There are a series of interview questions I have asked many potential executive candidates during interviews, or at the onset of an executive coaching engagement to learn more about the person. The questions surpass “what are your strengths and weaknesses?"

The answers reveal how they think about life, learning, themselves, their values, how they see the world, their place in the world, their dreams, insecurities, fears, and what they crave to understand more about this thing called life. I don’t ask them all, but pick a few based on what I need to know to get to the core of who they are, all followed up with “… and why?”. 

They are:

If you were perusing the bookstore today, what section would you gravitate towards? 

What book would you seek out that is most related to your hobbies, personal interests, or for your family?

What book would your boss suggest you read in a performance review?

What book would you recommend to your employees? 

If you were in the self help/growth section, what book would you want to pick? What book would you avoid?

What book do you think you’ve already mastered, and perhaps don’t need to read? 

The most telling grand finale question:

What’s on your Audible list right now? 

I have had the most inspiring, interesting, innocent, innovative, intellectual, and introspective responses that lead to incredible depth of further conversation. 

Some throw out names of books they have memorized (with examples of how they live by what they have read).

Some throw names out of books they think they should know (or they think I think they should know). 

Some throw out names of books they believe other people should know (this one is always fun). 

In the follow up question/response, some are vulnerable enough to send screenshots of their actual library. 

As I loaded my library for a dozen flights in the next few weeks, I reflected. If I were asked this… what would my answers be? Some are for me, some are for my family, some are for entertainment, some are recommendations, some are for others, some will help me connect more to others, some are for my business, some will shift my paradigm, some will affirm what I think I already have learned, some are about things that simply pique my curiosity. 

What are yours? 

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