Unlocking Capacity:
Leadership Thoughts in Appreciative Management
Here is a custom blog from the minds at the AiMS institute:
When it comes to finding the right talent for your organization, a crucial part of the hiring process is the interview. We all know the standard fare: “Tell me about yourself,” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” and the classic, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” While these questions are not without merit, they often yield rehearsed answers that do little to reveal a candidate’s true capabilities. If you’re ready to revolutionize your hiring process, it’s time to introduce generative interview questions into your toolkit.
Generative questions are questions aimed at bringing out the best in people and situations. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong or needs fixing, these questions help people talk about their strengths and the good stuff that’s already happening. The idea is that by talking about what’s going well, you can figure out how to make things even better moving forward.
These aren’t just “feel-good” questions. They’re designed to spark real change by helping people see what they’re already good at and how they can build on that. So instead of asking, “What problems do we need to fix?”, you might ask, “What are we doing really well that we can do more of?” The goal is to inspire a more positive and collaborative way of thinking that can lead to meaningful improvements.
In a nutshell, these questions encourage positive conversations that help people get creative about making things better. They help you focus on the assets you already have—whether it’s talented people, strong skills, or successful projects—and think about how you can leverage those to achieve even greater things.
At the AiMS Institute, we are experts at asking the kinds of generative questions and leading the kinds of conversations that drive results, improve culture and develop people (simultaneously).
Unlike factual or straightforward questions that elicit predetermined responses, generative questions force the candidate to think critically, reflecting on their experiences, skills, and problem-solving abilities. Questions like, “Can you describe a time when you had to innovate to solve a complex problem?” offer deeper insights into a candidate’s capabilities. Generative questions not only give you a nuanced understanding of a candidate’s skill set but also offer a glimpse into their soft skills like adaptability, communication, and emotional intelligence.
The traditional interview questions focus on hard skills—qualifications and technical abilities. However, in today’s increasingly interconnected world, soft skills like teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving are becoming more and more crucial. Generative questions allow you to assess these invaluable skills effectively. By asking the candidate to narrate past experiences or contemplate hypothetical scenarios, you get to see how well they articulate thoughts, adapt to new situations, or empathize with others. These traits can often be more telling indicators of a candidate’s suitability for a role than any résumé bullet point.
What’s more, these questions can be tailored to align closely with the actual work the candidate will be doing. Hiring a project manager? Ask them how they would execute a particular project from start to finish. Need a creative mind? Pose a question that forces them to generate ideas for a hypothetical campaign. This not only assesses their professional competence but also offers a glimpse into their strategic thinking and resource management.
Ready to dive deeper into the world of generative interview questions? We have curated a comprehensive guide filled with generative questions tailored for various roles across different industries. Download the guide and equip your team with the skills to identify the best talent that aligns with your organizational values and goals.
Download Our Guide to Generative Interview Questions for Candidates: AiMS Interview Questions for Candidates.pdf
Wishing you the best in your quest for the perfect hire!
Best Regards
Jason MacKenzie
COO, AiMS Institute
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