Questionnaire Items Measuring Establishing Focus/Direction
Definition: Establishing Focus and Direction is an important leadership skill that moves the organization forward by setting clear goals, policies and procedures. It requires being aware of the situation, establishing plans, scheduling work (and workers), structuring tasks for employees. It also requires guiding employees, setting standards of performance, monitoring performance. It helps to have strong self-discipline, flexibility, and commitment.
Establishing Focus/Direction helps employees to achieve goals efficiently. It enables strategies, schedules, and plans. It prioritizes tasks and sets standards of performance. The main components of this competency include:
- Achieving Goals Efficiently: By providing clear direction, employees can focus their efforts on tasks that directly contribute to organizational goals. This reduces distractions, avoids duplicative work, and ensures that resources are utilized effectively.
- Enabling Strategies, Schedules, and Plans: Establishing focus involves creating actionable strategies, well-organized schedules, and detailed plans. These elements guide employees step-by-step, helping them stay on track and meet deadlines while ensuring alignment with broader objectives.
- Prioritizing Tasks: With a clear sense of direction, managers can identify the most critical tasks and allocate resources accordingly. This helps employees focus on high-priority work, avoiding overwhelm and improving overall productivity.
- Setting Standards of Performance: Leaders who establish direction also define what success looks like by setting measurable performance standards. This allows employees to understand expectations, measure their progress, and receive constructive feedback for growth.
When employees are given focus and direction, they become more confident in their roles, knowing exactly what is expected of them and how to achieve it. This clarity helps them prioritize tasks, concentrate on meaningful work, and avoid unnecessary distractions. With structured plans and guidance, they feel supported and empowered to take initiative, boosting their productivity and morale. Additionally, clear standards of performance provide opportunities for growth and recognition, fostering a sense of accomplishment and commitment to the organization.
Questionnaires Measuring Establishing Focus/Direction:
Survey 1 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 2 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 3 (5-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 4 (5-point scale; radio buttons)
Survey 5 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 6 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 7 (5-point scale; competency comments; N/A)
Survey 8 (3-point scale; Agree/Disagree words; N/A)
Survey 9 (3-point scale; Strength/Development; N/A)
Survey 10 (Comment boxes only)
Survey 11 (Single rating per competency)
Survey 12 (Slide-bar scale)
Survey 13 (4-point scale; numbers; floating anchors)
Survey 14 (4-point scale; N/A)
360-Degree Feedback Questionnaire Items
When employees have autonomy, they feel trusted and motivated to contribute their best. Allowing flexibility in work hours or remote work arrangements empowers employees to manage their time effectively. This flexibility acknowledges their personal needs and fosters a healthy work-life balance. Empowerment provides growth opportunities for employees and encourages employees to share their ideas, perspectives, and solutions. This creates an environment where they can learn, develop, and take on new challenges. Empowerment involves tailoring responsibilities to match employees' skill levels, allowing them to excel and grow.
Setting Clear Goals
- Makes sure that employees understand how their work relates to organizational goals.
- Aligns the department's goals with the goals of the organization.
- Sets appropriate goals for employees.
- Articulates the goals, expected outcomes, and how the goal contributes to the broader vision of the organization.
- Creates well articulated goals for the team to pursue.
- Aligns the team's efforts, energy, and focus on a shared goal.
- Shows employees how their contributions make a meaningful impact.
- Determines production quotas that need to be met.
- Makes sure all employees have a clear understanding of the goals for the project and the implementation steps.
- Articulates the objectives in clear, measurable terms so that every team member understands what success looks like.
- Creates well articulated goals for the department.
- Aligns employees to address needs and concerns of customers.
Situational Awareness
- Makes sure that employees understand and identify with the team's mission.
- Keeps the team up-do-date with the latest information.
- Ensures employees understand the task's objectives and significance.
- Schedules regular one-on-one meetings with employees to help give focus and direction.
- Makes sure all employees understand the purpose for the project and the tasks they have been assigned.
- Reviews organizational conditions to uncover strategic opportunities and mitigate potential threats.
- Understands the strengths and needs of the team.
- Is aware of each employees needs.
- Understands the strengths and needs of each employee in the department.
