Questions may use different wording, but the panel will still assess evidence against the Grade 7 and Grade 6 Leadership criteria. Listen to the exact question and choose the example that answers it most directly.
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Grade 7 Leadership criteria
- “Promote diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, respecting difference and external experience.”
- “Welcome and respond to views and challenges from others, despite any conflicting pressures to ignore or give in to them.”
- “Stand by, promote or defend own and team’s actions and decisions where needed.”
- “Seek out shared interests beyond own area of responsibility, understanding the extent of the impact actions have on the organisation.”
- “Inspire and motivate teams to be fully engaged in their work and dedicated to their role.”
What the panel is testing
Use an example involving inclusion, conflicting pressure, motivation and accountability beyond your immediate team.
- A clear Grade 7 responsibility.
- Personal decisions and reasoning.
- Appropriate senior, cross-team or external influence.
- Control of risk, resources, inclusion or quality where relevant.
- A credible outcome and enough detail for follow-up questions.
12 Grade 7 Leadership interview questions
How to structure the answer
Give one or two relevant sentences about how you think.
Set the strategic or delivery context briefly.
State your responsibility and authority.
Explain decisions, evidence, influence and risk.
Give the outcome and a practical learning point.
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