If you ever made an unpopular decision, tell me about that

Question Analysis

This question seeks to assess your decision-making skills, leadership qualities, and ability to stand by your choices even when they are not popular. The interviewer wants to understand how you handle dissent, communicate your reasoning, and manage the outcomes of your decisions. This is a behavioral question, so using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method will help you provide a structured and compelling response.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, our team was tasked with delivering a software update on a tight deadline. During the planning phase, I realized that our current approach would likely lead to rushed work and potential errors.

Task: As the project manager, it was my responsibility to ensure the project was completed successfully, while maintaining quality and meeting the deadline.

Action: I decided to propose a revised timeline that extended the deadline by one week. This decision was initially unpopular with both the team and stakeholders, as it meant delaying the launch. I organized a meeting to present data on potential risks of rushing the update and emphasized the importance of quality and user satisfaction. I also listened to the team's concerns and incorporated their feedback into a more efficient workflow.

Result: Eventually, the stakeholders agreed to the revised timeline. The additional time allowed the team to thoroughly test the update and fix critical issues. Upon launch, the software performed reliably, garnering positive feedback from users and reducing the need for immediate post-launch fixes. This decision ultimately strengthened trust in my leadership and demonstrated the value of prioritizing quality over speed.