- Schedules regular check-ins and 'roundings' where employees can discuss their goals, preferences, and any areas where they need support.
- Analyzes internal and external factors to identify challenges and potential advantages for the department.
- Assesses the opportunities and threats facing the department/organization.
- Observes how employees approach tasks, interact with others, and handle challenges.
Procedures and Directions
- Determines procedures to be followed for production.
- Establishes guidelines and procedures to ensure workplace safety and compliance with regulations.
- Designs workflows and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and efficiency.
- Selects specific strategies and design options to help the organization achieve success within a competitive environment.
- Sets production assignments for the department.
- Delegates responsibilities to team leads or supervisors to oversee specific areas of work.
- Gives direction to the department/organization.
- Prepares daily job and task assignments for employees.
Planning and Strategy
- Determines the best approach for achieving goals.
- Ensures that each team member is assigned some part of the project.
- Expands employee focus from day-to-day tasks to more strategic goals.
- Plans responses to potential risks or unforeseen challenges to minimize disruption.
- Offers guidance, resolves roadblocks, and ensures the team has what it needs to succeed.
- Developing a plan or strategy providing a clear path forward.
- Anticipates potential challenges or obstacles that might derail department plans.
- Develops contingency plans to proactively address potential risks.
- Prepares/reviews action item lists for others.
Scheduling
- Sets schedules and timelines to keep the team on track.
- Helps employees establish deadlines for important phases of the project.
- Develops shift patterns or schedules to maximize productivity while addressing individual availability.
- Establishes work schedules for the crew to keep progress moving forward.
- Sets deadlines and key milestones to guide the team's progress.
- Sets production schedules for the department.
Creates Structure
- Breaks down larger goals into smaller, manageable milestones to add more structure toward the accomplishment of the goal.
- Builds functional structures that support and drive the organization toward its vision.
- Develops frameworks and systems to guide the organization toward achieving its goals.
- Establishes processes and structures to steer the organization in a clear, strategic direction.
- Breaks down larger tasks into smaller ones to help employees maintain focus.
- Creates operational models to focus the organization's resources on achieving its strategic priorities.
- Sets timelines, roles, responsibilities, and resources required to achieve the goal.
- Divides the overall strategy into smaller, achievable milestones with deadlines.
Prioritizes Tasks and Resources
- Helps guide employees with prioritizing tasks.
- Identifies which tasks or projects need immediate attention and which can be deferred.
- Encourages employees to focus on getting results now.
- Schedules adequate time for high-priority items.
- Identifies the tasks or goals that have the biggest impact.
- Prioritizes tasks and resources to maintain focus and direction for the department.
- Ensures that the department's plans support the broader vision and strategic goals of the organization.
- Allocates time for important goals.
- Able to stay focused on important goals by saying "no" to less important goals and requests.
Guides
- Provides training or mentorship to help guide employees in the department.
- Encourages employees to work together for the completion of tasks.
- Gets employees back on track when they wander from the assigned tasks/projects.
- Guides the team's activities toward completion of the goal.
- Provides strong direction to new employees and recent transfers.
- Leads by example to guide employees in the completion of tasks.
- Re-aligns tasks with the larger organizational goals when needed.
Standards of Performance
- Decides on key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure individual and team success.
- Sets expectations for acceptable job performance.
- Sets the requirements for satisfactory job performance.
- Sets benchmarks or criteria for the quality of products or services.
Focuses Attention
- Stays focused even when under pressure and stress.
- Focuses employee activities on the main goals for the department.
- Encourages employees to stay focused on the task at hand.
- Motivates and inspires the team by connecting their objectives to the organization's.
- Sets the focus on improving the organization's products and services.
- Ensures the team stays on course and works effectively.
- Motivates employees by encouraging their participation on projects.
Self-Discipline
- Maintains self-control when personally criticized.
- Functions well under stress, deadlines, and/or significant workloads.
- Maintains focus on the goal despite obstacles and setbacks.
- Works with focus and direction in the face of obstacles.
- Maintains focus on doing the best quality work even if it requires saying "no" to unnecessary, or unrelated, projects.
- Able to maintain a non-anxious composure even in stressful situations.
Monitoring Performance
- Seeks to understand any external factors that might impact projects being worked on by the department.
