What is a difficult piece of feedback that you have received? When did you receive it and how did you handle it?

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your ability to receive, process, and act upon feedback, especially when it is difficult to hear. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you handle criticism and whether you can take constructive feedback to improve yourself or your work. They are looking for examples of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and a growth mindset. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) can be effectively used to structure your response.

Answer

Situation: During my first year in a previous role as a project manager, I received feedback from my supervisor after completing a major project. The feedback was that my communication with the team was not as effective as it could have been, leading to some team members feeling out of the loop on important decisions.

Task: My task was to improve my communication skills to ensure that all team members were well-informed and aligned throughout the project lifecycle.

Action: I took several steps to address this feedback. First, I initiated regular team meetings to discuss project updates and encourage open dialogue. I also implemented a project management tool that allowed for better tracking of tasks and responsibilities, ensuring everyone had access to the latest information. Additionally, I sought feedback from my team to understand their communication preferences and adjusted my approach accordingly.

Result: As a result of these actions, team cohesion and productivity improved significantly. In subsequent projects, team members reported feeling more engaged and informed. My supervisor also acknowledged the positive change in my communication style during my next performance review, noting that it had contributed to better project outcomes.