Answer This: Why Do You Want To Be a Leader?

During the interview process, questions related to a candidate’s leadership skills are frequently asked. A common question is “Why do you want to be a leader?” It may be asked in a variety of ways such as “Why are you interested in a leadership role?” or “Why do you want to be a team leader?”

Learn more: 20 Customary Leadership Interview Questions

You may be wondering how to answer that question. To help you prepare to effectively answer this interview question and others like it, this guide explains why leadership skills are important to employers, what leadership skills employers look for, and how you can best portray your greatest leadership skills to increase your chances and stand out to potential employers.

Most employers ask this question for the organization’s benefit, to gauge a candidate’s fit for the specific role and within the organization as a whole. They want to find the candidates with the most leadership potential or experience, so they ask why you want to be a leader. This is to ensure that you are the right candidate and that you are as invested in your leadership development and the growth of the business as much as getting the job.

A common belief among employers is that employees who are leaders are good for the organization’s bottom line. Leaders tend to be more committed and attached to the business’s success, going above and beyond their typical responsibilities and remaining with the business longer.

Being a leader may come naturally for some, but many people have to develop their leadership skills through their education, extracurricular activities, hobbies, job experience, or training. Employers understand that skills are developed outside of a person’s job, so the answer to this question could reveal some information that does not appear on your resume.

For many employers, a great leader is a candidate with a balanced and versatile set of skills that can apply to a variety of situations, projects, business activities, and collaboration with diverse people and businesses. While the exact leadership skills employers look for vary by industry and position, six skills are commonly sought after:

1. Communication skills

Whether answering customer questions about a new product, sending a follow-up email to staff, or presenting a yearly report to a board of directors, effective leaders know how to communicate clearly, accurately, and competently with other people. Having good communication skills involves more than written and oral communication; leaders also need to be able to listen effectively and resolve conflict between other people and themselves.

2. Problem-solving skills

Excellent leaders are able to anticipate problems and issues and develop ways to address and resolve those problems. They are solution-driven critical thinkers. Effective problem-solving skills help leaders identify opportunities for improvement and develop strategies to mitigate those issues.

3. Motivation skills

Employers look for leaders who are able to motivate employees, managers, customers, and themselves. Whether that is motivating a team to complete a last-minute deadline or encouraging customers to sign up for a loyalty program, effective leaders are able to encourage others’ motivations, goals, and interests to meet organizational goals.

4. Decision-making skills

Many jobs require a leader to make informed decisions quickly, critically, and confidently, especially when there are difficult or pressing issues to resolve. Employers look for leaders with effective decision-making skills because they want someone who is competent and confident enough to meet the organization’s goals regardless of the circumstances.

5. Integrity & trustworthiness

Employers need to be able to trust their leaders’ abilities to meet business goals as well as the decisions those leaders make. The best leaders are responsible, consistent, and accountable. These qualities help people feel comfortable in approaching them for a variety of reasons and encourage trust in their decisions.

6. Flexibility

Employers look for leaders who are able to easily adapt to inevitable and unexpected changes. Effective leaders are flexible and able to change their strategy or objective to meet a goal or solve a problem. They are open to changing methods that help the organization meet the demands of an evolving business environment.

Before you answer an interviewer’s question, take some time to really consider the question. Ask yourself the following:

• Do you want to be a leader because you like to manage people?
• Do you enjoy bringing people together to achieve a common goal?
• Are you always looking for ways to improve activities and processes?
• Are you ready for more responsibility or to make a positive contribution to a business or project?
• Is a leadership position the next logical step in your career goals?

All of these questions can help you formulate your answer to the question, pinpoint what your goals are, and identify what motivates you to work toward being a leader. They’re also useful for helping you find jobs that align with your goals and skills.

Here are four example responses to the question “Why do you want a leadership role?”