Describe a time when you disagreed with a performance rating you received.

Question Analysis

This question seeks to understand how you handle disagreements, particularly in a professional setting where feedback might not align with your self-assessment. It evaluates your ability to receive criticism, communicate effectively, and take constructive steps toward resolution and improvement. The interviewer is interested in seeing your emotional intelligence, problem-solving skills, and how you manage conflicts or misunderstandings with superiors.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project coordinator, I received a performance review that rated me lower than I expected in the area of time management. This surprised me as I had consistently met deadlines and believed I was effectively juggling multiple tasks.

Task: My goal was to understand the feedback better and to align my manager's expectations with my own perception of my performance.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with my manager to discuss the feedback in detail. During the meeting, I expressed my appreciation for the feedback and asked for specific examples where my time management could have improved. I listened carefully to my manager's perspective and learned that while I had met deadlines, there were instances where my workload management could have been more proactive to avoid last-minute pressures on the team. I acknowledged this insight and shared my plan to improve by implementing a more detailed project tracking system and setting more frequent check-ins with my team to ensure smoother workflow.

Result: My manager appreciated my proactive approach in seeking clarification and my willingness to improve. In subsequent reviews, I received positive feedback on my improved time management skills, and the adjustments I made helped my team to work more efficiently and collaboratively.