- Seeks to minimize underutilization and/or overutilization and makes adjustments to workloads accordingly.
- Regularly measures job performance to maintain focus and direction.
- Pays close attention to how tasks are distributed among employees.
- Creates measures of performance to ensure progress is being made.
- Uses performance analytics or project management tools to gain quantitative insights into how well goals are being met, where inefficiencies lie, and which employees might need additional support.
- Monitors the workload balance and their impact on employees.
- Regularly checks in to ensure the team is on track.
- Analyzes metrics such as project completion rates, quality of work, or customer satisfaction scores.
- Seeks to enhance their understanding of the department's dynamics to better determine the needs of the department.
Flexibility
- Shifts priorities or resources to address unexpected changes to the situation while keeping the team informed and motivated.
- Is flexible and ready to adjust strategies in response to changing circumstances.
- Reassesses assignments and ensures coverage without overburdening others due to absences of personnel within the department.
- Refines objectives to better align with the team's strengths or organizational needs based on feedback from team members.
- Identifies areas for improvement and makes any necessary course corrections.
- Revises workflows or processes to simplify and improve outcomes if the current method is not meeting expectations.
Prepares Resources
- Ensures that employees have the tools, training, and support needed to complete the task successfully.
- Implements financial resources and gainsharing programs to help employees focus on increasing efficiency.
- Determines the distribution of tools, equipment, and budget needed to achieve objectives.
Commitment
- Provides incentives to help employees remain committed to the completion of important tasks.
- Encourages employees to participate in planning or decision-making to foster a sense of ownership in the goal.
- Gains employee commitment to the task.
- Helps employees stay committed to completing group tasks.
Time Management
- Excellent at managing time.
- Maintains focus when handling several problems or tasks simultaneously.
- Says "no" to ideas that will result in lost time and effort.
Employee Opinion Survey Items
Setting Clear Goals
- My supervisor articulates the objectives in clear, measurable terms so that every team member understands what success looks like.
- My manager aligns the team's efforts, energy, and focus on a shared goal.
- My supervisor creates well articulated goals for the team to pursue.
- Senior executives create well articulated goals for the department.
- My team leader determines production quotas that need to be met.
- Our manager aligns the department's goals with the goals of the organization.
- The project manager makes sure all employees have a clear understanding of the goals for the project and the implementation steps.
- Managers align employees to address needs and concerns of customers.
- Associates articulate the goals, expected outcomes, and how the goal contribute to the broader vision of the organization.
- Leaders show employees how their contributions make a meaningful impact.
- Coworkers in my department make sure that employees understand how their work relates to organizational goals.
- My division sets appropriate goals for employees.
Situational Awareness
- The project lead makes sure all employees understand the purpose for the project and the tasks they have been assigned.
- Senior executives keep the team up-do-date with the latest information.
- Leaders schedule regular one-on-one meetings with employees to help give focus and direction.
- Managers schedule regular check-ins and 'roundings' where employees can discuss their goals, preferences, and any areas where they need support.
- My manager is aware of each employees needs.
- The project lead analyzes internal and external factors to identify challenges and potential advantages for the department.
- The supervisor assesses the opportunities and threats facing the department/organization.
- My division ensures employees understand the task's objectives and significance.
- My supervisor reviews organizational conditions to uncover strategic opportunities and mitigate potential threats.
- The department head understands the strengths and needs of the team.
- My supervisor observes how employees approach tasks, interact with others, and handle challenges.
- My team makes sure that employees understand and identify with the team's mission.
- Leaders understand the strengths and need of each employee in the department.
Procedures and Directions
- My manager sets production assignments for the department.
- My manager establishes guidelines and procedures to ensure workplace safety and compliance with regulations.
- My team determines procedures to be followed for production.
- Our manager prepares daily job and task assignments for employees.
- Coworkers in my department select specific strategies and design options to help the organization achieve success within a competitive environment.
- The team leader delegates responsibilities to team leads or supervisors to oversee specific areas of work.
- The project manager gives direction to the department/organization.
- Employees at the company design workflows and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and efficiency.
Planning and Strategy
- The project leader plans responses to potential risks or unforeseen challenges to minimize disruption.
