Please describe a conflict with your manager.

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your conflict resolution skills, communication abilities, and professionalism. Employers want to see how you handle disagreements, especially with someone in a position of authority. An effective response will demonstrate your ability to navigate conflicts constructively and maintain a professional relationship with your manager. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response.

Answer

Situation: While working as a project coordinator at ABC Company, I encountered a conflict with my manager regarding the prioritization of tasks. We were in the middle of a major project, and my manager wanted to shift focus to a new client request, which I believed would jeopardize our current timeline.

Task: My task was to ensure that the project stayed on course while addressing the new client request in a manner that satisfied both the client and my manager's expectations.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with my manager to discuss my concerns. In the meeting, I presented data highlighting the potential impact on the project's timeline and quality if we shifted our focus. I proposed a compromise: allocate a limited team to address the new request while the majority continued on the original project. I also offered to draft a detailed plan outlining this approach to ensure transparency and effective communication with the client.

Result: My manager appreciated my proactive approach and data-driven analysis. We implemented the compromise, which allowed us to meet the original project deadlines without sacrificing quality. The new client request was also addressed satisfactorily, maintaining a strong relationship with both the client and the internal team. This experience strengthened my relationship with my manager and demonstrated my ability to handle conflicts constructively.