Can you elaborate on an experience where you had to lead a team?
ExperienceLeadership
Purpose
This question is all about seeing your leadership skills in action. Programs want to know if you can guide a team, make decisions, and inspire others, which is crucial for residents who often lead teams.
Tips
- Use the STAR-L method: Situation, Task, Action, Result, Lessons Learned.
- Pick a specific example where you led a team, even if it was informal.
- Highlight key leadership skills like communication, decision-making, and motivating others.
Common mistakes
- Avoid vague answers like 'I'm a leader because people listen to me.'
- Don't take all the credit or blame others for failures.
- Steer clear of stories where you just gave orders without collaborating.
Background
Use STAR-L to structure responses to questions about your experiences: -Situation: Briefly set the scene - where/when and what was going on? -Task: What was your specific role or challenge in that situation? -Action: What you did - focus on your steps, decisions, and contributions. -Result: Share the outcome - ideally positive or meaningful. -Lessons Learned: Reflect on what you took away and how you’ve grown.