I want to know about a time when you disagreed with your boss or a manager

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your conflict resolution skills, your ability to communicate effectively, and how you handle disagreements in a professional setting. The interviewer wants to understand how you navigate differing opinions, particularly with authority figures, and how you ensure that such situations are resolved constructively. It's important to demonstrate respect, professionalism, and a focus on achieving the best outcome for the team or organization.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project coordinator, our team was tasked with delivering a new software update. My manager proposed a timeline that I believed was overly ambitious given our current resources and workload.

Task: I needed to address my concerns with my manager to ensure the project had a realistic timeline, which would prevent potential burnout for the team and ensure the quality of the update.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with my manager to discuss the proposed timeline. During the meeting, I expressed my concerns respectfully and provided data from past projects to support my perspective. I highlighted the potential risks of sticking to the proposed timeline and suggested an alternative plan that included additional testing phases to ensure a high-quality release.

Result: My manager appreciated my initiative and data-driven approach. We agreed on a revised timeline that allowed for thorough testing and ensured the team could maintain a healthy work-life balance. The software update was successfully delivered on the new schedule, receiving positive feedback from users.

By using the STAR method, I demonstrated effective communication and collaboration skills, which helped resolve the disagreement constructively.