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“Can you share a few leadership examples from your past?”
That’s a common interview question, and it can be a tough one to answer, because the concept of “leadership” is so nebulous.
And frankly, a lot of people have the wrong idea when it comes to leadership.
Being a leader isn’t about wielding authority or controlling others. Rather, true leadership is a blend of many different positive traits that allow others to trust you enough to follow your lead.
Some people say leaders are born, but I believe most people can ignite the spark of leadership inside them if they cultivate the right skills.
This article will show you what those skills are, with leadership examples to illustrate each point. And finally, I’ll show you how to get more leadership experience and use it to get ahead in your career.
(For some examples of bad leadership, check out my article about how to deal with a toxic work environment.)
Empathy: The cornerstone of leadership
History and popular culture give us leadership examples that are rooted in cold-hearted, cut-throat behavior. (See “300” and “The Devil Wears Prada” for examples.)
But in reality, cruel and distant leaders rarely succeed, because they fail to connect with the people they are attempting to lead.
Empathy allows you to relate to other people—be they family members, friends, or colleagues—on a human, individual level.
When you lead with empathy, you’re able to see the world through your team’s eyes, anticipate their needs, and create an environment where they feel valued and understood.
Empathetic leaders foster trust and open communication. They’re better equipped to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and resolve conflicts before they escalate issues to higher-ups. They make more informed decisions that benefit both the team and the organization as a whole.
Empathy also allows you to see beyond surface-level issues. When you understand the underlying factors influencing your team’s performance and behavior, you can address problems at their root and create lasting solutions.
Leadership Example: Empathy
An experienced project manager notices that one of her top performers has missed an important deadline, and their work quality has declined sharply. This is frustrating, and she’s tempted to immediately reprimand her team member.
But instead, she practices empathy and decides to investigate further, to see if she can better understand what’s changed for this employee.
During a private meeting, the manager learns that the employee recently lost a close family member and is struggling to balance work with their grief.
Understanding the situation, the manager offers her condolences and expresses genuine concern. She informs the employee about the company’s grief counseling services and arranges for some paid time off to allow them to process their loss. Meanwhile, she works with the rest of the team to temporarily redistribute the employee’s workload.
This empathetic approach pays off in multiple ways. The employee feels supported and valued by the company, which boosts their loyalty and motivation upon their return. The rest of the team sees how the manager handles difficult situations, and they gain confidence knowing their leader has their back if something happens in their personal life.
By demonstrating empathy, this leader turned a potential performance issue into an opportunity to strengthen her team and improve overall productivity in the long run. That’s the power of empathetic leadership in action.
Passion: Inspiring others through enthusiasm
Passionate leaders radiate enthusiasm for their work, their team, and their goals. This energy is contagious, motivating team members to push beyond their comfort zones and achieve more than they thought possible.
Leaders who are passionate about what they do make it easier for others to find a sense of purpose in their own work. They help their team see the bigger picture and understand how their individual contributions make a difference (empathy helps here too). This connection to a larger mission can turn a group of disparate individuals into a cohesive, high-performing team.
Moreover, passionate leaders are more likely to persevere in the face of obstacles. Their unwavering commitment inspires resilience in their team, helping everyone bounce back from setbacks and stay focused on long-term objectives.
Leadership Example: Passion
A student notices her school’s recycling program has become ineffective. Most students and even some teachers have grown complacent, often tossing recyclables into regular trash bins. It would be easy to ignore the issue or complain without taking action, as many in the school community have done.
Instead, this student decides to take the lead. Passionate about environmental conservation, she develops a plan to revitalize the recycling program. She organizes a team of like-minded students, creates eye-catching posters to educate peers about proper recycling practices, and coordinates with the school administration to improve the placement and visibility of recycling bins.
Her enthusiasm is infectious. Soon, more students volunteer to help, and even skeptical teachers start to take notice. Within a few months, the school’s recycling rates improve dramatically.
More importantly, the student’s passion has sparked a broader interest in environmental issues among her peers. The school starts an environmental club, and several students begin exploring careers in sustainability. (Imagine how all that will look on a college application or resume!)
By channeling her passion into action, this student leader not only solved an immediate problem but also inspired long-term change in her community. Her example shows how passionate leadership can turn apathy into engagement and create a positive ripple effect.
Self-awareness: Grounding and guiding leadership
Self-awareness is not an easy thing to cultivate, but it’s vital if you want to be a successful leader.
Leaders who truly understand their own strengths, weaknesses, emotions, and motivations are better equipped to guide others. This introspective quality allows for more thoughtful decision-making and stronger connections with team members.
A self-aware leader can adapt his behavior to different situations and individuals, recognizing when to push forward and when to step back. He’s more likely to seek honest feedback and learn from mistakes, continuously honing his leadership skills.
Moreover, self-awareness enhances a leader’s capacity for empathy, which we’ve already acknowledged is one of the most important qualities in a leader. By understanding his own emotional landscape, he can more easily relate to and support those he leads.
Leadership Example: Self-Awareness
A mid-level manager at a software company is growing anxious about his team’s declining productivity, especially as they are building up to a new product launch.
His first instinct is to crack down with stricter deadlines and increased oversight. But before acting, he decides to take a step back and examine his own role in the situation.
Through careful self-reflection and open conversations with team members, he uncovers an uncomfortable truth: his micromanagement style is stifling creativity and autonomy. This realization prompts him to shift his approach.
