Tell me about a time when you disagreed with a team member's approach.

Question Analysis

This question is a common behavioral interview question designed to assess your interpersonal and conflict resolution skills. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you handle disagreements or conflicts within a team setting. They want to know if you can navigate differences in opinion professionally and collaboratively, maintaining a positive and productive work environment. To effectively answer this question, you should use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response, demonstrating your ability to manage conflict and work towards a resolution.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, our team was tasked with developing a new marketing strategy. One of my team members proposed an approach focused heavily on traditional advertising methods, while I believed a digital-first strategy would be more effective given our target audience's online presence.

Task: My responsibility was to ensure that our team developed a strategy that was both innovative and aligned with our audience's preferences, while also maintaining a harmonious and collaborative team environment.

Action: I initiated a team meeting to discuss the proposed strategies in detail. During the meeting, I encouraged open communication and invited everyone, including the team member with whom I disagreed, to share their perspectives. I presented data and case studies supporting a digital-first approach, while also acknowledging the merits of traditional advertising. I then proposed a blended strategy that incorporated elements of both approaches, aiming to leverage the strengths of each.

Result: The team agreed on a hybrid strategy, which allowed us to reach a broader audience and effectively utilize our budget. This approach not only improved our campaign's performance but also strengthened team collaboration. The experience reinforced the importance of open communication and compromise, and the team member with whom I initially disagreed later expressed appreciation for the inclusive approach to decision-making.