Can you tell me about a difficult piece of feedback you received and how you handled it?

Question Analysis

This behavioral interview question is designed to assess your ability to receive and respond to constructive criticism. Employers want to see that you can handle feedback professionally, learn from it, and use it as an opportunity for personal and professional growth. It is important to demonstrate emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and a proactive approach to improving based on the feedback received.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project coordinator, I received feedback from my manager that my communication with the development team was not as effective as it could be. This feedback came after a project milestone was delayed because the team misunderstood some of the requirements.

Task: The feedback highlighted the need for me to improve my communication skills to ensure that all team members clearly understood project specifications and deadlines.

Action: To address this, I took several steps:

• I scheduled a meeting with my manager to gain a deeper understanding of the specific communication issues and asked for suggestions on how I could improve.
• I enrolled in a communication skills workshop to enhance my ability to convey complex information more clearly and effectively.
• I implemented weekly update meetings with the development team to ensure ongoing clarity and alignment on project goals and deadlines.

Result: As a result of these actions, the effectiveness of my communication improved significantly, leading to better coordination within the team. Subsequent projects saw a marked improvement in meeting deadlines and reducing misunderstandings. My manager also acknowledged the positive change in my communication approach during my next performance review.