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Can you share a time when you had to work with a challenging team member? What steps did you take to address the situation?
The interviewer is interested in seeing how you handle working with challenging personalities, manage conflicts professionally, and keep a good working atmosphere.
- Discuss and focus on your experience across multiple teams, highlighting your ability to navigate different team dynamics.
- Describe how you facilitated collaboration and communication between the teams to resolve the issue.
- Provide details about how you remained objective and solution-oriented in addressing the difficult situation.
- Emphasize your leadership skills and ability to mediate problems to foster a positive work environment.
- Highlight your ability to understand and incorporate different viewpoints to find a resolution.
- Avoid speaking negatively about the difficult team member or blaming them entirely for the situation. Refrain from suggesting that you were unable to handle the situation or find a resolution.
Sample Answer 1
In my previous role, I found myself overseeing a project involving multiple teams with varying priorities and perspectives. One key team member from another department had a strong opinion that often conflicted with our project goals. Instead of letting tensions rise, I organized a meeting with all involved teams to openly discuss the concerns and come to an agreement on a unified strategy. By focusing on our shared objectives and encouraging an open dialogue, we managed to align our efforts and successfully deliver the project.
Sample Answer 2
On one occasion, I was responsible for coordinating efforts across several teams that were not used to working together. A member from one team frequently challenged the workflow, which led to inefficiencies. I addressed this by setting up regular cross-team meetings, where every voice was heard, and concerns were acknowledged. This collaborative approach allowed us to refine our processes, improve inter-team relationships, and achieve our project milestones efficiently.