Fast Stream Leadership Scenarios

Question 1

You are leading a Fast Stream project team of four people.
One team member consistently delivers high-quality work but misses deadlines, while another delivers on time but at a lower standard.
How should you address this?

Accepted Answer

Have individual conversations with each person, understanding the root causes and agreeing tailored development plans that play to their strengths

Answer

Publicly rank team members' performance to create competition

Answer

Swap their responsibilities so each can learn from the other's weakness

Answer

Set identical targets and manage them in exactly the same way

Question 2

Your team is tasked with delivering a cross-government data sharing initiative. Three departments are reluctant to participate, citing data protection concerns. As project lead, what is the most effective first step?

Accepted Answer

Arrange meetings with each department to understand their specific concerns, involving your data protection officer to address legitimate issues and find workable solutions

Answer

Escalate to a senior minister to compel participation

Answer

Proceed without the reluctant departments and demonstrate success

Answer

Send a formal letter reminding departments of their obligation to cooperate

Question 3

During a team meeting, a colleague presents a proposal that you believe is fundamentally flawed. However, the rest of the team seems enthusiastic. What is the most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge the positive aspects of the proposal, then raise your specific concerns constructively, supported by evidence or reasoning

Answer

Stay silent to maintain team harmony and avoid conflict

Answer

Wait until after the meeting and email your concerns to the team leader privately

Answer

Firmly reject the proposal and insist on an alternative approach

Question 4

You are managing a project that is running over budget by 15%. Your director asks for a status update. What is the best approach?

Accepted Answer

Present the overspend honestly, explain the causes, outline options for bringing costs back under control, and recommend a preferred course of action

Answer

Downplay the overspend to avoid causing concern

Answer

Blame the overspend on external contractors

Answer

Request a budget increase without explaining the overspend

Question 5

A new team member from a different cultural background approaches work differently from the rest of the team. Some colleagues have made comments suggesting this person 'doesn't fit in.' As team leader, you should:

Accepted Answer

Address the comments directly with the team, reinforcing the value of diverse perspectives, and have a supportive check-in with the new team member

Answer

Advise the new team member to adapt to the existing team culture as quickly as possible

Answer

Ignore the comments as they are not overtly discriminatory

Answer

Move the new team member to a different team where they might fit in better

Question 6

You are asked to lead a project in an area where you have limited technical expertise. What is the most effective leadership approach?

Accepted Answer

Accept the project, be transparent about your knowledge gaps, actively seek input from technical experts in the team, and focus on providing strategic direction and removing barriers

Answer

Decline the project and suggest someone with more relevant expertise leads it

Answer

Accept the project and quickly try to become an expert by reading extensively before the first meeting

Answer

Accept the project but delegate all decisions to the most technically skilled team member