What was an unpopular decision you made.

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your decision-making skills, your ability to handle criticism, and your leadership qualities. The interviewer wants to know if you can make tough decisions when necessary, even when those decisions are not well-received by others. It also evaluates how you communicate and implement decisions that may not be popular, and how you deal with the outcomes.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, we were working on a critical project with a tight deadline. The team was using an outdated software tool that was causing delays and errors.

Task: I needed to ensure the project was completed on time and with high quality, but switching tools midway would be disruptive and was an unpopular idea among the team who were comfortable with the current tool.

Action: After assessing the risks and benefits, I decided to transition the team to a more efficient software tool. I communicated the reasons for the change, highlighting the long-term benefits and provided additional training sessions to ease the transition.

Result: Initially, there was resistance and some productivity loss due to the learning curve. However, as the team became more proficient with the new tool, we noticed a significant improvement in efficiency and accuracy. Ultimately, the project was delivered on time and received positive feedback from the client, demonstrating that the decision, although initially unpopular, was beneficial in the long run.