Can you share an experience where you had to challenge your teammate's approach?

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your ability to handle conflict, collaborate effectively, and maintain professionalism in a team setting. Interviewers want to see how you approach disagreements, your problem-solving skills, and your ability to communicate constructively with colleagues. It's important to demonstrate a balance between assertiveness and respect for others' ideas.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager at XYZ Company, our team was tasked with developing a new marketing campaign. One of my teammates proposed a strategy that relied heavily on traditional media outlets, which I felt might not effectively reach our target demographic.

Task: I needed to address my concerns with the teammate's approach while ensuring that the conversation remained constructive and focused on achieving the best outcome for the project.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with my teammate to discuss my observations. I started by acknowledging the effort they put into their proposal and expressed appreciation for their creative ideas. Then, I shared my concerns about the target audience's media consumption habits based on recent market research. I suggested a blended approach that incorporated both traditional and digital media strategies. I invited them to share their thoughts on this alternative approach to foster a collaborative discussion.

Result: My teammate was receptive to the feedback and appreciated my willingness to discuss it directly. We collaborated to refine the campaign strategy, ultimately resulting in a more comprehensive plan that effectively utilized both traditional and digital media. The campaign was successful, leading to a 20% increase in brand engagement compared to previous efforts. This experience strengthened our team's dynamic and improved our project's outcomes.