An intern could one day become a manager or director within your organization. One way to identify leadership qualities early on is to see whether the person you’re interviewing has passion for it.

Instead of focusing on what the prospective intern has done, try to assess his or her level of enthusiasm when talking about past contributions. Pay attention to the parts of the narrative that explain

☛ (1) how the student identified the ‘problem’ to be tackled,

☛ (2) how the student developed the solution,

☛ (3) how the student collaborated with team members, and

☛ (4) how the student prioritizes outcomes and results.