Interview Questions: Strategic Insight
Definition: Strategic Insight is defined as being observant, analytical and knowledgeable about factors impacting the company. Interacting with employees and customers to get a deeper understanding of problems they are facing. This insight is used to create innovative responses to meet their needs.
The statements below may be used in your job interview as measures of your "Strategic Insight". There are steps you can take to measure or improve strategic insight.
Observant
- In your previous position, did you recognize the needs of stakeholders?
- How do you recognize the needs of customers?
- Can you generate insights into which strategies should be followed?
Knowledgeable
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you anticipated business cycles and trends and make adjustments in a timely manner.
- How do you ensure that the department's goals are strategically aligned with the company's goals?
- Are you able to maintain knowledge of current trends in the industry?
- How would you formulate policies and strategies for addressing the company's important challenges?
- Have you understood how to strategically grow the business and increase customers?
Analytical
- Give an example of how you used performance measures to gain insight into possible opportunities.
- Have you utilized appropriate data to accurately forecast branch sales (daily, monthly, annual data)?
- Could you provide analysis of policy and strategic issues?
- Describe how you would analyze records and reports to obtain insight into potential issues and trends.
- Can you analyze unique issues or problems impacting the company?
Communication
- Do you let employees know how their roles contribute toward the achievement of strategic company objectives?
- How can you have conversations with customers and clients to get a better insight into their personal needs?
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you inspired employees to adopt a strategic plan.
- How can you communicate with employees to find out their needs?
Interactions
- Give an example of how you worked with others to develop insights into the resources and actions required to produce desired results.
- Did you pursue strategic alliances with valued partners?
- How did you engage with diverse groups of employees and customers to develop strategic insights into the organization?
- Do you attend industry conferences to gain further insight into how other companies deal with similar issues?
- Did you meet with customers to gain insight into their core needs and how best to serve them?
- Can you observe employees at work to get better insight into the issues they are dealing with?
Understanding
- Are you able to understand how to achieve a positive outcome in various situations?
- Did you regularly monitor budgets and deadlines to stay informed of any potential issues?
- Would you conduct self-assessment and regular reviews to gain further insight in your performance?
- Do you understand seasonal and cyclical trends in workload and staffing in the department?
- What are the company's strengths and weaknesses and can you use this information to create optimal solutions to problems?
- Do you understand how to circumvent barriors to change within the organization?
- Do you understand how decisions impact stakeholders within the company?
- Give an example of how you would identify potential problems before they become critical incidents.
- Describe how you would implement changes that positively impact the company.
Problem Solving
- Give an example of how you used a variety of problem-solving techniques to address issues facing the company.
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you evaluated the effectiveness of solutions and plans.
- Explain how you would implement long-term solutions to problems.
- How do you identify root causes of problems?
- Can you use a variety of resources to make sound decisions?
- If needed, are you able to coach employees on how to implement problem solving techniques?
Planning
- If needed, can you adjust strategic plans based on insights gathered from different points of view?
- Describe how you would set strategic objectives to be achieved.
- Would you develop a plan and strategy for each functional area within the mission statement?
- Explain how you would create strategic plans to develop and promote organizational and area strengths, as well as to address weaknesses based on insight from surveys.
- Describe how you would use planning tools to facilitate changes.
Creativity and Innovation
- Share an example from your previous position, in which you created strategies that significantly benefitted the company.
- How would you develop a strategic vision for the future?
- Explain how you would create a mission statement describing the purpose for the organization.
- Give an example of how you would create values statements to ensure all employees are working under the same guiding principles.
- How do you create a vision for the organization based on insights gathered from other companies in the industry?
Responsive
- Give an example of how you responded appropriately to various types of business expansion.
- How do you allocate proper resources for employee training to meet future needs based on insight into employee skill levels?
- Explain how you would strategically align projects to the goals of the company.