How do you demonstrate leadership versus management skills in an interview?

A number of my clients that are facing a career transition are senior managers and executives.  When working with them to prepare for job interviews, I often ask them to differentiate between leadership and management skills.

“Why?” you might ask.

Leadership skills can demonstrate much more about you than just task based activities.

Let me demonstrate this statement by listing some of the qualities that some of the leaders of our day such as Sir Richard Branson, Barack Obama and others share:

• They have learned to simplify appropriately so that people know what they are supposed to do and why it is fun and important to do it.
• They have learned to listen extraordinarily well with genuine interest and respect. Then they (mostly) act on what they have heard, especially if they heard it from a 'junior' member of the team.
• They practise and develop very good memories.
• They engender a sustained sense of enthusiasm and make people feel they are important.
• They are overwhelmingly positive, optimistic and future-focused.
• They are very persistent. Very persistent indeed.

These “values based” qualities are compelling and important to get across in an interview.

Do you share any of these skills?  The best way of demonstrating them is through story telling.  Here's a link to a previous blog I wrote about interview skills for senior executives -  A good leadership story has the power to engage hearts and minds.

Recrion is a People and Career Management Specialist that works with groups and individuals to differentiate themselves in the job market.  Visit www.recrion.co.uk or call 01780 484910 for more information on how we can help you.