In a leadership interview, confidence and conviction can make a strong first impression. But leadership is not about having the quickest answer or defending every decision to the end.
A recent conceptual paper, published on 17 October 2026, suggests that asking for feedback can reflect a genuine wish to learn, but may also serve to manage one’s image. A meta-analysis on narcissism and leadership found that narcissism can be associated with being perceived as a leader, without necessarily being associated with greater effectiveness as judged by colleagues.
Look for examples, not labels
A defensive answer on its own does not prove insecurity. Interview pressure, context and the way a question is asked can all play a part. It is more useful to look for patterns and explore specific examples:
- What decision did you change after hearing a different point of view?
- What mistake did you have to acknowledge, and how did you put it right?
- What feedback was difficult to accept?
- Which contribution from your team made a decisive difference to an outcome?
Answers are more revealing when they explain what happened, what the candidate did and what they learned. Notice whether they recognise other people’s contributions and can defend a decision without dismissing those who challenge it.
Confidence can listen
Real leadership combines judgement with openness: making a decision when needed, revisiting it when better evidence emerges and taking responsibility for the impact of mistakes. A candidate does not need to describe themselves as humble; it is more useful to explore how they behave in difficult situations.
At AMKALIS, drawing on our executive search experience since 2009, we believe interviews should explore behaviour and outcomes rather than apply psychological labels. Confidence shows in making decisions; leadership also shows in listening, correcting course and sharing credit.
Sources
- AMKALIS, executive search and recruitment since 2009: https://www.amkalis.com/es/
- Carvalho et al., “Unpacking leader feedback-seeking behavior…”, Acta Psychologica, 17 October 2026. Conceptual paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42892202/
- Grijalva et al., “Narcissism and Leadership: A Meta-Analytic Review of Linear and Nonlinear Relationships”, Personnel Psychology: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/peps.12072
