Name a situation in which you had to handle conflict

Question Analysis

This is a behavioral interview question designed to assess your conflict resolution skills and your ability to work effectively in a team. The interviewer wants to understand how you approach disagreements and your strategies for resolving them. They are looking for evidence of your interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and emotional intelligence. Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) will help you structure your response effectively.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, our team faced a conflict when two team members, John and Sarah, disagreed on the approach to take for a critical part of a project. John wanted to follow a traditional method that had worked in the past, while Sarah was advocating for a more innovative, yet riskier approach.

Task: As the project manager, it was my responsibility to ensure the team remained cohesive and productive, and to resolve the conflict in a way that didn't compromise the project's success or team morale.

Action: I organized a meeting with John and Sarah to discuss their viewpoints. During the meeting, I listened actively to both sides, ensuring each felt heard and respected. I encouraged them to focus on the common goal of the project and facilitated a brainstorming session where we considered the pros and cons of both approaches. I then suggested a compromise: we could implement a pilot phase using Sarah's method on a smaller scale, and if successful, expand it to the entire project.

Result: Both team members agreed to the compromise, which allowed us to move forward without delay. The pilot phase using Sarah's approach proved successful, leading to its full implementation. As a result, the project was completed on time and exceeded client expectations, and the team learned a valuable lesson in collaboration.