Can you share an experience when you had to retrieve information from someone who was not willing to provide it and how you went about it?

Question Analysis

This is a behavioral interview question aimed at evaluating your skills in communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. The interviewer wants to understand how you handle situations where you face opposition or reluctance, especially in terms of obtaining important information. This question assesses your ability to navigate interpersonal dynamics and your strategies for overcoming resistance to achieve your goals effectively.

Answer

Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), here's how you might structure your response:

Situation:
In my previous role as a project manager, we were working on a critical project that required input from various departments. One of the key pieces of information was data from the finance department to finalize our budget projection. However, the finance manager was reluctant to share the information due to conflicting priorities and workload.

Task:
My task was to retrieve this essential financial data to keep our project on track and ensure accurate budget forecasting.

Action:
To address this, I scheduled a meeting with the finance manager to discuss the importance of the data for our project and to understand his concerns. I actively listened to his challenges regarding workload and deadlines, showing empathy and understanding. I then proposed a collaborative solution: I offered to adjust our timeline slightly to accommodate his schedule and suggested a streamlined format for the data request to minimize his workload.

Result:
As a result, the finance manager agreed to provide the necessary information within the new timeline. This approach not only helped us get the data we needed but also strengthened our working relationship. The project stayed on schedule, and we were able to achieve our financial targets successfully.

In this situation, my focus on clear communication, empathy, and finding a win-win solution helped overcome the reluctance and fostered a collaborative environment.