J. Lugo

This is our 8th week this summer, I'll be posting several questions that you should consider asking our staff team at Summer Camp.

These questions can help camp directors and supervisors assess the engagement levels of their staff, providing insights that can be used to enhance the overall camp experience for both staff and campers.

BACKGROUND: I spent several months in research and consultation with human resource professionals as well as the most common questions that monitor team engagement, establish connection with team, and help improve team engagement with your campers. They can lead to thoughtful conversations about summer goals and aspirations, setting priorities, and developing new ideas as well as skill enhancement.

Remember, all questions are like Ogres. Okay, if you don't get the reference, but here is the video link. Questions or layered and you can dig deep or go in a deep dive in a discussion.

The questions are organized into three categories. Chose to use one or all three. Just make sure that your team members know that they are going to be asked.

1) Camper Engagement Questions - designed to make sure that your team member is engaging with their campers.

2) Personal Development Question - designed to "check in" and connect with a team member.

3) Overall Check In Question

 

THE 8th SET OF QUESTIONS ARE

Engaging summer camp staff is crucial for a successful camp experience. Here is the eighth set or 8 of 10 questions designed to determine the engagement levels of summer camp staff:

1) How comfortable are you with awkwardness and tension (discomfort) within your group? What works to break tension? OR Are any behavioral issues causing tension in your cabin/activity group?

2) I recall that you said the following (answer to question from week one): How has that been realized or not? Give me three highlights from you summer experience?

3) What are your goals for the rest of the camp season? (Setting and striving for goals indicates a proactive and engaged mindset.)

 

Have a fantastic week and check back for the next set of questions.

You can sign up for a daily dose of John at: Minute With Maxwell

I am on www.buymeacoffee.com If you like the BLOG, please consider buying me a coffee today.

Follow me here or at:

Facebook Page for daily "Today's Essential Thoughts" https://www.facebook.com/alferreiracoach 

 

Summer Staff Questions - Good Leaders Ask Great Questions Series (7 of 10)

    

Good Leaders Ask Great Questions

Inspired by E.J. Lugo

This is our 7th week this summer, I'll be posting several questions that you should consider asking our staff team at Summer Camp.

These questions can help camp directors and supervisors assess the engagement levels of their staff, providing insights that can be used to enhance the overall camp experience for both staff and campers.

BACKGROUND: I spent several months in research and consultation with human resource professionals as well as the most common questions that monitor team engagement, establish connection with team, and help improve team engagement with your campers. They can lead to thoughtful conversations about summer goals and aspirations, setting priorities, and developing new ideas as well as skill enhancement.

Remember, all questions are like Ogres. Okay, if you don't get the reference, but here is the video link. Questions or layered and you can dig deep or go in a deep dive in a discussion.

The questions are organized into three categories. Chose to use one or all three. Just make sure that your team members know that they are going to be asked.

1) Camper Engagement Questions - designed to make sure that your team member is engaging with their campers.

2) Personal Development Question - designed to "check in" and connect with a team member.

3) Overall Check In Question

 

7th IN THE SERIES OF 10 QUESTIONS ARE

Engaging summer camp staff is crucial for a successful camp experience. Here is the seventh set or 7 of 10 questions designed to determine the engagement levels of summer camp staff:

1) Who is most likely to reach out when someone is withdrawing? (When something is not right for a camper, who - other camper - is most likely…)

2) What would you like to see different with the staff arrangement (leadership, training, etc.)? Who on the staff has been most helpful for you?

3) Do you feel your work is recognized and appreciated? How so? (Feeling valued and appreciated is a key factor in employee engagement.)

 

Have another great week and check back for the 8th set of questions.

You can sign up for a daily dose of John at: Minute With Maxwell

I am on www.buymeacoffee.com If you like the BLOG, please consider buying me a coffee today.

Follow me here or at:

Facebook Page for daily "Today's Essential Thoughts" https://www.facebook.com/alferreiracoach