Please share a time when you disagreed with a member of your team.
Question Analysis
This question seeks to understand how you handle conflict and disagreements in a team setting. The interviewer wants to assess your communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. They are interested in knowing whether you can resolve conflicts constructively and maintain a positive team dynamic. When answering, focus on a specific situation where a disagreement was resolved efficiently and led to a positive outcome.
Answer
Situation:
In my previous role as a project coordinator, our team was responsible for delivering a critical project under a tight deadline. During one of our planning meetings, I disagreed with a team member's proposed approach to allocate resources across different tasks.
Task:
My task was to ensure that our resources were used efficiently to meet the project's timeline without compromising on quality.
Action:
I scheduled a one-on-one meeting with the team member to discuss our differing viewpoints. I listened to their reasoning and expressed my concerns about potential bottlenecks with their approach. Together, we brainstormed and evaluated alternative strategies. Through open communication, we reached a consensus on a hybrid approach that integrated the best elements of both our ideas.
Result:
This collaborative effort not only resolved the disagreement but also led to a more efficient allocation of resources. As a result, we completed the project ahead of schedule and received positive feedback from our client for the high-quality deliverables. The experience strengthened our team's ability to work through conflicts and improved our overall team dynamics.