Give an example of a time you had to resolve a conflict

Question Analysis

The question is asking the candidate to provide a real-life example of a situation where they successfully resolved a conflict. The interviewer is looking to assess the candidate's conflict resolution skills, their ability to remain calm and professional in challenging situations, and their capacity for effective communication and problem-solving. This is a behavioral question, so it is best answered using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method, which helps structure the response in a clear and organized manner.

Answer

Situation: At my previous job as a project manager, I encountered a conflict between two team members who had differing opinions on how to approach a critical project deadline. One team member wanted to use a traditional method that was time-tested, while the other wanted to implement a new, innovative approach.

Task: As the project manager, it was my responsibility to mediate the situation and ensure that the team could work together harmoniously to meet our tight deadline.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with both team members to discuss their viewpoints. I listened to each person's perspective and acknowledged the merits of both approaches. I then facilitated a brainstorming session to find a compromise that could incorporate elements of both methods. By encouraging open communication and collaboration, we were able to devise a hybrid approach that satisfied both parties.

Result: The resolution led to increased team cohesion and morale. We successfully met the project deadline, and the innovative elements of the approach resulted in a 15% increase in efficiency. Both team members felt valued and were more open to collaboration in future projects.