This leadership question aims to uncover your ability to inspire and energize others. The best answers show you understand individual motivations and can connect them to a larger goal.

Question: “Describe a time you motivated a team.”

STAR Method Breakdown:

• (S)ituation: “Our sales team was in the middle of a long, challenging quarter. We were slightly behind our target, and morale was dipping due to a few lost deals.”
• (T)ask: “As the team lead, my task was to re-energize the team and get us back on track to hit our quarterly goal.”
• (A)ction: “First, I held a team meeting where I transparently acknowledged the recent setbacks and let everyone voice their frustrations. Then, I shifted the focus from the big, intimidating quarterly number to smaller, achievable weekly goals. I also instituted a ‘small wins’ recognition in our daily huddle, where we celebrated every positive step, like securing a new meeting or getting positive feedback. Finally, I worked one-on-one with two reps who were struggling the most to help them refine their pitch.”
• (R)esult: “The focus on daily, achievable goals and positive reinforcement had a huge impact. Morale improved almost immediately. The team’s activity levels increased, and we ended up exceeding our quarterly target by 5%. The ‘small wins’ huddle became a permanent part of our routine.”

For more model answers, visit STAR Method Example: Leadership .

This example supports the article Leadership & Management Behavioral Questions .