Courage is particularly important in roles such as:

• Executive leadership
• Project management
• Sales and business development
• Human resources
• Whistleblowing and compliance officers
• Emergency responders and healthcare professionals

When evaluating courage in candidates, look for:

• Examples of taking calculated risks
• Instances of standing up for principles or ethics
• Ability to make difficult decisions under pressure
• Willingness to admit mistakes and learn from them
• Capacity to voice unpopular opinions constructively
• Resilience in the face of setbacks or failures

By assessing courage, you can identify candidates who will drive your organization forward, maintain ethical standards, and thrive in challenging situations.

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Interview Questions for Assessing Courage:

• Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult decision that was unpopular with your team or colleagues. How did you handle it?
• Describe a situation where you took a calculated risk at work. What was the outcome?
• Can you share an experience where you stood up for your beliefs or ethical principles, even when it was challenging to do so?
• Tell me about a time when you had to deliver bad news to a superior. How did you approach this situation?
• Describe a moment in your career when you felt afraid but pushed through anyway. What was the result?
• Have you ever challenged a long-standing practice or policy at work? What motivated you to do so, and what was the outcome?
• Tell me about a time when you admitted a significant mistake at work. How did you handle the situation?
• Can you describe a situation where you had to make a quick decision with limited information? How did you approach it?
• Have you ever been in a situation where you had to defend an unpopular decision or action? How did you manage it?
• Tell me about a time when you had to step out of your comfort zone to achieve a work-related goal.
• Describe a situation where you had to persevere through multiple setbacks to achieve an objective.
• Have you ever had to stand up to a superior who was making a mistake? How did you handle it?
• Tell me about a time when you had to take on a task or project that seemed impossible. How did you approach it?
• Can you describe a situation where you had to voice an unpopular opinion in a meeting? What was the result?
• Have you ever had to make a decision that put your job at risk? What factors did you consider, and what was the outcome?
• Tell me about a time when you had to lead a team through a crisis or significant change. How did you demonstrate courage?
• Describe a situation where you had to advocate for a colleague or subordinate in a difficult situation.
• Have you ever had to make a decision that went against company culture or tradition? How did you handle it?
• Tell me about a time when you had to give critical feedback to a superior. How did you approach this delicate situation?
• Can you share an experience where you had to make an ethical decision that could have negatively impacted your career?
• Describe a situation where you had to respond to an emergency or crisis at work. How did you demonstrate courage? (Emergency Responder)
• Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult medical decision under pressure. How did you handle it? (Healthcare Professional)
• Have you ever had to stand up to unethical practices in your organization? How did you approach this situation? (Compliance Officer)
• Describe a time when you had to push back against a client's unreasonable demands. How did you manage this delicate situation? (Sales Professional)
• Tell me about a situation where you had to implement an unpopular but necessary policy. How did you handle the resistance? (Human Resources Professional)

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FAQ

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Q: Why is courage important in the workplace?A: Courage is crucial in the workplace as it enables employees to make tough decisions, drive innovation, maintain ethical standards, and lead effectively in challenging situations.

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Q: How can I assess courage in a candidate during an interview?A: You can assess courage by asking behavioral questions that probe for past experiences where the candidate demonstrated risk-taking, ethical decision-making, and resilience in the face of challenges.

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Q: Are there specific industries where courage is particularly important?A: While courage is valuable in all industries, it's particularly crucial in fields like healthcare, emergency services, leadership roles, compliance, and industries undergoing rapid change or facing significant challenges.

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Q: How can I develop courage in my team?A: You can foster courage in your team by creating a psychologically safe environment, rewarding calculated risk-taking, encouraging open communication, and leading by example in facing challenges head-on.

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Would you like a complete interview plan that has Courage as a key competency? Sign up for Yardstick for free to get started.

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