INTERVIEW QUESTIONS TO PROBE THE SAWs ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1. LEADERSHIP Recognizes opportunities; envisions how to change the game, and enrolls others to make it happen Creates environment for others to contribute fully Faces reality; owns complexity; makes tough choices; anticipates and addresses barriers  Tell me about a time when you were able to step into a situation, take charge, get support, and bring about excellent results.  Tell me about a time when something significant was accomplished that you made happen.  How did you set the direction for the group, and what was the tangible result of your effort?  Give me an example of where you made a difference at school work etc.  What did you individually contribute that would not have happened if you were not there?  Tell me about a time where you had to make an unpopular decision and get others' commitment to it.  Give me an example of a time where you persuaded (or convinced) someone to your way of thinking.  How did you set the direction for the group and what was the tangible result of your effort?  Give me an example of a time when you were leading and influencing the direction of a project.  What was your role as (title)? How many others worked with you on this project? What specifically did you contribute?  Tell me about a time you risked your popularity to achieve something important.  Give me a specific example of when you have led a group to do something they did not want to do when you weren’t able to rely on the power of your position.    ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. SOLUTIONS Synergistically integrates both logic and intuition to produce brilliant solutions Sorts through complex data; gathers relevant viewpoints; identifies important issues; thinks through alternatives Recognizes developing problems and exploits opportunities Learns from successes and mistakes to solve problems better  Tell me about a time when you had to analyze facts quickly, define the key issues, and develop a plan which produced good results.  If you had to do that activity over again, how would you do it differently?  How did you make that decision?  Tell me about a difficult problem you faced and how you solved it.  How did you decide to study at this university/this degree course?  Tell me about a time when you had to gather data, analyze the facts, and develop an action plan based on the data.  Tell me about a difficult problem you faced and how you solved it?  What was the result of your analysis?  Why did you leave that job?    ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. INNOVATION Displays insatiable, boundless curiosity Is entrepreneurial in making breakthrough connections Taps into communities of knowledge and reapplies ideas and methods to new situations Is imaginative and recombines knowledge in ways which create new insights  Tell me about a situation in which you were able to find a new and better way of doing something significant.  Give me an example of a time you had a problem and you solved it in an unusual way.  Tell me about a time when you came up with a new idea that was implemented. What was the result?  What did you do that was better (bigger, faster, smarter, different) than it was before you were there?  Give me an example of a time you had a problem and you approached it in an unusual way to solve it.  Tell me about a time when you came up with a new idea that was implemented. What was the result?  Tell me about a time when you saw something succeed and reapplied the idea in a different context to help something else succeed.  What is an example of a situation where you made a significant improvement?  Describe a time when you were able to come up with new ideas that were key to the success of some activity or project.    ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. RISK-TAKING Takes informed risk Sets specific, stretch goals Displays and action mindset and sense of urgency in achieving goals Is assertive and makes decisions in the face of uncertainty  Tell me about a challenging goal you set that you were able to achieve.  Give me an example of a risk you took to achieve something important.  Give me an example of something you started that was not there before you initiated it.  What was the most difficult obstacle you have had to overcome at (work/school/etc.) and how did you manage it?  What was your most important achievement at (work/school/etc.)?  Describe a time where you set a demanding goal for yourself and reached it.  What is the hardest you have ever had to work to achieve something?  Give me an example of a time that you successfully balanced several demanding priorities.  Tell me of an example of something you started that wasn't there before you initiated it.  Tell me about a time when you successfully balanced several tasks at once.    ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. COLLABORATION Proactively brings together the right people with the right information at the right time Inspires trust; genuinely respects others by caring about what they say and how they feel Works effectively with diverse people and has confidence in their abilities, values, and intentions Seeks first to understand, then to be understood; is able to handle conflict Has adequate language skills; is able to tailor behavior and communication depending on situation  Give me an example that would show you’ve been able to develop and maintain productive relations with others, even though they may have differing points of view.  Describe a situation in which you were a member of a team with a specific goal. How did you reach your goal as a team? What was your individual role?  Tell me about a time when you worked with others through a conflict.  Give me an example of a situation in which you motivated others to achieve a result.  As (title), how many others did you work with? How did you divide responsibilities?  Describe a situation in which you were a member of a team with a specific goal. How did you reach your goal as a team? What was your individual role?  Let's talk about a time when you had to overcome an uncomfortable situation with others.  Tell me about a time when you were working with a diverse group of people to accomplish something.  Give me an example of building a productive relationship and maintaining it even in a difficult situation.  Give me an example of a time when you had to present an idea for others' approval or agreement. What was the result?  Did you have to write a thesis? What was the result? (grade, was it published, is your thesis being applied anywhere?).  Tell me about a time when you had to make a presentation to a group. How did you prepare?     Ways to assess communication skills during an interview Is the candidate focused and persuasive (or is he/she long-winded, not emphasizing his/her point)? Does he/she organize thoughts in a clear/easy-to-follow way? Can he/she simply explain complex ideas? Does the candidate directly answer the questions? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. CAPACITY Pursues learning and self-development; keeps up with emerging trends Supports the development and full-utilization of others’ capabilities Appreciates and leverages diversity Seeks out and eliminates wasted effort  Tell me about a time when you had to pick out the most important things in some activity and make sure those got done.  Tell me what you do to keep up with new developments in your areas of interest.  Tell me about a time when you had to learn something new in order to accomplish a goal.  How do you manage classes and outside activities?  What's the most productive you have ever been and how did you manage?  Give me an example of setting a goal and reaching it despite short-term obstacles.  When have you had to focus on key priorities and how did you juggle your other activities accordingly?  Tell me about a time when you had to pick out the most important things in some activity and make sure those got done.  Tell me about a time when you made a special effort to help someone learn to be more effective.  Tell me about a time you successfully learned a new skill.   7. MASTERY (For applicable functions) Develops mastery by constantly building and capitalizing on special areas of expertise Applies knowledge for practical purposes Creates, shares, and reapplies knowledge    . how to change the game, and enrolls others to make it happen Creates environment for others to contribute fully Faces reality; owns complexity; makes tough. Proactively brings together the right people with the right information at the right time Inspires trust; genuinely respects others by caring about what they say