Manager Interview
Manager Interview: Each student will submit a series of interview questions to a manager who currently supervises a company or department of ten or more employees. Your professor or instructor will provide you with a set of basic questions to get you started. You should also add your own questions to the list.
You will write a leadership article to summarize what you learned about management from the interview. This is a written report detailing what you learned about leadership from the interview experience.
It is NOT a list of your questions and answers. You must type the questions and responses and add them to the end of your article. (7-10 pages of content plus Q&A) Leadership and Management Article Subheadings 1. Description of Manager 2. Description of Organization 3. Key Leadership and Management Skills Utilized 4. What is their Process for Empowering Employees to make good decisions and to put forth their best effort? – (Describe their process and your thoughts for improving the process.) 5. Additional Insights Gained from the Interview 6. Observations and Suggestions for Improving their Effectiveness as a Manager (from the student’s perspective) 7. Whether or Not I Would Want to Work for This Manager and WHY: Lastly, the list of Questions and Answers is the your section and does not count toward the 7 page minimum
Kerry S. Webb, Ph.D.
Each student should select a supervisor that he or she believes exemplifies outstanding leadership. This individual may be a leader in any context (for example, social, religious, political, business, education, or sports). The leader, however, should not be a relative or be married to a relative of yours. If you have any questions about this, check with Dr. Webb.
The student should contact the individual and arrange an interview, which can be conducted in person or by phone. Ideally, it would be helpful if you could spend some time observing the leader in his or her work setting and talk to the leader’s coworkers, supervisors, and subordinates, however this may not be possible in many cases. In your interview, try to learn as much as possible about the person’s style. The questions you ask will ultimately be reflective of the leader you are profiling.
The following list of questions may be helpful in planning for your interview. You should ask at least ten questions.
How would you define leadership?
How would you describe your leadership style?
What is your personal philosophy of leadership?
How did you learn and develop your leadership style?
In your opinion, what does a leader do that distinguishes him or her from other managers?
What leader has made the greatest impact on your life? How and why?
Who do you greatly admire or consider to be the greatest leader? Why?
What skills have you acquired that have been most helpful to you as a leader?
What do you think is most helpful in leading a diverse workforce?
How do you motivate and inspire people when times are tough?
How do you go about figuring out the right direction to take an organization?
Once you know where your organization is headed, how do you align people with your vision?
What are some of the most important lessons about leadership that you have learned?
What do you think is the most difficult aspect of being a leader?
What advice would you offer for leaders of the future?
What are you most proud of in your role as a leader?
The interview report must include the following items with subtitles:
Manager Interview
Description of Manager
Description of Organization
Leadership Philosophy, Style, Strengths, and Skills
Description/Observation of their Most Outstanding Behaviors
Suggestions for Improving their Effectiveness
Process for Developing Leaders in the organization – Describe the process in your organization and your thoughts for improving the process.
Insights Gained and/or Things Learned from this Interview
(7-15 pages)
Manager Interview
The student will include personal insights gained from the interview for more effective management and leadership. The report should conclude with at least one suggestion for improving one’s influence and impact on others.
A list of the student’s questions and the leader’s responses should be stapled and submitted to your professor. (Your questions should be typed and if requested, emailed to the leader, before you conduct the interview)
3010396_SAMPLE_-_Manager_Interview_2_2
……………………….Answer preview……………………
Jeff Immelt has been identified as one of the world’s best CEO in three times. He is the current CEO of General Electric since 2001. Mr. Immelt has worked for the company since 1982 in various capacities in the GE’s Appliances, Healthcare and Plastics businesses. During his tenure in those positions he helped nurture several employees on the operations of the company. He has used his skills and talents to build a globally competitive workforce that has contributed to the success of General Electric……………………………….
APA
3041 words
