Understanding how you like to be managed is beneficial. It allows you to consider whether a position’s manager can meet your needs, making it more likely you’ll accept the right job offer when the time comes.
Additionally, knowing what your preferred management style is ensures you are prepared to answer questions a hiring manager may ask. Many interviewers want to know how you liked to be managed as a means of figuring out whether you can excel in the role, match with the company’s culture, and will get what you need from the position’s manager.
Being honest about your preferred management style is a must. Otherwise, you could end up in a job that isn’t a great fit. If you want to make sure you know what your preferred management style is and can discuss it with a hiring manager clearly, here’s how to go about it.
Consider Your Past Bosses
Taking a moment to reflect on what you did and did not like about your past managers is usually a good place to start. Consider what traits helped you excel and what characteristics didn’t align with your needs. Make sure you also think about what you admired about each boss and whether any parts of their leadership style bothered you.
After some reflection, begin to imagine what your ideal manager would be like. What would they do to help you become a top performer? How much structure and oversight would they provide? Would there be a lot of face-to-face interaction, or would most of your conversations take place digitally? How would they motivate you to succeed?
Once you complete that activity, look for examples from your past managers that align with your preferences. That way, if a hiring manager asks, you have details to share.
Look at Team Culture
If you are preparing to interview for a role, take some time to research the team’s culture. This will give you insights into how the group operates, including what the manager has to offer and their leadership style.
Begin by searching online. Read about the company’s core values and peruse any available social media pages. You can also look up the profiles of team members on social media, but only go over publicly accessible information (as attempting to connect now may be inappropriate). Then, reach out to your network to see if anyone has any insights.
This process helps you learn more about how the team functions and the company’s culture. You’ll be able to determine if their norms meet your needs. Plus, it gives you a chance to mention any positive correlations when you discuss your preferred management style with the hiring manager.
Prepare an Answer
After handling the research part, it is time to create an answer that you can provide during the interview. As you do, focus on your positive experiences. This enables you to weave relevant examples into your response that showcase what you are hoping to find, not what you are trying to avoid.
You also want to be prepared to tell the hiring manager why these traits are so important to you. Have a reason you can share that highlights how that particular management style helps you excel.
By following the tips above, you can learn more about your preferred management style and how you can discuss it with hiring managers, increasing the odds you can find an opportunity that is a great fit. If you’d like to learn more, the staff at CPS Recruitment can help. Contact us to speak with one of our experienced recruiters today and see how our management-style expertise can benefit you.