Leadership Interview Or Analysis: Introduction At Times The
Leadership Interview Or Analysisintroductionat Times The Best Way To
Leadership interview or Analysis Introduction At times, the best way to know the kind of qualities and attributes a leader possesses is by interviewing that particular leader. The responses from the interview will be very useful in shading light on the kind of a person the leader is. Overview, background and position of the leader For this specific leadership analysis, one Eng. Abdullah was interviewed. He is supervisor on a factory in Aramco oil company which is located in Dhahran city, Saudi Arabia. Abdullah has risen through the ranks before being eventually appointed as director of the department. Aramco Oil Company is one of the biggest in the world. It has got over five hundred thousand employees and he Supervisor over a hundred employees in the company. Managing such an organization requires strong leadership qualities. Being a supervisor is a very challenging position that comes with a lot of pressure. All decisions and problem solving rests on the supervisor and this requires strong leadership attributes. Being a supervisor in a big and busy company like Aramco Oil Company makes it even more demanding and difficult hence requiring proper leadership.
Abdullah has been one of the most successful managers of the company but it should be noted that he has never gone to any management school or undergone any specific training in management. He has only studied engineering. Interview questions and the responses The following questions were asked in the interviewing of Eng. Abdullah and also included is his answer or response to the question. Question one What advice would you give someone who wants to become a manager or supervisor?
Response: Being a manager or supervisor is a call to serve and you should not look at the privileges or high salary that come with the position; there are a lot more responsibilities than you think that will be placed on your shoulders. I can only tell those who want to become managers/supervisors that they should be prepared for what comes with being in management. Question two What are two of your natural strengths/weaknesses? Response: my biggest strengths are the fact that I am good at listening and try to understand everybody in the company even the most subordinate of the employees. I am also a very objective and flexible person who makes decisions based on the available and verifiable facts. I do not rely on rumors or hearsays. My weaknesses are that am somebody who is so empathetic on what others are going through and at times, people may take advantage of this to do things the wrong way. I am also too humble and some people do take this as not being authoritative and may disrespect for that. Question Three What is the hardest lesson you had to learn as a manager or supervisor?
Response: As a manager of course I have learned a number of lessons but the hardest of them is that people will really like you if whatever you are doing favors them but the same people will be so much hateful of you if you do something that is unfavorable to them even if it is the right thing. This is a bare fact that you must learn to live with as a manager or supervisor. Question Four As a manager how would you explain the LMX Leadership management Exchange theory of job responsibility?
Response: My understanding of LMX theory is that for leadership to be effective, the manager or supervisor must be willing to involve others by seeking their opinions and suggestions on issues concerning the company. No one has monopoly of knowledge and information thus the need to exchange ideas, opinions and even skills with others. Question Five As a leader what is the craziest thing you encountered from your subordinates on the job?
Response: Well, I have encountered a number of things from subordinates the craziest of them all was when they wanted to down their tools simply because some time there many employees wants to get holiday in the same time and will be there lack in the labs. It made me imagines what would happen if we were to experience production problems. It shocked me because during the year the production suddenly lacking and that will disappoint my CEO. Leadership theories review Great man theory The fact that Eng. Abdullah has been a successful manager without any training in management so the proponents of this theory that leaders are born. Transactional theory Abdullah’s response to the question on LMX is a testimony he is somebody who believes in mutual relationship between the leader and those in management. This is very much in line with what the Transactional theory is all about. Traits theory Abdullah’s success as supervisor could be down to the fact that some of his attributes such as being empathic, understanding, listening amongst others makes him a much better leader. This conforms to the traits theory that good and successful leaders possess certain traits or characteristics. Contingency theory When the staff wanted to down their tools, Abdullah had to plead with them. This shows someone who does what the situation demands even if it makes him appear less powerful. This is in line with the contingency theory which states that the kind of leadership style to be used depends on the prevailing circumstances.