Have you ever had a co-worker who is always late to a scheduled meeting? What do you do in this situation?

Question Analysis

This question is asking you to demonstrate your interpersonal and problem-solving skills in a workplace scenario. It is designed to assess how you handle situations where a colleague's behavior might impact team dynamics and productivity. The interviewer is interested in understanding your ability to address issues professionally and constructively while maintaining a positive working relationship.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project coordinator, I had a colleague who frequently arrived late to our weekly project update meetings. This was becoming a concern as it affected the flow of the meeting and sometimes required us to repeat information.

Task: I needed to address this issue to ensure the meetings were productive and that all team members had the necessary information at the right time.

Action: I decided to have a private conversation with my colleague. I approached the conversation with empathy, recognizing that there might be underlying reasons for their tardiness. I expressed my observations and concerns, emphasizing the importance of starting meetings on time for everyone's benefit. I also asked if there were any obstacles they were facing that we could address together.

Result: My colleague appreciated the open and non-confrontational approach. They explained that their previous meetings often ran late, which caused them to be late for ours. We worked together to adjust the meeting schedule slightly, allowing for a buffer between their meetings. As a result, my colleague was able to attend on time, and the overall efficiency and effectiveness of our meetings improved.