- My team leader expands employee focus from day-to-day tasks to more strategic goals.
- Colleagues anticipate potential challenges or obstacles that might derail department plans.
- Our manager offers guidance, resolves roadblocks, and ensures the team has what it needs to succeed.
- Our department determines the best approach for achieving goals.
- My manager prepares/reviews action item lists for others.
- My manager develops a plan or strategy providing a clear path forward.
- The project manager ensures that each team member is assigned some part of the project.
- The supervisor develops contingency plans to proactively address potential risks.
Scheduling
- Managers develop shift patterns or schedule to maximize productivity while addressing individual availability.
- I know how to set deadlines and key milestones to guide the team's progress.
- The project leader establishes work schedules for the crew to keep progress moving forward.
- My team leader sets schedules and timelines to keep the team on track.
- My supervisor sets production schedules for the department.
- The project manager helps employees establish deadlines for important phases of the project.
Creates Structure
- The project lead develops frameworks and systems to guide the organization toward achieving its goals.
- My manager establishes processes and structures to steer the organization in a clear, strategic direction.
- Our manager breaks down larger goals into smaller, manageable milestones to add more structure toward the accomplishment of the goal.
- The project manager divides the overall strategy into smaller, achievable milestones with deadlines.
- Our department breaks down larger tasks into smaller ones to help employees maintain focus.
- My supervisor sets timelines, roles, responsibilities, and resources required to achieve the goal.
- My supervisor builds functional structures that support and drive the organization toward its vision.
- Our manager creates operational models to focus the organization's resources on achieving its strategic priorities.
Prioritizes Tasks and Resources
- My team allocates time for important goals.
- The project leader helps guide employees with prioritizing tasks.
- The project lead encourages employees to focus on getting results now.
- My manager identifies the tasks or goals that have the biggest impact.
- The project manager schedules adequate time for high-priority items.
- The project manager ensures that the department's plans support the broader vision and strategic goals of the organization.
- Managers identify which task or project need immediate attention and which can be deferred.
- Leaders prioritize task and resources to maintain focus and direction for the department.
- My supervisor is able to stay focused on important goals by saying "no" to less important goals and requests.
Guides
- Supervisors re-align tasks with the larger organizational goals when needed.
- Team members guide the team's activities toward completion of the goal.
- My manager gets employees back on track when they wander from the assigned tasks/projects.
- My manager provides training or mentorship to help guide employees in the department.
- The project lead encourages employees to work together for the completion of tasks.
- The project manager provides strong direction to new employees and recent transfers.
- My supervisor leads by example to guide employees in the completion of tasks.
Standards of Performance
- My team sets benchmarks or criteria for the quality of products or services.
- The department head sets expectations for acceptable job performance.
- My manager sets the requirements for satisfactory job performance.
- Our department decides on key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure individual and team success.
Focuses Attention
- Our department motivates and inspires the team by connecting their objectives to the organization's.
- My manager ensures the team stays on course and works effectively.
- Leaders motivate employees by encouraging their participation on projects.
- I know how to focus employee activities on the main goals for the department.
- The team leader encourages employees to stay focused on the task at hand.
- The project leader sets the focus on improving the organization's products and services.
- My manager stays focused even when under pressure and stress.
Self-Discipline
- Our team maintains focus on doing the best quality work even if it requires saying "no" to unnecessary, or unrelated, projects.
- I am able to maintain focus on the goal despite obstacles and setbacks.
- Senior executives are able to maintain a non-anxious composure even in stressful situations.
- The project manager works with focus and direction in the face of obstacles.
- My supervisor maintains self-control when personally criticized.
- My manager functions well under stress, deadlines, and/or significant workloads.
Monitoring Performance
- My manager checks in to ensure the team is on track.
- The project lead analyzes metrics such as project completion rates, quality of work, or customer satisfaction scores.
- The project manager monitors the workload balance and their impact on employees.
- My coworkers pay close attention to how task are distributed among employees.
- Leaders measure job performance to maintain focus and direction.
- Our department seeks to enhance understanding of the dynamics to better determine the needs of the department.
- Our manager seeks to minimize underutilization and/or overutilization and makes adjustments to workloads accordingly.
