What do you do if your team management skills are questioned during job interviews?

In addition to researching the company and the position, it's helpful to prepare a list of questions you could ask the interviewer about future projects and team development plans. This will demonstrate your interest in contributing to the company's success in the long term. It's also advisable to keep track of industry trends and innovations that could affect future work in this role. Preparing a brief presentation on how you could contribute to solving the team's current or future challenges can be a strong argument in your favor during the interview.

Remember that everyone has something to offer in a business partnership. And everyone has at least 1 contribution they can make in a business partnership. Here are contributions an individual can contribute. 1) Licenses (construction, real estate, adjusters, etc), 2) Money, 3) Experience, 4) Business Connections, 5) College Education Degree, and 6) Time. There can be more of course. But I bet everyone has at least 1 of the above. And remember that being humble and respectful in life will only add to any of the above contributions. And never forget about your family and above all God. All this will make us a better person both personally and business wise.

Acknowledge the feedback with grace and then provide examples demonstrating effective team management from your past experiences. Highlight your successful team collaborations, conflict resolution strategies, and creating a positive work environment. Also discuss lessons learned from challenges and improvements made. Emphasize on your commitment to continuous learning and development as a leader.

I use something similar to STAR to build out stories, but with the acronym CARI. Start by setting the context (C) – describe the scenario you encountered. Then, the actions (A) you took to lead, motivate, and inspire your team. Share the tangible results (R) of your efforts, such as project success or enhanced team cohesion. Finally, add the Insight (I) gained from the experience – lessons learned or personal growth, or the Impact (using metrics). By weaving in these stories, you not only demonstrate your team management skills but also provide a richer understanding of your leadership and team building approaches.

When discussing your team management skills, emphasize your ability to foster collaboration, inspire motivation, and drive results. For instance, you can highlight a specific example from your experience where you successfully led a team to achieve a challenging goal. Describe how you facilitated regular team meetings to ensure alignment and delegated tasks based on individual strengths. Additionally, mention any strategies you implemented to boost team morale and recognize outstanding contributions. By showcasing your proactive approach to team management and your track record of delivering successful outcomes, you demonstrate your effectiveness in leading and motivating teams.

Have a scenario ready, but make it a short one. I recommend the STAR interviewing to prepare your case study from your job experience thus far. Sometimes interviewers are asking for how you’ve come adversity, which is different than a question about weakness, but if you have a scenario around adversity prepared, you could tweak it to fit this question as well.

Acknowledge areas for growth while emphasizing your strengths and past successes. Share specific examples of successful team collaborations, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Demonstrate your willingness to learn and improve, showcasing a proactive attitude. By exuding confidence and positivity, you can reassure employers of your potential to excel as a team leader.