What would you do if a coworker constantly arrived late to a weekly meeting?

Question Analysis

This question is assessing your ability to handle workplace dynamics and your approach to managing situations that could affect team productivity. The interviewer is interested in your conflict resolution skills, your ability to communicate effectively, and how you maintain professional relationships with colleagues. The question is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and how you contribute to a positive workplace environment.

Answer

Situation: In a previous role, I noticed that a coworker was consistently arriving late to our weekly team meetings, which occasionally disrupted the flow of the discussion and delayed the meeting's progress.

Task: I felt it was important to address this issue to ensure meetings remained productive and efficient for everyone involved. My goal was to approach the situation diplomatically and find a solution that worked for the entire team.

Action: I decided to have a private and respectful conversation with the coworker. I approached them after one of the meetings and mentioned that I had noticed their late arrivals. I asked if there was a particular reason for it and if there was anything I could do to help. During our conversation, it turned out that the meeting time conflicted with another commitment they had. I suggested that we bring this up with our manager to see if we could adjust the meeting time or find another solution that worked for everyone.

Result: After discussing the issue with our manager, we agreed to reschedule the meeting to a time that was more convenient for all team members. This change resulted in everyone arriving on time, enhancing team productivity and ensuring that meetings started and ended as planned. The coworker appreciated the way I handled the situation, and it contributed positively to our working relationship.