Defining

Leadership
HOW DO YOU DEFINE LEADERSHIP?

How do you define leadership?

This is a question often asked by employers.
There is a strategy to answering this question that leaves the
interviewer with:
Your definition of leadership
A time when you have embodied your definition of leadership

The STAR & Relate method will help you develop and convey a time
when you have embodied your definition of leadership.

How do you define leadership?

To answer this question you must:
1. Define leadership
2. Provide a time when you have embodied your definition of
leadership
Utilizing the STAR method

3. Relate your experience back to the job

Examples of others definitions

"Leadership is being bold enough to have
vision and humble enough to recognize
achieving it will take the efforts of many
people people who are most fulfilled when
they share their gifts and talents, rather than
just work. Leaders create that culture, serve
that greater good and let others soar."
Kathy Heasley, founder and president, Heasley & Partners

Examples of others definitions

"Leadership styles differ, but at the core, good
leaders make the people they are leading
accomplish more than they otherwise would.
The most effective leaders do this not through
fear, intimidation or title, but rather by
building consensus around a common goal."
Tom Madine, CEO and president, Worldwide Express

Examples of others definitions

"Leadership is simply causing other people
to do what the leaders want. Good
leadership, whether formal or informal, is
helping other people rise to their full
potential while accomplishing the mission
and goals of the organization. All members
of an organization who are responsible for
the work of others have the potential to be
good leaders, if properly developed."

Developing a definition
Define leadership in YOUR own terms
Think about what makes you or others , strong positive
and effective leaders
What characteristics of a leader drives positive
change?

Identifying Personal Leadership

Themes
What values form the foundation for strong leadership?
What values are important to you?
What drives you to lead?
What qualities do you admire in others?

Identifying Personal Leadership

Themes
What is the purpose of effective leadership?
What is the goal of leadership?
What is your goal when youre a leader?

Identifying Personal Leadership

Themes
When does leadership produce positive change?
What is positive change?
What is the outcome of leadership?
When you reach your goal, how do you know youve
accomplished positive change?

What is your personal definition

of leadership?
What characteristics of a leader drives positive change?
What values form the foundation for strong leadership?
What is the purpose of effective leadership?
When does leadership produce positive change?

Conveying leadership
Once you have developed your leadership definition:
Think about a time when you have embodied your
definition?
Develop a professional story utilizing the STAR method
and involving your leadership

Purpose of STAR
Star is useful when answering situational interview questions:
Tell me about a time when.
What is your greatest strength/weakness?
How do you define.?

The individual components of the STAR method are ingredients of story

telling that covers your experience in a linear and logical fashion.
Give a detailed example of your skills and experience.

The STAR Method

Situation
Task
A ction
Result

Describe the
situation.
What did you have to do?
What did you do?
How did everything turn
out?

Breaking down STAR: Situation

Describe a time when you were a leader.
Mention:
Position title
Company
What you are/were doing and why

Can be from a previous or current job, academic

project or volunteer experience

Breaking down STAR: Task

Outline the problem at hand:
That needed to be achieved?
What was required?
What were the challenges or expectations?
What was unclear?

Breaking down STAR: Action

Describe what YOU did to solve the problem or
complete the task
What did you do?
What unique insight did you apply to get the job done?
How did you clarify, improve or revise a procedure?

Breaking down STAR: Result

What is the outcome of YOUR intervention?
What did you accomplish?
What was the positive outcome?
How did it add value to the company, team or work
environment?
How or why is the result an outcome of effective leadership?

Relate It Back