Instead of tightening control, he opts to give his team more freedom. He implements a policy allowing team members to manage their own schedules, provided they meet deadlines. Additionally, he introduces regular feedback sessions where the team can openly discuss concerns and suggest improvements.
The impact is profound. Feeling more valued and trusted, team members become increasingly engaged in their work. They take greater initiative and develop innovative solutions to problems. Productivity rises, and the overall work atmosphere noticeably improves.
Trust: The two-way street of leadership
Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship, in and out of work. We’ve talked about how important it is to earn the trust of those you lead, but it’s just as important for leaders to place trust in others.
Effective leaders recognize that they can’t—and shouldn’t—do everything themselves. By trusting team members and subject matter experts, leaders can leverage diverse skills and knowledge, leading to better outcomes overall.
Trusting others also fosters a culture of accountability and ownership. When team members feel trusted, they’re more likely to take initiative, think creatively, and go above and beyond in their roles. A person who can inspire those behaviors in others is a leader, no doubt.
Leadership Example: Trusting Others
The head chef of a popular farm-to-table restaurant faces a crisis when their organic produce supplier suddenly goes out of business. This happens just days before a major food critic is scheduled to visit.
Instead of compromising the restaurant’s values by rushing to buy conventional produce, the chef calls an emergency meeting with their staff. He explains the situation and asks for ideas, trusting in his team’s creativity and commitment.
The team responds with innovative solutions. The sous chef suggests reaching out to local farmers he knows from markets. The pastry chef proposes focusing on house-made preserves and jams. The sommelier offers to adjust wine pairings to complement the new dishes.
Trusting these ideas, the chef assigns tasks to different groups, providing guidance but avoiding micromanagement.
By the time the critic arrives, the restaurant presents a unique menu that not only maintains their farm-to-table philosophy but elevates it. The review is glowing, praising the restaurant’s creativity and commitment to local sourcing.
Had the chef not put his trust in others, he wouldn’t have had input from the entire team and would have missed some great ideas. A good leader is willing to lean on others to move everyone forward.
Bravery: Standing firm in the face of adversity
Leadership often demands making tough decisions and standing by them, even when faced with opposition or uncertainty. Brave leaders take calculated risks, speak up against injustice, and protect their team when necessary.
Bravery in leadership doesn’t mean recklessness or aggression. Bravery is always rooted in a desire to do what’s right and equitable, even when doing so is risky or difficult.
When leaders show bravery, they inspire confidence in their team and set a powerful example. This can foster a culture of courage throughout the organization, which is what drives companies to succeed.
Leadership Example: Bravery
A team of video game designers has been working hard on a highly anticipated and rather quirky video game launch. Just weeks before it’s set to release, market research suggests a more conventional game would perform better.
Upper management pressures the lead designer to gut the game’s innovative elements.
Risking their career, the designer stands firm. They rally the development team and present a passionate case to executives to preserve their creative vision. They argue that while initial sales might suffer, staying true to their concept could create a cult classic and enhance the studio’s reputation.
The designer’s conviction impresses the executives, who agree to proceed with the original concept. Upon release, the game receives encouraging reviews. Although initial sales are modest, positive word-of-mouth leads to steady growth. Within a year, it’s hailed as a modern classic, influencing future game designs across the industry.
By courageously defending their vision, this lead designer preserved their project’s integrity and set a new standard for storytelling in games. Their bravery fostered a culture of innovation within the studio and proved that creative risks can lead to significant rewards.
Showcasing leadership in your job search
As you pursue new career opportunities, it’s crucial to effectively demonstrate your leadership skills. Whether you’re applying for an entry-level position or a senior role, highlighting your leadership experiences can set you apart from other candidates.
Leadership on your resume
Your resume is often your first chance to make an impression. Here’s how to showcase your leadership skills:
- Experience Descriptions: When detailing your work history, highlight instances where you led projects, mentored others, or took initiative. Use strong action verbs like “spearheaded,” “coordinated,” or “guided” to emphasize your leadership role.
- Achievements: Quantify your leadership impact whenever possible. For example, “Led a team of 5 to increase sales by 20% over six months.”
- Skills Section: Include relevant leadership skills such as “team management,” “conflict resolution,” or “strategic planning.”
- Referrals: When asking for references, request that they highlight specific examples of your leadership abilities. This can provide powerful third-party validation of your skills.
We have lots more resume tips, so keep these articles handy as you’re updating yours:
Demonstrating leadership in interviews
Interviews offer a prime opportunity to elaborate on your leadership experiences. Prepare several concrete examples of times you’ve demonstrated leadership, keeping in mind that leadership isn’t always about having a title.
Remember, you can draw leadership examples from various aspects of your life:
- Work experiences (even in non-managerial roles)
- Academic group projects
- Extracurricular activities or sports teams
- Volunteer work or community service
- Personal projects or initiatives
Even if you’re early in your career, don’t underestimate the leadership skills you’ve developed. Taking charge of a class project, organizing a fundraiser, or mentoring a younger student all demonstrate valuable leadership qualities.
By effectively showcasing your leadership experiences on your resume and in interviews, you’ll present yourself as a candidate with the potential to make a significant impact in your new role.
For more interview guidance, check out these articles:
Mastering these leadership traits takes time and practice, but the effort is worthwhile. When empathy, self-awareness, trust, and bravery blend together, they create a powerful foundation for effective leadership. As you develop these qualities, you’ll find yourself better equipped to inspire others and make a meaningful impact in your personal and professional life.