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

Question Analysis

This behavioral question is probing how you handle conflicts and disagreements in a professional setting. The interviewer wants to assess your interpersonal skills, ability to communicate effectively, and your approach to conflict resolution. They are interested in seeing if you can work collaboratively, respect different perspectives, and find a constructive way to address and resolve disagreements. It's crucial to showcase your ability to maintain a positive working relationship despite differences.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, we were working on a tight deadline for a product launch. During one of our planning meetings, a team member suggested an approach to streamline the process, but I believed it could compromise the quality of the final product.

Task: My task was to ensure that the project was completed on time without sacrificing quality, and I needed to address my concerns with the team member's approach diplomatically.

Action: I requested a one-on-one meeting with the team member to discuss my concerns. I started by acknowledging their idea and the benefits it could bring. Then, I shared my perspective, focusing on potential risks and the importance of maintaining quality. We brainstormed together and came up with a hybrid approach that integrated the efficiency of their method with additional quality checks.

Result: By collaborating and combining our ideas, we were able to meet the project deadline without compromising on quality. The team member appreciated the constructive feedback and our professional relationship strengthened. This experience reinforced the importance of open communication and teamwork when addressing disagreements.