- My manager uses performance analytics or project management tools to gain quantitative insights into how well goals are being met, where inefficiencies lie, and which employees might need additional support.
- Leaders seek to understand any external factors that might impact project being worked on by the department.
- Our department creates measures of performance to ensure progress is being made.
Flexibility
- The department head identifies areas for improvement and makes any necessary course corrections.
- The department head refines objectives to better align with the team's strengths or organizational needs based on feedback from team members.
- Senior executives revise workflows or process to simplify and improve outcomes if the current method is not meeting expectations.
- The project leader shifts priorities or resources to address unexpected changes to the situation while keeping the team informed and motivated.
- The team leader reassesses assignments and ensures coverage without overburdening others due to absences of personnel within the department.
- Leaders are flexible and ready to adjust strategies in response to changing circumstances.
Prepares Resources
- I am able to ensure that employees have the tools, training, and support needed to complete the task successfully.
- Our department determines the distribution of tools, equipment, and budget needed to achieve objectives.
- My department implements financial resources and gainsharing programs to help employees focus on increasing efficiency.
Commitment
- Our team encourages employees to participate in planning or decision-making to foster a sense of ownership in the goal.
- My team leader gains employee commitment to the task.
- My manager helps employees stay committed to completing group tasks.
- My supervisor provides incentives to help employees remain committed to the completion of important tasks.
Time Management
- My supervisor says "no" to ideas that will result in lost time and effort.
- Our department is excellent at managing time.
- Coworkers maintain focus when handling several problems or task simultaneously.
Self-Assessment Items
Setting Clear Goals
- You align the department's goals with the goals of the organization.
- You make sure that employees understand how their work relates to organizational goals.
- You set appropriate goals for employees.
- You articulate the objectives in clear, measurable terms so that every team member understands what success look like.
- I make sure all employees have a clear understanding of the goals for the project and the implementation steps.
- You articulate the goals, expected outcomes, and how the goal contributes to the broader vision of the organization.
- You create well articulated goals for the department.
- I align the team's efforts, energy, and focus on a shared goal.
- You show employees how their contributions make a meaningful impact.
- I create well articulated goals for the team to pursue.
- You determine production quotas that need to be met.
- You align employees to address needs and concerns of customers.
Situational Awareness
- You make sure that employees understand and identify with the team's mission.
- I schedule regular check-ins and 'roundings' where employees can discuss their goals, preferences, and any areas where they need support.
- I understand the strengths and need of each employee in the department.
- You analyze internal and external factors to identify challenges and potential advantages for the department.
- You schedule regular one-on-one meetings with employees to help give focus and direction.
- You review organizational conditions to uncover strategic opportunities and mitigate potential threats.
- I am aware of each employees needs.
- You observe how employees approach tasks, interact with others, and handle challenges.
- I assess the opportunities and threats face the department/organization.
- You ensure employees understand the task's objectives and significance.
- You make sure all employees understand the purpose for the project and the tasks they have been assigned.
- You understand the strengths and need of the team.
- I keep the team up-do-date with the latest information.
Procedures and Directions
- I delegate responsibilities to team lead or supervisors to oversee specific areas of work.
- I set production assignments for the department.
- You determine procedures to be follow for production.
- You prepare daily job and task assignments for employees.
- You select specific strategies and design options to help the organization achieve success within a competitive environment.
- You give direction to the department/organization.
- You design workflows and standard operate procedures (sops) to ensure consistency and efficiency.
- You establish guidelines and procedures to ensure workplace safety and compliance with regulations.
Planning and Strategy
- You develop contingency plans to proactively address potential risks.
- I plan responses to potential risks or unforeseen challenges to minimize disruption.
- You determine the best approach for achieve goals.
- I offer guidance, resolves roadblocks, and ensure the team has what it needs to succeed.
- You expand employee focus from day-to-day tasks to more strategic goals.
- You develop a plan or strategy providing a clear path forward.
- I ensure that each team member is assigned some part of the project.
- You anticipate potential challenges or obstacles that might derail department plans.
- You prepare and review action item lists for others.
Scheduling
- I set production schedules for the department.
- I set schedules and timelines to keep the team on track.
