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

Question Analysis

This question is a common behavioral interview question designed to assess your decision-making skills, leadership ability, and resilience. It aims to determine how you handle situations where your decision might not align with the majority's opinion. The interviewer is interested in understanding your reasoning process, how you communicate your decisions, and how you manage any resulting conflicts or pushback. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is an excellent way to structure your response.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager, our team was tasked with delivering a key project under a tight deadline. During the planning phase, I realized that the current approach wouldn't meet the deadline without compromising quality.

Task: As the project lead, I needed to decide whether to continue with the current plan, which was popular among the team, or propose a new approach that would require extra hours and resources, potentially causing discontent.

Action: After analyzing the project's requirements and potential risks, I decided to propose a new method. I organized a meeting to present my findings and explain why the change was necessary. I highlighted the benefits of maintaining quality standards and how it aligned with our company's long-term goals. I also acknowledged the extra effort required and proposed ways to support the team, such as providing additional resources and flexible hours.

Result: Initially, my decision was met with resistance, but after further discussions and addressing the team's concerns, they understood the rationale behind the decision. We implemented the new approach, which ultimately allowed us to deliver the project on time without sacrificing quality. This not only met the client's expectations but also enhanced our team's reputation for reliability and excellence.