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

Question Analysis

This question assesses your ability to handle recurring issues with coworkers in a professional and constructive manner. It tests your interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and capacity to maintain a productive work environment. The question is likely seeking a response that demonstrates understanding, communication, and a solution-oriented mindset.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role, I noticed that a coworker was consistently arriving late to our weekly team meetings. This pattern began to disrupt the flow of our discussions and delayed our decision-making processes.

Task: I recognized that addressing this issue was important to maintain team productivity and cohesion. My goal was to approach the situation professionally and help find a resolution without causing discomfort or conflict.

Action: I decided to have a private and friendly conversation with my coworker. I approached them after a meeting and expressed, in a non-confrontational manner, that I had noticed their late arrivals. I asked if there was anything causing them to be late or if there was a way I could assist. This opened up a dialogue where my coworker shared that their previous meeting often ran over time. We discussed possible solutions, such as adjusting the timing of our meeting or setting a reminder to leave their earlier meeting promptly.

Result: After our conversation, my coworker began arriving on time more consistently. This improvement helped our meetings become more productive, and it also strengthened our working relationship as it showed empathy and a willingness to collaborate on resolving issues.