How would you handle a colleague who repeatedly shows up late to meetings?

Question Analysis

This question is assessing your ability to handle interpersonal conflicts and address issues in a professional setting. It evaluates your conflict resolution skills, communication abilities, and how you maintain a productive working environment. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you approach a situation where a colleague's behavior might be affecting team dynamics and productivity.

Answer

Situation: In a previous role, I noticed that a team member was consistently arriving late to our weekly project meetings, which was affecting the flow of our discussions and causing delays in decision-making.

Task: I felt it was important to address this issue to ensure that our meetings were as productive as possible and to maintain a sense of respect and commitment within the team.

Action: I decided to have a private conversation with the colleague. I approached them in a non-confrontational manner, expressing my observations and concerns. I asked if there was a reason for their tardiness and if there was anything I could do to help. The colleague appreciated the discretion and explained that they were struggling with managing their schedule due to overlapping commitments.

Result: We worked together to adjust the meeting times to better fit their schedule, which resulted in them being able to attend meetings on time consistently. This solution not only improved the meeting dynamics but also strengthened our working relationship through open communication and mutual respect.