I have a co-worker who always arrives late to a scheduled meeting. What do I do?

Question Analysis

This question assesses your interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and how you handle workplace challenges. It is a typical behavioral question that seeks to understand how you manage conflicts or issues involving colleagues. The interviewer wants to know if you can address the problem diplomatically and effectively while maintaining a positive work environment. Using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method will help structure your response.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role, I noticed that a colleague frequently arrived late to our weekly team meetings, which affected the team's ability to start on time and disrupted the flow of the agenda.

Task: I wanted to ensure that our meetings could begin promptly and that all team members were aligned from the start, without singling out or embarrassing my colleague.

Action: I decided to have a private conversation with my colleague. I approached them kindly and expressed my observations, focusing on the impact of the delays on the team rather than blaming them personally. I asked if there were any challenges they were facing that caused the tardiness and offered to help find a solution. Together, we explored potential adjustments, such as rescheduling the meeting time to better fit everyone's schedule.

Result: My colleague appreciated the open and supportive discussion. We agreed on a new meeting time that worked better for everyone, and as a result, the colleague began arriving on time. This improved our meeting efficiency and reinforced a positive team dynamic.