- I develop shift patterns or schedules to maximize productivity while addressing individual availability.
- You help employees establish deadlines for important phases of the project.
- I set deadlines and key milestones to guide the team's progress.
- I establish the work schedule for the crew to keep progress moving forward.
Creates Structure
- I develop frameworks and systems to guide the organization toward achieve its goals.
- I break down larger tasks into smaller ones to help employees maintain focus.
- I establish processes and structure to steer the organization in a clear, strategic direction.
- You build functional structures that support and drive the organization toward its vision.
- I set timelines, roles, responsibilities, and resources required to achieve the goal.
- You create operational models to focus the organization's resources on achieve its strategic priorities.
- You divide the overall strategy into smaller, achievable milestones with deadlines.
- I break down larger goals into smaller, manageable milestones to add more structure toward the accomplishment of the goal.
Prioritizes Tasks and Resources
- You help guide employees with prioritizing tasks.
- You allocate time for important goals.
- You identify which tasks or project need immediate attention and which can be deferred.
- I encourage employees to focus on getting results now.
- I schedule adequate time for high-priority items.
- You prioritize tasks and resources to maintain focus and direction for the department.
- You identify the tasks or goals that have the biggest impact.
- You ensure that the department's plans support the broader vision and strategic goals of the organization.
- You are able to stay focused on important goals by saying "no" to less important goals and requests.
Guides
- I re-aligns tasks with the larger organizational goals when needed.
- I provide strong direction to new employees and recent transfers.
- You lead by example to guide employees in the completion of tasks.
- I provide training or mentorship to help guide employees in the department.
- I get employees back on track when they wander from the assigned tasks/projects.
- I encourage employees to work together for the completion of tasks.
- You guide the team's activities toward completion of the goal.
Standards of Performance
- You set the requirements for satisfactory job performance.
- You set benchmarks or criteria for the quality of products or services.
- I decide on key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure individual and team success.
- I set expectations for acceptable job performance.
Focuses Attention
- You stay focused even when under pressure and stress.
- I focus employee activities on the main goals for the department.
- I motivate employees by encourage their participation on projects.
- I ensure the team stays on course and work effectively.
- I set the focus on improving the organization's products and services.
- I encourage employees to stay focused on the task at hand.
- You motivate and inspire the team by connect their objectives to the organization's.
Self-Discipline
- You maintain self-control when personally criticized.
- You function well under stress, deadlines, and/or significant workloads.
- I work with focus and direction in the face of obstacles.
- I maintain focus on the goal despite obstacles and setbacks.
- You maintain focus on doing the best quality work even if it requires saying "no" to unnecessary, or unrelated, projects.
- You are able to maintain a non-anxious composure even in stressful situations.
Monitoring Performance
- I pay close attention to how tasks are distributed among employees.
- You seek to enhance your understanding of the department's dynamics to better determine the needs of the department.
- I regularly measure job performance to maintain focus and direction.
- You use performance analytics or project management tools to gain quantitative insights into how well goals are being met, where inefficiencies lie, and which employees might need additional support.
- I monitor the workload balance and impact on employees.
- I seek to minimize underutilization and/or overutilization and make adjustments to workloads accordingly.
- I create measures of performance to ensure progress is being made.
- You seek to understand any external factors that might impact projects being worked on by the department.
- You regularly check in to ensure the team is on track.
- I analyze metrics such as project completion rates, quality of work, or customer satisfaction scores.
Flexibility
- You identify areas for improvement and make any necessary course corrections.
- You shift priorities or resources to address unexpected changes to the situation while keeping the team informed and motivated.
- I reassess assignments and ensure coverage without overburdening others due to absences of personnel within the department.
- I refine objectives to better align with the team's strengths or organizational needs based on feedback from team members.
- I revise workflows or processes to simplify and improve outcomes if the current method is not meeting expectations.
- You are flexible and ready to adjust strategies in response to change circumstances.
Prepares Resources
- You determine the distribution of tools, equipment, and budget need to achieve objectives.
- You ensure that employees have the tools, training, and support needed to complete the task successfully.
- I implement financial resources and gainsharing programs to help employees focus on increasing efficiency.
Commitment
- I encourage employees to participate in planning or decision-making to foster a sense of ownership in the goal.
