what to ask a candidate when interviewing for an executive director position
The executive director role is uniquely different from members of the board, other managers, and employees, nevertheless this role is connected with all of them. In forming a list of interview questions, it helps to think well-nigh the duties that an executive director is expected to perform and how that role relates to, and interacts with other roles within the organization.
The executive manager runs the day-to-day operation of the nonprofit organization, which means managing people and working towards the organization'southward strategic goals. Executive directors are overseen by the board of directors, so it'due south imperative that there is a practiced working relationship between them.
Sort interview questions into categories so that the interviewer will be sure to embrace all of the areas that the lath of directors may have questions nigh. Each organization may have different categories of data that they are interested in. Hither'southward a listing of common interview categories:
- Beginning questions
- Results questions
- Working/management questions
- Questions most bridging from turn a profit to non-turn a profit
- Cultural fit
Commencement Interview Questions
Start your interview with commencement questions. These volition be questions almost the candidate'southward current or most recent office. Begin a discussion about why the interviewee is making a change and what sparked interest in your organization. Probe a lilliputian further to better understand how an executive directorship can fulfill the interviewee'due south future goals.
Results Questions
Starting time questions volition give you a feel for why this person was led to your organization. Follow beginning questions with questions about past accomplishments and how they became accomplishments. Talking about successes comes easy, but it's also important to ask questions about the tougher aspects of the executive director job. The second part of the results questions should focus on managing bug and tackling challenges.
Inquire about what things were learned from past challenges or failures. Enquire about weaknesses; how those weaknesses affected by chore positions; and how to recoup for them. Generate a discussion about working with superiors. Ask for descriptions of how to handle conflict and provide examples from past positions. Try to observe out about how past management decisions brought about positive any changes and how those changes improved the arrangement.
An executive director spends much of the mean solar day making decisions. Focus the next office of the interview on decision-making styles. Find out near the candidate'south perspective on making hard decisions and how all-time to approach decisions that need a fast response. Use the following listing of decision-making styles as a discussion starter:
- Democratic-bulk rules
- Autocratic-leader makes decision and is responsible for outcome
- Collective-participative-director makes decision with input from group
- Consensus-group makes the determination
For the about office, the executive director manages his or her own schedule. Spend some time during the interview understanding the candidate's arroyo to prioritizing daily work. A good style to practise this is to ask the interviewee to compare a typical day at the last position with plans for a typical day in the new position.
Working/Direction Interview Questions
The executive managing director will need to piece of work equally a team with other managers and besides with the lath of directors. Ask about past examples of working as office of a team, including contributions that were made equally a team member.
Since an executive director position requires forming good relationships with the board, peers, and subordinates, spend some time talking near each of those relationships, including the relationship with by managers. Ask for a comparing of the prior supervisor's management style with the candidate's own direction style. Feel costless to offer some examples of different direction styles including:
- Directive
- Authoritative
- Affiliative
- Participative
- Coaching
- Pacesetting
Explore past relationships with the candidate's best and worst supervisors and how those challenges formed lasting impressions. Probe to observe out the candidate's approach to superiors regarding giving and receiving suggestions and feedback. As it pertains to the most recent work experience, notice out what by supervisors perceived almost the interviewee's operation.
Questions About Bridging from Profit to Nonprofit
Managers volition often bridge from turn a profit to non-profit, mayhap with the goal of moving towards retirement. Make inquiries about how the candidate believes his skills and experiences tin exist all-time used in the nonprofit world. Explore how the organization'due south mission and vision fit with the candidate'due south own views.
Cultural Fit
Every lath of directors has its own dynamic. It'due south important that the new executive director fits in with the board civilization. Ask questions nigh cultural fit, bearing in listen the current dynamic that exists within the electric current board of directors. Find out if there was any by difficulty with ambiguous or challenging personalities and how those difficulties were handled. Look a flake into the hereafter and observe out about the candidate's iii to five-year plan. Gain some perspective on qualities that the candidate admires in a supervisor, a peer, and a subordinate.
Hiring the right executive director has a strong impact on the lath of directors, the stakeholders, and the organization as a whole. Cover every attribute of the executive director position during the interview to find an executive director that is sure to be a stiff and wise leader. It is not uncommon to acquit several interviews to achieve a comprehensive perspective of the candidate's qualifications.
Source: https://www.boardeffect.com/blog/executive-director-interview-questions/
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