10 Management Interview Questions with the Best Answers

Management interview questions let you evaluate potential company leaders who will take charge of employee activities in various departments. Managers across different levels of management are crucial to success because they set and monitor goals, resolve business issues, and motivate employees. Asking jobseekers relevant questions will help you find the right candidates to support your business’ growth.

Here are ten essential interview questions that cover key management areas in leadership, decision-making, and administration.

1. How does your management style motivate your staff? What this reveals: Management style Managers need to be creative in motivating employees to deliver their best. How can they make team members see the value of consistent excellence? This question can bring up leadership by example, positive reinforcement, and employee ownership.

2. How do you deal with a staff member who disagrees with your suggestions? What this reveals: Openness to feedback Good leaders don’t just dish out orders; they also listen to feedback from their staff. With active listening, managers show their willingness to improve. This also displays emotional maturity and usually results in high-performing teams.

3. Recall an instance when you coached a staff member. How did you do it, and what improvements did you observe in your mentee? What this reveals: Interest in employees’ growth Career development opportunities are one of the main reasons employees stay in an organisation. A manager who recognises this is a valuable asset in employee retention. A manager’s hands-on training may also make employees feel cared for, boosting their engagement.

4. What are the essential factors in developing an effective team? What this reveals: Values This is an excellent opportunity to gauge if the candidate matches your company’s values and culture. Watch out for winning keywords like inclusivity, teamwork, mutual respect, and accountability.

Want to quiz candidates on their leadership skills? Check out our article on leadership interview questions.

5. What are the steps you take before making a decision? What this reveals: Collaboration and critical thinking Managers must assess scenarios and explore solutions before settling on an appropriate action. If collaboration is an important part of your work culture, let employees participate in the decision-making process.

6. How much freedom do you give your staff in decision-making? How can you remain on top of the process? What this reveals: Adaptability and sense of authority Listen to how the candidate can balance maintaining control over a meeting and giving all members a chance to voice their opinions. It’s a tricky balancing act that adept managers often excel in.

7. How can you tell you’ve made the right decision? What this reveals: Methods of measuring success Managers need to know if their decisions are delivering the right results. Take note of their methods in developing and evaluating processes to learn if the best decision has been made.

Want to test this skill further? Check out our article on decision-making interview questions.

8. How can employees maintain a sense of accountability? What this reveals: Strength in employee management This explores the nitty-gritty of managing a team and lets you know if candidates set clear expectations and can hold themselves accountable. The candidate’s answer also clues in on their sense of empathy for employees and how they resolve poor performance among their members.

9. How important is the chain of command in an organisation? What this reveals: Adherence to company procedures Managers who follow the chain of command appreciate its role in improving work efficiency and supporting new employees. Respect for processes and authority shows that the applicant may be a promising agent in giving structure and order in the workplace.

10. How do you delegate tasks to your staff members? What this reveals: Communication skills Hands-on managers may be effective but may be less so if they try to do all the tasks themselves and are unable to delegate. Aside from freeing them to work on more important areas, the delegation also develops employee skills, makes members feel valued, and builds trust.

Employing a new manager can make or break a team as the new hire will be setting the tone in the workplace. By asking the right questions, you ensure that you’re hiring the best person who will help lead your workforce toward not only business success but also professional fulfilment.