- You help employees stay committed to complete group tasks.
- I provide incentives to help employees remain committed to the completion of important tasks.
- You gain employee commitment to the task.
Time Management
- You are excellent at managing time.
- You maintain focus when handling several problems or tasks simultaneously.
- You say "no" to ideas that will result in lost time and effort.
Job Interview Questions
Setting Clear Goals
- How can you create well articulated goals for the team to pursue?
- In your previous position, how did you make sure all employees had a clear understanding of the goals for the project and the implementation steps?
- If needed, can you determine production quotas that need to be met?
- In your previous position, did you articulate the objectives in clear, measurable terms so that every team member understood what success looked like?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you aligned employees to address needs and concerns of customers.
- How did you articulate the goals, expected outcomes, and how the goal contributes to the broader vision of the organization?
- Would you make sure that employees understand how their work relates to organizational goals?
- Can you align the team's efforts, energy, and focus on a shared goal?
- How would you align the department's goals with the goals of the organization?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you set appropriate goals for employees.
- How would you show employees how their contributions make a meaningful impact?
- Can you create well articulated goals for the department?
Situational Awareness
- Did you review organizational conditions to uncover strategic opportunities and mitigate potential threats?
- Explain the strengths and needd of the team.
- Are you able to ensure employees understand the task's objectives and significance?
- Give an example of how you made sure that employees understood and identified with the team's mission.
- How would you make sure all employees understand the purpose for the project and the tasks they have been assigned?
- Describe how you would analyze internal and external factors to identify challenges and potential advantages for the department.
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you kept the team up-do-date with the latest information.
- Do you observe how employees approach tasks, interact with others, and handle challenges?
- How would you schedule regular check-ins and 'roundings' where employees can discuss their goals, preferences, and any areas where they need support?
- In your previous position, have you scheduled regular one-on-one meetings with employees to help give focus and direction?
- Are you aware of each employees needs?
- How did you assess the opportunities and threats faced the department/organization?
- If needed, can you understand the strengths and needs of each employee in the department?
Procedures and Directions
- In your previous position, how did you design workflows and standard operate procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and efficiency?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you selected specific strategies and design options to help the organization achieve success within a competitive environment.
- When would you set production assignments for the department?
- How would you establish guidelines and procedures to ensure workplace safety and compliance with regulations?
- How did you delegate responsibilities to team lead or supervisors to oversee specific areas of work?
- Do you determine procedures to be follow for production?
- Are you able to prepare daily job and task assignments for employees?
- Explain how you would give direction to the department/organization.
Planning and Strategy
- How would you anticipate potential challenges or obstacles that might derail department plans?
- How do you expand employee focus from day-to-day tasks to more strategic goals?
- In your previous position, how did you develop contingency plans to proactively address potential risks?
- Give an example of how you prepared and reviewed action item lists for others.
- How did you offer guidance, resolve roadblocks, and ensure the team has what it needed to succeed?
- Could you ensure that each team member is assigned some part of the project?
- How would you plan responses to potential risks or unforeseen challenges to minimize disruption?
- Are you able to determine the best approach for achieve goals?
- How do you develop a plan or strategy providing a clear path forward?
Scheduling
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you set schedules and timelines to keep the team on track.
- Do you develop shift patterns or schedules to maximize productivity while addressing individual availability?
- Give an example of how you set production schedules for the department.
- How would you set deadlines and key milestones to guide the team's progress?
- Are you able to help employees establish deadlines for important phases of the project?
- Describe how you would establish the work schedule for the crew to keep progress moving forward.
Creates Structure
- How would you break down larger goals into smaller, manageable milestones to add more structure toward the accomplishment of the goal?
- In your previous position, did you break down larger tasks into smaller ones to help employees maintain focus?
- How do you set timelines, roles, responsibilities, and resources required to achieve the goal?
- If needed, can you build functional structures that support and drive the organization toward its vision?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you divided the overall strategy into smaller, achievable milestones with deadlines.
- Describe how you would create operational models to focus the organization's resources on achieve its strategic priorities.
- How do you establish processes and structure to steer the organization in a clear, strategic direction?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you developed frameworks and systems to guide the organization toward achieve its goals.
