Around 6 years ago I decided I was leaving the company I worked at for 7 years, I have my own company now but back then I was looking for a leadership role at one of the flag ship companies In Dubai .

During the interview I was asked a situational question. Mark, you’re leading a team and the the online product goes down, no one can open the app, no one can use it, what do you do ?

Now, on reflection, I completely messed up here! My response

I’ll do what ever I have to, I’ll do this job , I’ll do that job, I’ll be up all night to ensure it’s done and everyone is back on line!!At the time I thought it showed my grit and determination

BUT

The reason for the question was to see the level of trust I had in my team! What should I have done?

Well I need to first of all picture that I know my team, I trust them and they are more than capable to get this issue resolved ! With that mindset I then can go about what is my role and that is to support them in the background

Yes I have to still be hands on but in no way should I be trying to do the tech guys job when I don’t even know how to set up a laptop! Why am I saying this? 2 things 1 - I realized that maybe I’m not the leader I thought I was.2 - don’t be so eager during an interview to say you’ll turn the world upside down to get it doneThink what you would actually do in that role and probably something you’ve already been doing for a number of months / years.If you want to know what else happened during this Interview, something that meant I wasn’t even going to get the job in the first place, watch out for my “failing my way (in public) to success podcast Where I tell more of this story, you’ll be SHOCKED and I’m hoping it questions some of the stupidity that goes on today! Leaders, recruiters, interviewers, interviewees , what’s your thoughts on this? Has it happened to you? hashtag#leadership hashtag#interview hashtag#candidate hashtag#recruitment hashtag#grit hashtag#determination