A coworker continues to arrive late to the scheduled meeting each week. What should be done?

Question Analysis

This question is assessing your ability to handle recurring issues in a professional setting, particularly those involving team dynamics and punctuality. It evaluates your problem-solving skills, communication abilities, and leadership qualities. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you would address the situation without causing conflict and how you ensure team effectiveness and respect for everyone's time.

Answer

When dealing with a coworker who is consistently late to meetings, it's important to address the issue constructively and professionally. Here's how you could approach the situation using the STAR method:

Situation:
In our weekly project meetings, a coworker frequently arrived late, which disrupted the flow of the meeting and delayed our progress.

Task:
My task was to address this issue to maintain the team's productivity and ensure everyone respected each other's time.

Action:
I decided to have a private conversation with the coworker. I approached them after a meeting and expressed my concerns in a non-confrontational manner. I mentioned that I've noticed they've been arriving late and asked if there were any particular reasons for it. During our discussion, I listened actively to their explanation, which revealed scheduling conflicts with another meeting. Together, we brainstormed solutions, such as adjusting the meeting time slightly or setting a reminder, to help them manage their schedule better.

Result:
After our conversation, the coworker appreciated my understanding and made a concerted effort to arrive on time. As a result, our meetings became more efficient, and the team was able to start and finish discussions within the allocated time, improving overall productivity.