Being interviewed for a position can be tricky, especially if you're up for management. With so many different interview questions being thrown at you from all angles of the spectrum, it is imperative that you know how to answer in the best way possible. What do you say, however, when asked the question "are you good at delegating tasks"
You might think that if an interviewer asks you a closed-ended question that ends in a "yes" or a "no" that they are giving you permission to answer accordingly. While that is technically what the question entails, the interviewer is really looking for how your leadership style will fit into the company's already established dynamic in detail, not just with a simple closed answer.
Points to Emphasize
When answering a question such as this, remember to answer honestly and accentuate your leadership abilities.
- Go into detail about why delegating is important to being a successful manager.
- Keep the tone of your answer positive and professional.
- Highlight your ability to recognize what tasks are able to be delegated and why it's important to allocate them to the right people.
- Try to incorporate a personal experience that you've had with delegation to really stand out.
No matter how you answer this question, always keep yourself memorable by incorporating your positive qualities that are unique to you.
Mistakes You Should Avoid
Don't fall into the traps that many interviewees do when faced with a question such as this. Avoid these pitfalls and come out of your interview on top.
- Don't simply answer "yes" or "no" without a well thought-out explanation as to why.
- Do not over-emphasize your perfectionism or other qualities that would make delegation take a back-seat.
- Do not come off as so trusting that you would allocate tasks to anyone and everyone without careful planning and thought.
- Don't forget to highlight your ability to recognize the unharnessed potential of fellow coworkers and employees.
Above all, not giving a truthful, open answer can be detrimental to your interview and hiring possibilities.
Sample Answer
Here is a great example of how an excellent answer to the delegation question would go:
When you're leader of a group, either big or small, I believe that you have the utmost responsibility to delegate. The reasons for this are twofold: it not only helps you to take care of all of the important tasks on your plate, it also gives your team members the chance to grow and shine as well. I'm proud of my ability to recognize my coworkers' potential and harness it to achieve great things.
Don't forget to use this question to showcase your talents.
