In this blog post, we explore how to effectively answer leadership interview questions using a structured yet authentic approach—without sounding robotic or overwhelming your audience with unrealistic solutions. Aspiring instructional leaders and school administrators often fall into two traps during interviews: either rambling without a clear focus or rigidly sticking to formulas like the “Situation-Task-Action-Result” (STAR) method in a monotone, robotic fashion. Both approaches can hinder your chances of connecting with the interview panel.
A better strategy is to use the STAR method as a flexible framework—not a script. Structure your response with clarity and purpose, but speak naturally. District and school leaders are looking for real, practical leadership qualities, not rehearsed perfection or pie-in-the-sky problem-solving.
Here’s how to approach it effectively:
1. Keep the Situation Realistic
You don’t need to solve all of education’s problems in one answer. Instead, describe a real situation—such as a spike in student referrals—that shows your awareness and engagement at the school level.
2. Be Specific with Your Task
What exactly were you asked to do? A simple directive from your principal, like breaking down referral data for a leadership meeting, is enough. This shows that you can follow through on specific responsibilities and that you understand the context of school-based leadership.
3. Describe Action in a Nuanced Way
Avoid sounding like a checklist. Instead of saying, “The action I took was…,” explain your process: how you pulled the data, what trends you noticed, and how you developed a presentation. Speak as if you're explaining the process to a colleague.
4. Share Results—Even If They Weren’t Perfect
Don’t feel pressured to report a perfect outcome. Maybe your findings helped shape next steps, or maybe the initial solution didn’t work. That’s okay. Leadership includes continuous improvement—using setbacks to create better solutions. This is honest and demonstrates resilience, a key competency on exams like the FELE or Praxis 5412.
For Aspiring Principals: Show Distributed Leadership
If you're interviewing for a principal role, take it a step further. Talk about how you empowered others—for example, by giving a new assistant principal a leadership opportunity to handle the referral data task. Discuss how you coached that person through the process. This shows that you understand how to develop leadership in others, a critical part of a principal’s role.
Interview panels aren’t looking for superhero solutions. They want to see your thinking, your use of data, and your ability to reflect and adapt. So use the STAR method wisely—but stay human. Share real stories, highlight growth, and embrace imperfection. That’s what instructional leadership is all about.
For additional support with your leadership interview, explore our comprehensive leadership interview course here.
🎥Watch the full video here for practical tips on standing out in your leadership interview.🎥