Prioritizes Tasks and Resources
- Did you help guide employees with prioritizing tasks?
- Describe how you would are able to stay focused on important goals by saying "no" to less important goals and requests.
- Are you able to identify which tasks or projects need immediate attention and which can be deferred?
- How can you identify the tasks or goals that have the biggest impact?
- How did you ensure that the department's plans supportted the broader vision and strategic goals of the organization?
- How would you schedule adequate time for high-priority items?
- Do you allocate time for important goals?
- Have you prioritized tasks and resources to maintain focus and direction for the department?
- Can you encourage employees to focus on getting results now?
Guides
- Are you able to re-align tasks with the larger organizational goals when needed?
- Have you provided strong direction to new employees and recent transfers?
- How would you encourage employees to work together for the completion of tasks?
- How can you provide training or mentorship to help guide employees in the department?
- Can you get employees back on track when they wander from the assigned tasks/projects?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you guided the team's activities toward completion of the goal.
- Did you lead by example to guide employees in the completion of tasks?
Standards of Performance
- Give an example of how you set the requirements for satisfactory job performance.
- How do you set expectations for acceptable job performance?
- How would you decide on key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure individual and team success?
- Can you set benchmarks or criteria for the quality of products or services?
Focuses Attention
- Explain how you would stay focused even when under pressure and stress.
- How would you encourage employees to stay focused on the task at hand?
- Do you motivate employees by encourage their participation on projects?
- In your previous position, did you ensure the team stays on course and work effectively?
- Have you focused employee activities on the main goals for the department?
- Give an example of how you would motivate and inspire the team by connect their objectives to the organization's.
- How do you set the focus on improving the organization's products and services?
Self-Discipline
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you maintained self-control when personally criticized.
- Can you maintain focus on the goal despite obstacles and setbacks?
- Could you maintain focus on doing the best quality work even if it requires saying "no" to unnecessary, or unrelated, projects?
- Describe how you would work with focus and direction in the face of obstacles.
- Are you able to are able to maintain a non-anxious composure even in stressful situations?
- How would you function well under stress, deadlines, and/or significant workloads?
Monitoring Performance
- Did you regularly check in to ensure the team was on track?
- When would you seek to enhance your understanding of the department's dynamics to better determine the needs of the department?
- How do you analyze metrics such as project completion rates, quality of work, or customer satisfaction scores?
- Are you able to pay close attention to how tasks are distributed among employees?
- Do you seek to minimize underutilization and/or overutilization and make adjustments to workloads accordingly?
- How would you create measures of performance to ensure progress is being made?
- Do you regularly measure job performance to maintain focus and direction?
- Give an example of how you sought to understand any external factors that might impact projects being worked on by the department.
- When could you monitor the workload balance and impact on employees?
- Did you use performance analytics or project management tools to gain quantitative insights into how well goals were being met, where there were inefficiencies, and which employees needed additional support?
Flexibility
- In your previous position, did you refine objectives to better align with the team's strengths or organizational needs based on feedback from team members?
- Are you able to identify areas for improvement and make any necessary course corrections?
- How would you revise workflows or processes to simplify and improve outcomes if the current method is not meeting expectations?
- Explain how you would reassess assignments and ensure coverage without overburdening others due to absences of personnel within the department.
- Did you shift priorities or resources to address unexpected changes to the situation while keeping the team informed and motivated?
- Are you flexible and ready to adjust strategies in response to change circumstances?
Prepares Resources
- How would you ensure that employees have the tools, training, and support needed to complete the task successfully?
- If needed, can you implement financial resources and gainsharing programs to help employees focus on increasing efficiency?
- Give an example of how you would determine the distribution of tools, equipment, and budget need to achieve objectives.
Commitment
- Do you provide incentives to help employees remain committed to the completion of important tasks?
- In your previous position, did you gain employee commitment to the task?
- Can you encourage employees to participate in planning or decision-making to foster a sense of ownership in the goal?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you helped employees stay committed to complete group tasks.
Time Management
- Are excellent at managing time?
- How did you maintain focus when handling several problems or tasks simultaneously?
- Explain how you would say "no" to ideas that would result in lost time and effort.