Independent people have more initiative but might not always play well with others. Even if the position the candidate is seeking isn’t part of a team, they’re going to need to depend on others in your business at some point. Ideal candidates are able to recognise when to seek assistance and when to take the lead. Here's what to look for in an answer:

• Ability to take initiative
• Flexibility between independence and interdependence
• Desire to work with others

Knowing more about a candidate’s leadership skills helps when finding a place for them in your team. If they have leadership experience, they’ll be able to make sure the project stays on track by motivating their fellow team members and leading by example. Those with leadership experience might be able to work their way up to promotions within your business. Here's what to look for in an answer:

• Examples of times the candidate led a team
• Whether the candidate desires the opportunity to lead
• Where to place the candidate within your organisation

The ability to communicate well is one of the most important skills someone needs when working with a team. Miscommunication can result in wasted time, team members working on the wrong objectives and conflict in the workplace. This question can be followed up with others that ask the candidate to give examples of how they communicated well on a team. Here's what to look for in an answer:

• Examples of how the candidate communicates with others
• Whether the candidate understands the value of effective communication
• How the candidate handles conflict

Conflicting personalities, breakdowns in communication and people not pulling their weight on a project can doom its chances of success. Everyone has encountered others in the workplace they didn’t work well with, and this question addresses how the candidate may handle a situation where one or more team members aren’t helping the cause. Here's what to look for in an answer:

• Leadership skills and initiative
• Ability to handle adversity
• Conflict management

The ability to avoid conflict and find common ground with others on a team is another essential quality to have. People can’t always control who they’re required to work with, and they must be able to keep the peace if one of their teammates is making their life difficult. Here's what to look for in an answer:

• Effective communication skills
• Ability to receive and give criticism
• Ability to place the needs of the team above personal grievances

Having too many leaders or followers on a team is a recipe for conflict. Everyone has a role to play, whether they're the architect of the process the team will follow or simply doing their part and following along. Assembling a team requires matching people with others who have something unique to contribute while limiting incompatibilities. Here's what to look for in an answer:

• Where the candidate would fit within your team
• Whether they thrive in a leadership or support role
• What strengths they contribute to the team

Failure is a step toward success – as long as people learn something when they miss the mark. This question addresses overcoming adversity, humility and accountability. The ideal candidate chooses to accept responsibility for team failures rather than deflecting blame to others. Here's what to look for in an answer:

• Humility and accountability
• Ability to learn from mistakes
• How the candidate takes criticism

Conflict in the workplace can have a negative impact on work culture, derail projects and make people want to avoid working on a team with those who aren’t working well with others. It’s inevitable that coworkers will have disagreements and conflicting ideas on how to approach a project, and this question addresses how well the candidate can navigate conflicts with others. Here's what to look for in an answer:

• Conflict resolution skills
• Ability to communicate effectively
• How the candidate handles adversity

Some personality types don’t mesh well, and effective leaders know how to match workers on a team so these conflicts of personality don’t interfere with project objectives. This question helps you determine whether the candidate can work well with the existing members of your team. Here's what to look for in an answer:

• The candidate’s personality type
• Who the candidate would work well with on your team
• Whether the candidate fits your work culture

This question assesses how adaptable the candidate is and how they handle unexpected setbacks. The scope of projects often changes when a customer decides they’re looking for something different or the company’s goals and direction change. Adaptability in the face of these challenges is a valuable trait. Here's what to look for in an answer:

• Flexibility
• Perseverance and determination
• Ability to prioritise team needs over personal feelings