Share with me a time when you disagreed with a team member.

Question Analysis

This question is a classic behavioral interview question designed to assess your conflict resolution skills, teamwork, and ability to navigate disagreements professionally. The interviewer wants to understand how you handle interpersonal conflicts, whether you can maintain a positive work environment, and if you can work collaboratively to achieve a common goal. They are looking for an example demonstrating your communication skills, empathy, and ability to find a constructive solution.

Answer

Situation: At my previous job, I was part of a project team tasked with developing a new marketing strategy. One of my colleagues, Alex, suggested a promotional campaign that I believed was too costly and wouldn't effectively reach our target audience.

Task: My responsibility was to ensure that the strategy was cost-effective and aligned with our audience's preferences. I needed to address my concerns without diminishing Alex's enthusiasm or causing friction within the team.

Action: I scheduled a one-on-one meeting with Alex to discuss my concerns in a respectful and open manner. I acknowledged the creativity of his idea and expressed my appreciation for his effort. Then, I shared my analysis of the campaign's potential financial impact and audience reach, providing data and examples to support my viewpoint. I encouraged Alex to consider adjustments that could make the campaign more cost-effective and targeted.

Result: Alex was receptive to my feedback, and together, we brainstormed alternatives that incorporated elements of his original idea while addressing my concerns. We presented the revised strategy to the team, which received positive feedback from our manager for its creativity and feasibility. This experience strengthened our professional relationship and demonstrated our ability to collaborate effectively in resolving disagreements.